Fashion Rings

That is a lovely ring you are wearing — is it real? All rings are real; the real question is whether they are made of real gems and real gold. A ring is a round band, usually of metal, worn as an ornamental piece of jewelry around the finger, or sometimes the toe — and fashion rings are the branch of the family made to complete an outfit rather than to hold value.

Fashion Jewelry Versus Fine Jewelry

Fashion jewelry, also known as costume jewelry, is usually made with base metals and simulated stones. The difference between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry lies in the materials: fashion pieces are often made with brass, copper or aluminium, which may bend and tarnish easily, while fine jewelry is regarded primarily as collectible, keepsake or investment.

Modern costume jewelry incorporates a wide range of materials. High-end crystals, cubic zirconia simulated diamonds and some semi-precious stones stand in for precious stones; metals include gold- or silver-plated brass, and sometimes vermeil or sterling silver. Lower-priced pieces may still use gold plating over pewter, nickel or other metals, some pieces incorporate plastic, acrylic, leather or wood, and items made in some countries outside the United States may contain lead — one more reason to buy costume rings from sellers who state their materials.

What Rings Mean

Although some rings are worn as mere ornaments, or as conspicuous displays of wealth, rings carry symbolic functions: marriage, exceptional achievement, high status or authority, and membership in an organisation. The world offers many named styles — birthstone rings, class rings, championship rings, engagement rings, eternity rings, mood rings, purity rings and rosary rings among them.

Rings are not only for fingers. Toe rings are worn on the toes, and rings are occasionally re-purposed to hang from bracelets or necklaces. The fashion jewelry summary and the fashion earrings summary linked from this page cover the neighbouring pieces of a costume jewelry wardrobe.

Wearing Rings Well

A few working tips govern the wearing. Multiple rings on each hand are occasionally in fashion, and the stacked look works best when the metals agree and one ring is allowed to lead. Scale matters: a wide band shortens the finger's appearance, a slim one lengthens it, and a statement ring earns its attention by not competing with three others. Care matters more for fashion rings than for fine ones, because plated base metals repay gentleness — water, perfume and cleaning chemicals all shorten a costume ring's life, and storing pieces separately keeps plated surfaces from rubbing through. The wedding ring convention anchors the hand's symbolism: the fourth digit of the left hand in much of the world, the right hand in certain countries, a reminder that even the most decorative jewelry family carries meanings its wearer did not invent and cannot entirely ignore.