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Home > Blogs > Women's Life > Archives > 2011 > April > 01 > Entry
No wedding ring for Prince William
According to the Associated Press, Prince William has opted not to wear a wedding band, while his lovely fiancee Kate Middleton will wear one made of Welsh gold. Welsh gold is very rare and has been used in royal wedding rings for most of the past century.
My father’s side of the family is English, and while I’ve never been to Britain myself, I have an enduring curiosity about the royal family. I don’t really follow them closely as far as the tabloid gossip goes, but I still find myself peeking at the headlines when something major is going on. And for the record, I always preferred Harry over William. But maybe that’s just my ginger solidarity showing.
This announcement, if you can even call such a trivial detail an announcement, has sparked all sorts of discussion around the internet about the importance of men wearing wedding bands. It’s actually a rather recent tradition - according to Wikipedia, it’s only been within the past century that men started wearing rings as well as women.
A lot of single women seem to prefer that men wear a ring just so they know that man is off the market and not eligible. To some, a married man who chooses not to wear his ring is a man facing marital troubles or doubts, or someone seeking a little something on the side.
Others forgo the jewelry in favor of tattooed rings - they’re less expensive, impossible to lose or have stolen, and (theoretically) permanent. Still others will wear a different type of jewelry, like a necklace, especially if they do a lot of work with their hands and don’t want to risk damaging a ring or being injured. Not all women want to wear rings, either - for some, it makes them feel like property, as if they are somehow “branded” as belonging to a man, or like their love can be bought for the price of a diamond.
My husband’s band is made of titanium. We had looked at a lot of different kinds, but he has very thick fingers, and most of the bands he liked did not come in the size he needed - at least, not without paying another couple hundred bucks for the extra material. Titanium is dirt cheap - his ring cost all of $45. It’s also super lightweight. It looks heavy, but in your hand it feels almost like it’s made of plastic (leading to many jokes about having gotten it out of the gumball machine). It has one major disadvantage, though: titanium cannot be cut, so if he were ever to get his ring caught on something, he’d likely lose the whole finger. Luckily for both of us, he works in IT and is at less risk of snagging himself than a construction worker, a machinist or a landscaper, for example.
I wear both my rings all the time. I only take them off when I’m exercising. I lift weights and use the rowing machine a lot, and I’ve just recently taken up pole dancing as a form of exercise. All three activities involve gripping, and when rings are on, that usually means a lot of pinching. And occasionally I’ll take them off if I’m doing something really messy like kneading dough, gardening or painting. But when I’m out in public, they’re always on. I’m not too concerned about advertising my marital status; I’m just used to wearing them and feel weird without them on.
To my knowledge, Hubby always wears his, too. But I don’t think I’d be offended if he didn’t. I trust him not to be dishonest about being married if some woman starts hitting on him. I’m actually pretty tolerant of casual flirting. Flirting is fun; a lot of people do it without having any particular goal or motive in mind. My husband is very charismatic and flirtatious himself, so I don’t blame other women for falling for his charm. At the end of the night, ring or no ring, he’s coming home with/to me, and that’s what matters. If anything, I think he would be upset if I chose not to wear my rings.
How do you feel about men wearing wedding rings? Does your husband wear one (if you’re the husband, you can answer for yourself), or if you’re unmarried, would you care if your hubby-to-be wanted to go ringless?
Comments
By Glenwood Springs CO Photographer
April 1, 2011 10:37 PM | Link to this
My husband always wears his wedding ring. I think most men should wear them so women know he’s not available. However, Prince William being who he is, everyone will know he’s married anyway.
By MW
April 1, 2011 10:46 PM | Link to this
Really… wikipedia is your source?!? That’s real reliable.
By Ring?
April 1, 2011 10:46 PM | Link to this
I wear my wedding ring, my wife wears hers. The ring doesn’t bother me…it’s the ball and chain attached to my leg.
By Marisa Becker
April 1, 2011 11:13 PM | Link to this
MW - Wikipedia is actually a lot more closely monitored these days than it used to be. I wouldn’t use it as the basis for an academic paper, but for a general statement on the tradition of wearing wedding rings, I don’t see the harm in referencing Wikipedia. In my experience it’s been very reliable, and most articles are cross-referenced to non-Wiki sources when a fact or statement needs additional verification.
By Katie
April 1, 2011 11:40 PM | Link to this
I agree that Prince William can get away this where the average man would have more problems. It’s not like he can go to the local pub sans ring and pick up some chick. “I’m single I swear!” I think for the average joe wedding rings are a nice tradition, but since rings are so easily removable, they’re not actually a good social indicator of relationship status.
By Royal watchdog
April 2, 2011 9:01 AM | Link to this
He is not obligated to anyone except the Queen. Or in Charles’ case Camilla da Thrilla.
By Big Jack
April 2, 2011 10:34 AM | Link to this
I’ve been happily married for well over a decade and almost never wear any of my rings. In my experience, a ring doesn’t stop a girl on the prowl anyway. I usually wear a wedding band when we go out for special dates, but that’s usually about it.
By Crown jewels
April 2, 2011 11:43 AM | Link to this
Guys know if they’re devoted or not, you just have to read the signs. I read somewhere that Prince William doesn’t wear jewelry in general, so maybe he has an allergy of some sort. It’s too bad since the royal family has so much jewelry at their disposal. My father-in-law has an id bracelet with his wife’s name on it — his idea. I was up early for the last big royal wedding, and I’m looking forward to this one as well. Love the details.
