By Anna Piekarski
A woman’s left hand has always been reserved for certain rings – like the wedding ring and an engagement ring – and traditionally the right hand has been lacking any adornment. But this is changing as instead of waiting for a husband or boyfriend to buy them jewelry, women are flocking to stores in search of decorating their other fingers.
“They come in and ask for right hand rings,” says Maria Bettencourt, a manager at Bob Thompson Jewellers.
The Bank Street store is dimly lit and cases of jewels line the walls. Little spotlights shine down on the jewelry, setting each gold and diamond piece sparkling as it sits on its own velvet pillow.
An entire case of jewelry is devoted to right hand rings.
These pieces don’t look like traditional rings. They are bigger and the settings resemble flowers or the diamonds are grouped in clusters.
“People don’t want traditional,” Bettencourt says.
Stephanie Demers already has a large blue sapphire ring on her right hand, but she is looking for another jewel to adorn her index finger.
Demers, 29, works as a receptionist and she says she has to dress conservatively at work so she likes to wear different jewelry. “It’s a way to express myself,” Demers says.
At Rings Etc. on Bank Street cases of rings line the walls and employee Tammy Nelson says women are often the ones browsing the displays.
“More and more they are buying their own,” Nelson says.
Ring Etc. owner Stan Wise says they usually sell about 10 smaller rings each day.
“A little $100 to $200 ring, women come in and buy those all the time,” Wise says.
The Diamond Trading Company, the world’s leading diamond sales and marketing firm, is directing its advertising at women.
The company’s website says, “the newest trend in diamond jewelry is the diamond right hand ring. The diamond right hand ring signifies the strength, success and independence of women. Women of the world, raise your right hand!”
Bettencourt says she thinks the right hand ring is nothing more than an advertising gimmick.
Wise, who along with his wife has owned Ring Etc. for 30 years, agrees that the right hand ring is just a trend.
“Left hand ring, right hand ring, who cares! I see women come in with rings on every finger,” Wise says.
It may be a trend, but Wise admits wearing a ring makes a woman feel special, even if she bought it herself.
“You want to show off a bit. Life is too short,” Wise says.
The store also has an estate section, previously-owned jewelry that is often quite old.
Wise says women browse these cases looking for something different.
Often customers come in multiple times during the week to see what new rings have been added.
“They want to see something that they won’t see somewhere else,” Bettencourt says.
Fire opals, green granite and orange sapphires are only some of the jewels she says are popular.
Bettencourt says her store buys rings and jewels from around the world. This assures variety, but often they may only get a single ring in a certain style.
This leads to a few disappointed shoppers, as Bettencourt says women often come in and try on a ring then go home to debate purchasing it, and it’s gone by the time they come back.
Other shoppers buy on impulse and Wise says sometimes the price doesn’t matter. “For some, $2,000, it’s nothing,” Wise says.
Status may drive some to spend a small fortune on jewelry.
“It’s no different than a car for a man,” Bettencourt says, as she points to a bright orange sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
The ring sports a $15,000 price tag.