The Cultural Importance of Diamond Right Hand Rings

What is it that diamond right hand rings say about us as a culture? The emerging prevalence of these types of rings in the past few decades begins highlighting a particularly interesting trend among female jewelry customers - a renewed attitude towards self-empowerment, feminist agency, and style, all attained without sacrificing or demonizing the love of the stereotypically feminine. Wearing this kind of ring on your right hand is a symbol and a reminder, for others and yourself, of your own inner power, strength, and desire to subvert harmful and toxic cultural narratives.

These rings have begun to surface as a newer sort of style, in stark contrast to the typical left handed engagement ring. Commitment and ownership, often symbolized through the patriarchal system of marriage that has been systematically used to own and control females since its institutional inception, is subverted by the right hand ring. In switching the role of a diamond ring - the right hand rings differ from engagement rings in that they are usually made up of small clusters instead of single centerpieces - we see this form of jewelry as a subtle subversion of cultural norms.

Sometimes the diamonds are laid out evenly and clustered together, and sometimes they are more sporadically laid out, evenly spaced across the band.  These jewelry pieces are all about independence. In keeping with the ideology symbolized by the right hand ring, there are no particular standardized formal rules for design type. Like the modern woman, these rings represent the opportunity for self-definition, growth, and change.

Do Jewelry Stores Use Special Lighting?

It is a common statement people make about almost anything that they buy, and it is all basically a version of the following statement: “It didn’t look like this in the store.” Whether it is a new haircut or a used car, people always have some sense of misgiving about it when they get home. Some of that is psychological, a feeling of what is known as “buyer’s remorse.” Even if you aren’t unhappy with what you bought, there is still a pang of guilt, especially when it comes to a big ticket item, when you think of how much it cost. Some of it is true, however. Jewelry stores are designed to make the products they are selling look attractive so you buy them. Therefore, it makes sense to ask: Do jewelers use special lighting?

In a word, yes, but it is not for any nefarious purpose. The reason they do is so that you can see all the aspects of what it is you are buying. Gem stones have special cuts and jewelers want to make sure that you can see all of the brilliance so you know that you are buying exactly what you want. Without that lighting, you wouldn’t be able to make an informed decision. Naturally, when you get home you won’t have the same lighting so you won’t see all the brilliance you saw in the store. Do jewelers use special lighting? You better believe it, and you should be happy that they do.