Wearing a Ring on a Necklace: What Does It Mean?

If you’ve seen someone wearing a ring on a necklace, you’ve probably wondered about the significance. Is it a style thing? A convenience thing? Just a really big fan of neck-based jewelry? Well, in fairness, it could be any of those things. If you’re wondering what wearing a ring on a necklace means, you’ve come to the right place.

Style

Sometimes the most obvious answer is the correct one. While not the only reason to wear your ring on a necklace, style is a very popular one. Does your new gemstone engagement ring really bring out your eyes? Put that bad boy on a gold or silver necklace and let the world be your stage. Just like how it looks? Hey, that works, too! Want to wear a pair of rings (or more) but don’t want to wear them all on your hand? Well, a necklace solves that problem as well.

This is also an option if you have a pair of rings besides your wedding band. If you have a wedding ring, promise ring and engagement ring, you may not want to have them all on your hand at once. Maybe you like a simpler look but still want to show every ring some love. Throwing a ring on a necklace and making it a makeshift pendant necklace — probably the promise ring in this scenario — is the ideal way to show love to all the rings while not having them all in the same place.

Maybe there’s less sentimentality to your style and you just like it. Maybe you like your birthstone a lot but don’t have the hand real estate to wear it as a ring. Ring necklace to the rescue.

Weight Gain or Swelling

Whether you’ve experienced some weight gain or just have swollen hands from time to time, your ring may not fit as comfortably. Maybe your hands are just a bit swollen after an intense workout. You could go through the hassle of resizing your ring, or you could just pick up a sweet yellow gold necklace to put it on if it doesn’t fit like it used to. If you’ve got a ring that’s resizable, like sterling silver or gold, you’ve got options. If you have something in tungsten carbide or another really hard metal, your only option is to have it on a chain. 

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Sentimental Reasons

Maybe you’ve got your own set of stackable wedding bands but also want to wear your late grandmother’s ring. Maybe it’s in remembrance of a good friend or loved one who you lost. It could also be a family heirloom or a jewelry gift. Whomever it’s for, sentimentality is another big reason you might see a ring on someone’s necklace. Potentially that ring isn’t actually theirs but previously belonged to someone they love. Maybe the necklace itself means something and it’s the sentimentality of the chain that’s important here rather than the ring itself. There are plenty of options.

Safety

Sometimes it’s a better idea to wear your ring on a necklace or chain than on your ring finger. If you travel often, especially with a nicer ring, it may be safer to keep it around your neck where it’s a bit more hidden. It’s an unfortunate truth, but you have to pay attention when you’re traveling (or even walking around your own city). Even if your ring is insured, you still want to be cautious.

You might be someone who works or crafts with your hands in ways unsafe for the ring or for you wearing it. Pottery and machinist work come to mind. In those cases, a ring on a necklace tucked under your top would be advisable.

Do note that wearing your ring around your neck isn’t inherently safer all the time. In the gym, for example, you could get the necklace caught on something and you’re likely safer leaving it in your locker, keeping the ring on or just wearing a silicone band while you work out.

You Just Want to

Sometimes it’s the simplest of options: personal preference. Wearing rings just isn’t something that everyone loves. Just because you aren’t a fan of rings doesn’t mean you just write off this time-honored show of commitment. Put that gold ring on a necklace and it doesn’t have to be on your finger. If your fingers swell (and newsflash, everyone is susceptible to finger swelling), you never have to worry about an uncomfortable ring causing problems. 

Should You Wear a Ring on a Necklace?

This is the first big question to get out of the way if you’re thinking about having a ring on a necklace. In short, yes, it’s perfectly fine to wear a ring on a necklace. It’s not any less safe (more on that later), and you aren’t at great risk of damaging it. In fact, if you have your ring on a necklace underneath your shirt, it might even be a bit safer than wearing it on your hand.

Does the Type of Necklace Matter?

The main reason it matters is for aesthetics. As long as your necklace matches your metal band (or complements it), you’re good in the fashion department. A good minimalist gold chain will always be a solid choice.

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If you like, you can opt for a ring holder necklace. These necklaces are designed exactly like the name implies: to hold your ring and keep it safe. While not necessary, it can be more comfortable, as it’ll prevent your ring from moving around as much as it would on a regular necklace. It can also be a good fashion statement if it looks good with your ring, but that’s really up to your taste.

You also don’t have to commit to one option or the other. If you have a necklace for your ring, you can obviously still choose to wear it on your hand (or vice versa) if you like. Go with whatever makes the most sense for you. 

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Header image source: shutterstock.com/AOFTO