One might be tempted to think that the meaning behind men’s ring placement is as simple as the traditional wedding ring. And while a ring placed on the “ring” finger of the left hand is the most widely recognized symbolic placement, there are other meanings to men’s rings, depending on the finger they adorn and their orientation on the hand.

One of the most famous and complex examples of this is the Claddagh ring. A traditional symbol of love among the Irish, this band features a pair of hands holding a heart, with a crown resting on top. When worn on the right hand with the heart facing the world, it shows a person’s open heart and readiness to find love. When worn with the heart pointing towards your own heart, it symbolizes how your love has already been captured by another. When worn on the left hand, an outward heart shows your commitment to another; an inner heart means they are married.

Wedding bands are a better known example. Worn on the left hand in modern Western culture, they belong on the “ring finger”. Traditionally, no other ring (other than an engagement ring) should be worn on that finger. The left hand was believed to have the “vein of love” along its ring finger, directly connected to the heart. Therefore, a ring on that finger was as close as possible to the wearer’s heart.

Pinky rings have the unique position of having no cultural or historical background. However, there are two examples of variations: the engineer’s ring or the iron ring is worn by many professional Canadian engineers, and each is said to be made from a piece of the poorly designed Quebec bridge that collapsed in the early 20th century. ; the other is the Signet ring, which in times past was used to create a stamp or seal, used in place of a signature on a document.

Another location of meaning is not a finger at all. The thumb ring can be a symbol of your sexuality, a fashion statement, or for archery. In some circles, a thumb ring on the right hand indicates a gay or lesbian lifestyle. In other circles, of course, sometimes a thumb ring is just a thumb ring, worn there because the piece of jewelry in question was simply too big to wear on any normal finger, or as a fashion statement. And for some who practice the art of archery, a thumb ring is a tool in a certain style of bow drawing, meant to protect the flesh of the thumb.

In the end, it pays to know what kind of men’s ring you’re wearing, and while you should know which finger you’re wearing it on, don’t let these rules rule your life. A ring is a possession, and as such, you define it, not the other way around.