There are plenty of people we could assign blame (or give thanks depending on your stance) for the resurgence of wearing too many rings: Harry Styles for one, Liberace for another, or the recently trending ‘Mob Wife aesthetic’ for a third. Men’s rings were once a category from which you had to choose one or two things: a simple gold ring to go alongside your wedding ring, or a signet ring, too, if you were feeling particularly daring. Now, wearing all of these and more is de rigeur.
Traditionally a symbol (in the way that engagement rings still are) rather than a fashion accessory, men’s rings have come to share a lot in common with tattoos. While you could have them permanently welded on like so many inky roses, we’re referring more to how they can be a signifier of status, class or religion, like military tattoos. Rings are now less of an identifier of social position or status, but much more of a representation of personal style and just something that pretty much everyone has — and has a lot of.
While the trend towards wearing as much adornment on your fingers as humanly possible may be a fleeting thing, the practice of owning and wearing at least one piece beyond your wedding band is likely to stick around. And while many guys don’t tend to stray into other areas of men’s jewellery such as necklaces or bracelets, we can bet that most of them want to be wearing two things: a watch and something on their knuckles.
Want a fistful of bling to rival Snoop Dogg’s collection? Or just fancy a simple metal ring with onyx or black titanium? We got you: here is our pick of everything from the minimalist to the mind-bending.