By angela
April 2, 2011 12:00 PM | Link to this
Married women tend to wear their ‘wedding rings’ a lot more than men do. I guess it makes them feel secure.(?)
By Laura
April 2, 2011 12:46 PM | Link to this
I wear mine only when I go out. It catches on things so I never wear it at home. Hubby hasn’t worn his for years. I don’t care. I trust him completely. As to William, can you imagine if he started out wearing one and then forgot to put it on in public just once? The rumors of trouble would be rampant. Better he never started.
By Ashley
April 2, 2011 12:57 PM | Link to this
I don’t necessarily know if it’s as much about ‘feeling secure’, as it is about liking the ring, maybe? My engagement ring doesn’t leave my finger. It’s 2 karats, and GORGEOUS. I am personally a diamonds kinda girl - so I naturally love wearing it. For women who don’t like jewelry in general, they may not want to wear a ring — it’s a preference. Reading all this “Oh, he doesn’t wear a wedding ring …must mean they’ve got some serious marital isssueeess girl” is SO ridiculous.
By JO
April 2, 2011 1:06 PM | Link to this
A piece of metal or stone is just a symbol. Symbols are by definition - a visible sign of something invisible…. It’s a personal choice. I say, do what you want, w/o explanation to anyone!
By Real men don't wear jewelry
April 2, 2011 1:39 PM | Link to this
I’ve been married 32 years. Never had a ring. A waste of money.
By Cynthia
April 2, 2011 3:34 PM | Link to this
I have always worn my engagement & wedding band for 25 years, but my husband does not. He works around machinery and can’t wear one. I would rather have him safe and ringless. Women still flirt and that just makes him feel good, but I’ve never had to worry.
By Richard
April 2, 2011 8:16 PM | Link to this
I’ve been divorced for 15 years. If I go out, I dig out my old wedding ring. Never known it to keep a relationship from starting! Far from it! Ah, Eve and the forbidden apple!
By ghdl
April 3, 2011 12:46 PM | Link to this
Some people choose not to wear rings or watches due to their work environment. Sometimes due to safety. A ring does not stop affairs or cheating. The heart and mind do.
By susan
April 3, 2011 8:41 PM | Link to this
been married nearly 25 years, and neither one of us wear rings. His work makes it dangerous, and rings bother me. rings don’t make a marriage, love, trust, friendship and faith do.
By oldtimer
April 4, 2011 6:05 AM | Link to this
We just recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and I proudly wear my ring for everyone to see as a symbol of my undying love for the beautiful woman I married.
By Squirrellygirl
April 4, 2011 8:10 AM | Link to this
I’m single now, but if I were married I would expect my husband to wear his wedding ring. There’s a few good girls left in this world. I always look for a ring before I decide to flirt with a guy. If he has a ring, bye bye. Some women don’t care, but they aren’t any good. That’s my opinion.
By Erika
April 4, 2011 8:10 AM | Link to this
My husband works at a steel place if he had a ring on it would just be a waste of money it would be ruined in one day and after work we are always together so it dont bother me that he dont ware a ring, plus I trust him, after all these years if I dont than there is a problem.
By TinaK
April 4, 2011 8:49 AM | Link to this
My husband is an electrician. If he’s at work, he doesn’t wear the ring. I’m fine with that. Less chance of an injury (or worse) on the job. He wears it otherwise. If he didn’t, it wouldn’t matter. I trust him not to do something he shouldn’t, and a lot of women won’t be stopped by a ring if they really want to get something started anyway. The ring shouldn’t be relied on to stop a woman - the man WEARING the ring should.
By Jennifer
April 4, 2011 8:57 AM | Link to this
Actually, titanium rings can be cut off, so your husband would never lose his finger in the event of an injury. The only difference between a titanium ring and one made of gold or platinum is that the attending physician would need to make two cuts to the ring, rather than the typical one. Titanium is a tough metal, and so it will not bend, thus the need for two cuts. Hope this brings you a little peace of mind.
By Marina
April 4, 2011 9:47 AM | Link to this
use the wedding ring is only a tradition, because I’ve seen people who have removed the wedding ring, the man who wants to be faithful in marriage it will use or not use the ring, remember that God looks at the intentions of the heart, and there No one can lie, which is what will be faithful until death.
By Tony
April 4, 2011 10:21 AM | Link to this
I wear mine and the wife wears hers. Typically, only take it off to get it cleaned or if I am working with something dirty/greasy and so on. Its like my watch to me…feels like something is missing when I’m not wearing it.
By Sarah
April 7, 2011 9:11 AM | Link to this
We should also care more about women’s sexual health. STDdatings. com says 1 in 4 teen girls got stds. Over 70 million people are living with STDs in the U.S. There’s 600,000+ members on STDdatings, some famous people also find support there. wish you luck and find someone understand you.
By gail
April 20, 2011 1:00 PM | Link to this
i always wear mine just because i love him so much, it”s a symbol that i love and proud to be his. he wearr a titiaum ring from walmart and loves it. usually wears his unless workin g on a car. not just to show girls that he.s off limits. just that the rings symbol your love to one another. the prince well he can do what he wants has big time money. the world will know if hes married or not. the rings just show that two peolple have been joined togeather.
By Amanda
April 27, 2011 10:55 AM | Link to this
I think wearing a wedding ring is a sign of your commitment ro your spouse. If your relationship is secure enough not to have one then that is your opinion.
By Amanda
April 27, 2011 10:55 AM | Link to this
I think wearing a wedding ring is a sign of your commitment ro your spouse. If your relationship is secure enough not to have one then that is your opinion.