Why do people wear wedding bands on their fourth finger (aka the ring finger)? ____________________
.
"The fourth finger was the most usual place for the wedding ring. A longstanding belief, derived from the Roman authors Aulus Gellius and Macrobius, held that a vein ran directly from the heart to the fourth finger of the right hand so that 'rings hereon peculiarly affect the heart'. By 1549, however, Edward VI's Book of Common Prayer specified the use of the left hand for weddings. In 1646, discussing the former use of the right hand, Sir Thomas Browne considered that tradition to have been based on upon a 'vulgar error', or mistranslation, and that Macrobius had been speaking of the left hand all along." - excerpt from Rachel Church's book, "Rings" (V&A Publishing, 2011) Page 39.
.
So now, is it supposed to be the left hand or the right? We don't take traditional too seriously @ftjco, but the history is interesting... 😉 We invite you to write your own tradition for your bands if you so choose.
.
Photographed here: Two Low Dome Bevelled Bands in AKARA Label 18k yellow gold with satin finishes. The band on the right is 5 mm wide, and the band on the right is 4 mm wide, with a flush set 2 mm round brilliant-cut diamond for a little sparkle.
.
.
.
#akaragold #peopleplusplanet #BCorp #RJC #Fairmined #fairtrade #fairtradegold #askforAGS #weareanAGSjeweler #jewelersmutual #ethicalmetalsmiths #responsiblysourced