What Are Fingertip Rings?

Some fingertip rings call to mind ancient armor.

Rings have played an integral role in fashion since the Stone Age, when early man learned how to turn gold into jewelry. Since then, rings have taken on many symbolic meanings -- marriage rings, the Papal ring, coronation rings --- and people know these symbolic rings well. However, contemporary fashion styles lead to other ring forms, such as the fingertip ring. Knowing what a fingertip ring is allows you to keep up with current trends in fashion.

Fingertip Rings

Fingertip rings come in a variety of forms, but simply enough, they cover or sit on the second or third section of the finger (the "middle phalanx" and "top phalanx," according to HumanHand.com). Just like other rings, jewelers can make them from any type of metal, bone, plastic, fabric or other material. And just like other rings, they carry their own set of symbolic meanings.

Multi-Finger Ring

Lady Gaga made multi-finger rings popular in the early 2010s; her merchandise sales from the 2011 "Born This Way" tour include a three-finger ring with the words "Lady Gaga" emblazoned on the face. Multi-finger rings recall the danger and tough attitude of brass knuckles. Most states, however, don't ban the donning of these finger rings, as they serve a fashion purpose rather than a violent purpose. Some states (such as Florida and California, which both have brass knuckle laws, according to Defensive Devices) could potentially see these rings as deadly weapons when used in a fight.

Finger Armor

Finger armor extends over the second knuckle from the back of the hand, generally ending before it reaches the highest knuckle on a finger. Although seen in some delicate styles, it generally covers the finger much like armor, earning it its namesake. The "goth" style has adopted this type of ring in many of its looks. For those who don't think that goth is a viable style: the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City held an exhibit in 2008 and 2009 that explored and featured Gothic style, including pieces from Rodarte, Christian Dior and the late Alexander McQueen.

Claws and Tips

A more extreme version of finger armor, claw rings generally extend over the entire finger, ending in a claw point beyond the fingertip. These claws can emulate any style of claw found in nature or attempt a futuristic look. Claws can add a symbolic aspect to a fingertip ring. For example, some native American tribes in New Mexico saw the bear claw as symbolic, while the eagle claw might represent American might.

References

• Lady Gaga Merchandise: Lady Gaga Clean Logo 3-Finger Ring
• Defensive Devices: Brass Knuckle Laws
• The Museum at FIT: Gothic: Dark Glamour
• New Mexico's Digital Collections: Petroglyph of Bear Claw Symbol
• Human Hand: Different Names for Different Knuckles
• Carnegie Mellon University; A Short History of Metals; Alan W. Cramb.