NOW IN ENGLISH! The cocktail ring & the right-hand feminism

Translated by Janna Lawson

More and more women and lovers of antique and vintage jewelry celebrate their lives, their first job, a new career, or becoming a homeowner with an investment in a beautiful ring. It is an item that you can wear daily and one which reminds you of what you’ve achieved.

I also prefer to wear at least one big ring on my right hand — and no, it’s not a wedding ring. While there is nothing wrong with that, I wear rings there for another, more historical reason. According to legend (and news articles), women have bought large gemstones for decades as a show of independence or to celebrate a milestone — and they wear them on their right hands. The right-hand ring is simply a celebration of yourself, worn to make a statement.

The right-hand ring — also called a “dress” or “cocktail” ring — dates from the 1920s. America was under prohibition, a law which dictated that alcohol was not allowed to be bought or consumed in open society. The right-hand symbolism comes from flappers — women who rebelled against the system and drank alcohol anyway, hence the “cocktail” ring. For the first time, women did what they wanted: they wore shorter dresses, were allowed to work, and enjoyed speakeasies where they smoked and drank right alongside the men. Because most people were right-handed, cocktail rings were easier to show off on that hand. The right-hand ring became a symbol of the power of an independent, working woman.

The tradition became truly popular when actresses like Elizabeth Taylor and Natalie Wood began wearing large rings on their right hands. It is never a bad idea to invest in yourself or your outward presentation — or to purchase a potential heirloom — making a cocktail ring an ideal choice to complement your jewelry box.

In the store and online shop, we have a large selection of cocktail rings that I would personally love to add to my jewelry collection. Which is your favorite?

Vintage gold ring with pink coral

Vintage gold ring with garnet stone

Rose diamond in a gold setting

Vintage amethyst stone in a gold setting

Gold setting with diamonds and large coral and lapis lazuli stones

Vintage gold cocktail ring with chrysoprase stone

Rose and yellow gold setting with amethyst stone

Statement ring with diamonds and green enamel

Vintage amber stone in a yellow gold setting

Yellow gold cocktail ring with smoked quartz and seed pearls

A large malachite stone in a gold setting

Old Dutch coral ring in a gold setting