Wedding (or whatever) Ring: Right hand or left?
As we know, string players often wear theirs on their right hand. In my orchestra, I've noticed that, although we have a few violinists who wear theirs on the left hand, the "left-handers" are mostly violists & bass players. (insert viola joke here.)
Replies (53)
I wear mine on my left hand, but I remove it when I play any instruments (strings or woodwinds). I don't like having the extra weight, slight as it might be.
Hey Bruce, Left hand. I guess I'm different. Terry
Left hand.
I don't wear mine at all. I did have to clear the idea with my wife -). She's understanding about it, being a violinist herself.
Larry Samuels
I don't wear mine either. My husband understands.
I only wear my wedding band, and I wear it on my left hand. I only wear my engagement ring when I am going somewhere where I know I won't be playing. I did have a teacher that wore both wedding band and engagement ring on her right hand. She hated the way they felt on her left while she was playing, and her husband wanted her to wear them all the time.
I know a lot of violinists who wear their wedding rings/bands on their right hands, or not at all. I had thought to switch from left to right when I played, until I learned that my ring fingers are completely different sizes! The ring was fitted to my left hand, and I didn't notice a big difference...plus I love how it sparkles when my fingers move! (I read once that it's not good to have visual distractions like a flashing wedding ring when you play...but how distracting can it be?)
Left hand. I have noticed that the top tier professionals seem to wear it on their right. It has never been a problem for me, but then, I am not a top tier player.
I wear wedding ring and engagement ring on my right hand. I found that if my engagement ring slid sideways, the stones would get in the way so I moved both to the right hand. But, I do wear a small signet ring on my left. It's flat so it doesn't get in the way at all.
I wear my wedding band on the right hand all the time. But being Greek Orthodox that's where we normally wear our wedding band anyway. I don't like to see rings/bracelets on violinists' hands when they play. It's visually inconsistent in my mind.
I wear mine on my left. It's a 2 ct diamond set in platinum (not bragging, just giving you a visual). It's very heavy, but my hand feels funny without it.
I only wear a wedding band on my left, but I can't get it off now, and it would be too small to wear on my right hand. I would switch if I could. In Poland it's usual to wear it on your right hand. I may get another one and I'll definitely wear it on my right hand.
I'm a violist that uses a rather large viola(17 inches). Ofcourse if I could marry(I'm homosexual) I would probally wear the rig on my right hand, but I do wear a wide platnium band on my right hand now.
Right hand - it never occurred to me to put it on my left...
Blake - That's why I said "wedding (or whatever) ring." My state recently passed a domestic dartnership law, but somehow "Domestic Partnership Ring" doesn't have quite the same...
pardon the pun...
RING to it.
Sorry about that.
*grimaces, grabs forehead*
Anyway, I just call mine "my ring." And I wear it on my left hand.
I wore my ring on the left hand. But it's no longer an issue because I've lost both of them.
Hands or rings?
Megan, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Except that Scott, did you once post some comments about the pain of a recent separation/divorce? No joking matter, that. It was quite affecting to read. If that was indeed your post/situation, I hope things are now easier. And that you still have your left hand. : /
I wear both on my left hand, but take them off when I play (and when I sleep - I get a rash if I wear them overnight).
Well since we've gone in this direction, I will now ask the question of Bernadette that I refrained from asking before:
New ring, or new Polish husband?
Terez,
No, I'm not divorced or separated. Are you sure it was me?
As to whether I was referring to my hand or the ring(s): just be careful when someone says "lend me a hand."
No rings. Not a jewellery person. Nor do I see the point of my fingers being wrapped by expensive metal straps. They sometimes look good on other people's fingers though.
>Terez,
No, I'm not divorced or separated. Are you sure it was me?
Ah. Safe to say, then, that it wasn't you. But then, ewww, that must mean you really DID lose your left hand. Are you sure you wouldn't rather just lose a spouse? : /
I wear mine on a gold chain around my neck. Doesn't affect my fingers at all and-- hey-- it's closer to my heart.
Probably those who oppose the idea of wearing a ring on their left hand (as I did) would be surprised to find that, if they do give it a try, after a while it feels like the ring is not even there! Then again, I am no great player... and I like peanut butter after first absolutely hating it :-)
Left hand, just a simple band. Not a jewelry person either - that's the only jewelry I wear.
Come to think of it, the only “jewellery” I wear is my stainless steel watch. But I always take it off when I’m playing. I wonder how many violinists wearing a watch when playing?
I wear my rings on my left hand. Since my engagement and wedding rings have been permanently welded (soldered?) together, they are one unit. I take everything off when I play...that is to say, all my jewelry. (Though perhaps my performances could be a bit more interesting if...) ;-)
I can't stand to have any rings/bracelets/watches on at all when I play. When I was taking physical therapy for my tendonitis (elbows) my PT told me not to have ANY jewelry on when I played as the slightest bit of swelling could cause problems with jewelry. Don't know if he was being overly dramatic, but I do feel better with nothing on my hands.
