Russian Wedding Band?

Oct 27, 2010 11:18

Setting: Modern Day ( Read more... )

russia (misc), ~weddings

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Comments 13

camelopard October 27 2010, 19:20:53 UTC
It’s a plain band on the right hand, fourth finger. Male and female have identical rings. Having engagement ring is a rare case.

This is what is the most common. In the individual cases it might be different ring’s style for husbands and wives, or tri-band, or even engagement ring. But on the right hand (ring on the left hand means widow/er).

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eclecticquill October 27 2010, 19:32:22 UTC
Delphinus, thank you for the reply. It is very helpful.

I have one question though. About wearing a ring on the left hand. At one point, I even resorted to looking a pictures of married Russian women. Though, I still couldn't find a consensus, I noticed that Raisa Gorbachev wore a ring on the third finger of her left hand. I couldn't spot any other rings on either the right or left hands. At least in that particular picture.

Does that have any significance?

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camelopard October 27 2010, 19:51:08 UTC
As far as I know, there are no significant reasons for the ring on the third finger, it’s just jewelry. Ring is definitely significant on the forth finger for both hands (married or widowed). Also it might have some meaning if it’s a ring on the male’s pinky or female’s thumb (it’s about sexual orientation), but it’s not that common and widely using sign.

And I’m completely agree with the comment below: nowadays it is popular to adopt western countries traditions, so it’s quite possible for your character to use them. Especially if his chosen one is American and he wants to please her.

If you have any more questions don't hesitate and just ask :)

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anghara October 28 2010, 01:09:11 UTC
A ring on the ring finger on the left hand can mean that a couple is engaged - the rings get transferred to the right hand when they are married.

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jgofri October 27 2010, 19:29:51 UTC
Traditionally - on the right hand, and a band only. It was usually a plain yellow gold band (if it matters at all, the yellow gold in Russia is has a slightly different shade of yellow then in the US). Also, wearing band on your left hand meant that the person is a widow/widower. There didn't use to be the "engagement ring" tradition.
However, in the last 10 years some people in Russia started to adopt Western traditions in terms of engagement rings and wearing sets. In this, you could go either way. Traditions do change - that's probably why you got conflicting results. I am pretty sure they still wear it on the right hand, though.
As for the three interlocking bands - that is not very common, it is purely the matter of personal choice, kind of like whether to have or not to have precious stones in it etc. It is viewed as one ring, not as a set (if you are talkig about what I think you are talking about, then the rings are very thin and not meant to be worn separately)
Hope this helps.

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verrucaria October 28 2010, 21:19:57 UTC
Yes. Typical Russian gold has a pinkish hue on account of the copper added to it. (Golden jewelry is never pure gold. Other metals are added to increase its hardness*, and probably for other reasons.)

*pure gold is extremely soft

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zeecoldwater October 27 2010, 20:11:23 UTC
Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, plain gold bands (fourth finger on right hand) would've been standard. Right now? It's probably still the same, though it depends on how much the character in question is enamored with the West and especially America.

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eclecticquill October 27 2010, 20:52:13 UTC
Interesting thought. One of the ideas I had for the character was that he is "caught between' feeling American/Westernized and being Russian. So I was leaning towards the piece of information I found that had (for the wife) a tri-band on the right and bridal set on the left.

It is conflicting but that is kind of the idea. However, even if conflicting, I didn't want to be noticeably weird.

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deepbluemermaid October 27 2010, 20:49:35 UTC
My Russian friends in England were wearing their wedding bands on their right hand, fourth finger. That was 2003-2004; they'd married in Russia, then moved to England. I'd guess they were in their early/mid 20s.

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kianspo October 27 2010, 22:45:08 UTC
4th finger, right hand. That hasn't changed.

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