Do Men Wear Engagement Rings? All Your Questions Answered

When an engagement is looming and a discussion about rings comes up, you might wonder: do men wear engagement rings? In our society, it's pretty traditional for the bride-to-be to don a sparkly diamond engagement ring leading up to the wedding, while men typically wait until the big day to slip a wedding band on their finger. However, just because that's the norm doesn't mean it's something you have to do. Just with anything else wedding-related, you can do what feels right for you and your significant other—because who says only a bride should get to enjoy such a beautiful piece of jewelry? Read on to get the answers to all of your questions about engagement rings for men.

Do Men Wear Engagement Rings?

In the United States and some other parts of the world, engagement rings are traditionally considered something the bride wears. That said, there is certainly no rule that says men can't wear engagement rings. If you're a man who has been proposed to by their partner, wants to show off their commitment to their relationship or simply enjoys jewelry, an engagement ring can be a great option.

In fact, it's actually becoming a lot more popular for men to wear engagement rings after a proposal (especially a double proposal), which kind of makes sense. When engagement rings first became popular, they symbolized a man's "ownership" of a woman. Engagement and marriage are no longer seen that way in Western societies, so it makes sense that the engagement ring would take on a different meaning as well. In recent years, celebrities like Ed Sheeran, Ryan Reynolds, David Beckham and Michael Buble have shown off their engagement rings, setting a precedent for others.

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And while engagement rings for men might not be the norm in the United States just yet, that's not the case in other countries, like Chile, Sweden, Iceland and Brazil. In these countries, it's tradition for men and women to exchange rings at the time of engagement, rather than only one person receiving a ring.

A Brief History of Engagement Rings for Men

The history of engagement rings dates all the way back to Ancient Rome when historians believe that women wore rings attached to small keys to indicate that they were getting married.

There is some history of men wearing engagement rings as well. In 1525, gimmel rings were often used as engagement rings. These featured two or three hoops that fit together to form one ring, and a man and woman would each wear one part of the ring after getting engaged. At their wedding ceremony, the rings would become reconnected and then the bride would wear them.

In Western societies, after World War II, there was a bit of a push towards men wearing engagement rings. It started to become something of a trend, but never took hold enough to stick around for long. And in 2015, after the legalization of same-sex marriage, male-focused engagement rings became more popular once again, especially for LGBTQ+ couples.

How Do Men Wear Engagement Rings?

Since engagement rings for men are a newer trend in many parts of the world, there aren't quite as many traditions to follow. Still, it's interesting to see how other men around the world are wearing their engagement rings.

Match With Their Partner

Some countries have long histories of men wearing engagement rings. In Sweden, for example, a traditional engagement involved a couple exchanging gold engagement bands, which were seen as a symbol of equality between men and women. While this was a tradition that dates back centuries, it has since evolved a bit, and now women usually get a diamond engagement ring while men get a gold ring. In Brazil, the couple traditionally wears matching rings up until their wedding, where they can be replaced with a wedding ring.

They Forgo the Traditional Diamond Ring

A quick search for men's engagement rings online shows that many of the options out there don't look like traditional diamond engagement rings. In fact, many of the engagement rings for men that are sold look more similar to a fancier wedding band. Men's engagement rings tend to be a bit bulkier, wider and more simple than the classic diamond rings many brides wear.

They Wear a Ring That Complements Their Partner's Ring

Even if men choose not to wear the exact same ring as their partner, they may opt for an engagement ring that complements their other half's ring. This might mean wearing a simple band that is the same metal as what is used in their partner's ring. They might choose to wear a band with a small diamond in the same cut or the same alternative gemstone. Basically, if you put the rings next to each other, they might end up looking like a set.

They Wear Them on Their Right Hand

In the United States and many other parts of the world, it's tradition to wear an engagement ring on the wedding ring finger (fourth finger of the left hand). However, in some countries (including Chile, Switzerland and Greece) men will wear their engagement ring (or wedding band) on the fourth finger of their right hand

Wearing the Same Ring After the Wedding

Traditionally, brides wear only an engagement ring up until their wedding day, when they add a wedding band alongside it. Oftentimes, men who wear engagement rings will wear that ring both before and after their wedding day. Men can, of course, choose to add another ring alongside that ring as a stack, but many will continue to wear that same ring after the wedding day as well. This is often a matter of personal preference.