Left hand. It's never bothered me while playing.
I was thinking about the same question when I noticed that the string section of the San Francisco Symphony had rings almost exclusively on their right hands.
I don't wear a whatever ring but if I did it would be on the right.
I wear my wedding ring on my right hand. It's a gold band, and it does not cause any trouble for playing. When my wife and I were engaged, I wore it on my left hand, and it did not cause any trouble either.
In the Netherlands, it is (or perhaps was) traditional to do it that way: left hand for an engagement ring, switch to the right when you marry. That is, if you are Protestant. The Catholics do (or did?) it the other way round.
I purposefully requested a plain platinum band from my husband (to his relief, I'm sure)...no rocks/texture/bumps. I wear it on my left hand ring finger and it has never inconvenienced me in playing.
I have worn my wedding ring on my left hand (can't wear my engagement ring anymore), but when I was in college, my professor was very much against wearing any jewelry on the left hand or wrist (including watches).
However, I know several very good violinists who wear their rings on their left hands.
OK, Bruce, just for the record, new ring, not new husband yet - he's till death do us part - and it hasn't yet. Sometimes we have to be so clear on this site :-)
I wear both the wedding and engagement ring all the time; when I play I switch it over to the right hand, then back to the left when I'm not playing!
Bruce . . . I live in Georgia so that's not happening any time soon lol and besides I'm only 15 so I don't even have to worry abot getting married.
Blake - all I'm gonna say is: practice hard through college, and win a job in Canada!
OK, shutting up now, before this thread takes a sharp left into politics...
I wear both my engagement and wedding ring on my left hand, that is, when I wear them. I practice martial arts and I do not wear rings when I train, so most of the time I don't wear them at all. But when I do wear them, it does not bother me at all.
Plain band on my left hand, diamond engagement ring and anniversary band on my right. The band doesn't get in the way but the stones do even though they're rather modest. Most of my colleagues wear their rings on the right hands but not all.
I wear both rings on my right hand all the time. I tried wearing them on my left, but after spending most of my life never wearing jewelery on my left hand or wrist, it just felt too strange.
Love has the power to make our dream come true. Similarly, my love is like where you go and stay, I will be with you. I won’t allow you to walk alone because we promise to live together. My parents asked me to wear my engagement ring https://www.elmajewellery.co.uk/russian-rings-c-243_423.html on the left hand because it’s directly connected to your partner’s heart. The most wonderful thing we decided to share long life is our love, heart and respect. It is like two hearts but they beat as one.
When I have a ring, I switch to right hand, or I cannot play with good left hand form.
how are you going to play fast parts with your ring on the left hand? it would be constantly chafing on your fingers.... i shudder just thinking about it.
Sounds like everyone is having a problem with their beau hold. (Or is it that with a ring on the left hand ring finger it's harder to thrill?)
.....I know, I know - you're going to ask me how I got on the staff.
I thought most mainland Europeans wore their rings on their right hand anyway and wearing them on the left hand was an English-speaking thing.
If I try to wear even a watch on my left wrist I need to take it off - right wrist isn't so bad, but I am more comfortable without.
"On which hand would you wear a bracelet or ring?" Test and decide for yourself what is most comfortable. I wear bracelets on both hands and it's not a problem for me. I have no experience with rings whatsoever.
I'll have to agree with Emily Grossman, always on the left and has never bothered me. (yes I know I'm 20 and already married haha)
As a male, I have a simple band, and wear it on my left hand. When I used to wear my huge college/fraternity ring, it was on the right hand. It was just too cumbersome for me to play well with it on the left hand. (And yes, I am a violist.)
I wear my wedding ring on my left hand but made sure I got a thin one. I have no problem with it at all. Just don't get a thick ring.
I have a small wedding band and wear it on my left had with no problem. I don't know notice it hitting the violin, at least.
I also wear a largish stainless automatic diver's watch on my left hand, and it's not a problem either. I keep the band fairly tight, though, as I don't like it flopping up and down my arm.
However, I started wearing these accessories during my absence from the violin and got used to them before I started playing again, so they didn't bother me at all when I did start playing. I wonder if you play constantly from childhood, when you don't usually wear such accessories, if that impacts which hand you wear them on because it would be weird to spend years playing without them and then one day try to play with them on.
Fine gold band on left hand, watch on right wrist. No problems with either.
Cheers Carlo
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March 19, 2008 at 05:39 PM · I'm a violinist and when I was married I wore mine on my left hand. My former teacher, Felicia Moye, wore her wedding band (and her engagement ring with a huge rock) on her left hand as well.