Promise rings for couples

Couples Promise Rings Collection

Our unique collection of couple promise rings will bring you together and strengthen your relationship.

Give it to your partner so that you can move forward with a piece of each other around their finger. It’s a motivating element that will allow you to always have them by your side through the good times and bad of your day.

When to Give a Promise Ring

While promise rings are not the same as wedding rings, they should not be taken lightly. “A promise ring should be given after the couple has been together for a significant period of time—a year or more—to show that they are serious about their relationship,” says Kelly McLeskey-Dolata, founder of event planning and design firm A Savvy Event in the San Francisco Bay Area. So it goes without saying that you should only give or wear a promise ring when you are ready to commit.

Brinkman noted that the rise in popularity of promise rings echoes the growing trend of couples happily cohabiting and/or marrying later in life. Even if they aren’t ready to commit to marriage, or even if they don’t want to, a promise ring signals that their commitment goes beyond simply dating or living together.

Which Finger Should You Wear a Promise Ring On?

Which finger—or even hand—you wear your promise ring on is entirely up to you. Promise rings can be worn on any finger, says Brinkman, who adds that they’re sometimes worn on a chain around the neck, and these days, pinky promise rings are a popular trend. The most common way to wear a promise ring is on the ring finger—on the left hand if you’re unmarried, and on the right hand if you’re married. The reason rings are typically worn on the left ring finger is due to an ancient (and unfortunately anatomically incorrect) superstition that a vein runs directly from that finger to the heart.

What Should a Promise Ring Look Like?

When it comes to types of promise rings, anything goes. Seriously, there are no rules or requirements. Common styles and themes include hearts, infinity or interlocking designs to represent a couple’s union, Claddagh and eternity rings, and precious metal rings with a birthstone, mosaic or cluster of stones. They can also be a simple silver or gold band with an engraved message. Diamond promise rings are also popular, though they tend to be small carats and set in a cluster or row, unlike the classic solitaire diamond engagement ring.

“Engagement rings are sacred, whereas promise rings are often considered fashion items,” says Brinkman, who cautions against choosing a promise ring design that could compete with an engagement ring, even if that’s your ultimate intention. “They both serve a purpose,” she adds. “You want to make sure they don’t look exactly alike.

How to Give a Promise Ring

Another thing where there’s no hard and fast rule? How do you give your loved one an engagement ring? “It doesn’t come with the same traditional expectations of an elaborate, planned proposal, where the asker gets down on one knee. Promise rings are most often given on anniversaries, Valentine’s Day or a holiday,” McLeskey-Dolata says. Even a romantic dinner date is a great place for this meaningful exchange. “With a promise ring, it’s more of a conversation about the meaning of the ring and the promise that’s being made,” Brinkman says. “With an engagement, the focus is on the ring and the moment.

What to Do with a Promise Ring If You’re Getting Engaged

If you do get an engagement ring, you have a few options for what to do with your promise ring. You can wear it on your right hand, on another finger, on a chain, or keep it as a fashion statement. You can also embrace the stacked ring trend and wear all three rings—the promise ring, diamond engagement ring, and wedding band—on your ring finger.

What happens to your promise ring if you break up?

While promise rings are meant to represent a lifelong vow, things happen and relationships change. In this case, even if the promise is broken, promise rings aren’t always returned. The short answer? “It depends on the nature of the breakup,” Brinkman says.

For many couples, promise rings precede the engagement. If you’re ready to move from promise to proposal, check out these romantic proposal ideas. You can also check out How They Asked for some real proposal inspiration and even a proposal idea generator.