Right hand rings are the hot new accessory in the independent woman’s jewelry collection. From celebrities to career women to Moms these rings are becoming ever more a symbol that the lady is her own person with her own identity, success and money.

When I was asked if I knew what a right hand ring was, I admit that I was taken aback at the question as I didn’t realize that there was any ring that was specifically for the right hand. I assumed that rings could be worn on any finger of any hand, although the ring finger on the left hand in most western societies is usually kept for the wearing of an engagement ring and wedding band. Rings are one of my favorite pieces of jewelry and as well as my engagement ring and wedding ring I wear four others some on my left hand and some on my right. Having been asked the specific question about right hand rings I decided to do some research into these items of jewelry to find out the significance of them.

Until recently the only diamond ring most women wore was the diamond engagement ring bought for them by their fiancé or perhaps a dress ring that their husband might buy as a gift for them. Apart from costume jewelry items, expensive jewelry such as gold necklaces and diamond rings in particular are not pieces of jewelry a woman would normally have bought for herself. But that is no longer the case especially among single women. They have taken control of their lives and realize that they don’t have to wait for some man to buy them a diamond ring because they are successful in their careers, and as a result more financially independent, so they can buy anything they want for themselves including diamond rings.

I was reminded of this recently when I met up with a friend of mine who I haven’t seen for about a year. She is a very successful business woman who enjoys the fact that she is single, has a great social life, enjoys foreign travel and can afford to buy whatever she wants for herself. I noticed that she was wearing a lovely ring on her right hand that I hadn’t seen her wearing before. When I mentioned that she was very much in vogue by wearing a right hand ring she looked at me puzzled and didn’t understand the significance of what I was saying. When I explained that these rings symbolized success, independence and confidence she fully agreed. She told me that she had designed the ring herself and had it made using a diamond from a ring that her parents had bought for her when she was younger. She is a prime example of an independent young women being able to choose for herself, instead of having somebody choose for her.

But it is not just among single women that the trend of wearing right hand rings has begun to gain in popularity. Wives and Moms are becoming increasingly aware that they are not just part of a couple or someone’s mother but that they are an individual with their own identity. Some of the fortunate ones who have their own source of income are able to buy a ring for themselves. But it is equally acceptable for a husband to buy his wife a right hand diamond ring to show that he celebrates her not just as his wife and the mother of his children but as a woman in her own right.

Like a lot of jewelry trends, celebrities wearing particular pieces have a lot to do with making them a fashion item with the rest of the populace. Just as heart jewelry became really fashionable during the reign of Queen Victoria because she favored heart lockets and brooches, so too right hand rings seem to have become increasingly popular in modern times because they appear to be de rigueur among the Red Carpet celebrities. Whatever the reason, women are enjoying wearing them as recognition of their success and independence.

Oval Link Heart Charm Bracelet in Sterling Silver

Most little girls from a very early age dream of being a princess like Cinderella or Ariel or Belle, especially if they have watched the Disney movies.  They love to dress up as their favorite character either in specially bought dressing up clothes or, as I used to do when I was little, in Mom’s clothes.  And of course every princess needs lots of sparkling romantic heart jewelry to wear with her beautiful gown for when she meets her prince at the ball.

If your little princess has been fortunate enough to visit Disney World, or the huge Disney store in Downtown Disney in Florida, then she may have had the opportunity to visit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to have her hair, make up and nails done just like a real princess.  If money is no object (it could be as much as $200) then you will want to add all the extras such as her favorite princess’s dress, shoes and a photograph to commemorate the event.  Then of course she needs a tiara and all the other jewelry to match, such as a necklace, ring, earrings and bracelet. Depending on her age and your budget (if you haven’t overspent already!) the jewelry can be a mixture of cheap and cheerful glass beads with perhaps something more elaborate, like a silver heart charm bracelet, a silver heart locket, or a silver heart ring.

These items of jewelry can be a memento of her magical vacation but they can also be something to wear as she gets older.  For example, if you choose to buy a silver heart charm bracelet she can add a new charm from every place that she goes on vacation as a child and as an adult.  Charms could include a flip flop charm to remind her of a beach vacation or perhaps a charm of the Tower of London or the Eiffel Tower if she visited Europe.  Just imagine what memories it will evoke and what an interesting topic of conversation it will be when people admire it when she wears it as she gets older.  Disney pins on a lanyard may be great for when you are wanting to trade them but are hardly the height of elegance, whereas a silver heart charm bracelet can be worn with casual or formal outfits.

Obviously as she grows from a child into an adult she will accumulate a lot more jewelry to add to her collection whether it is fashion jewelry that she has bought for herself or more personal items that other people have bought for her on birthdays and other special days. And while she will not be playing at “dressing up” any more she will still enjoy the feeling of looking like a princess when she dresses in the gown she has chosen for special events such as her junior or senior prom.

But then the “Big Day” arrives and the little girl’s dream turns into reality and she really is a princess walking down the aisle to marry her prince.  All eyes are on her as she glides into the room wearing the most beautiful wedding dress and the most sparkling jewelry.  This time the jewelry may have been bought for her by her future husband and may consist of a heart shaped engagement ring, gold heart earrings, a gold heart necklace and a gold heart bracelet which he has given her as a token of his undying love. The great thing about heart jewelry is that it can be worn everyday even after the big event.  It looks equally good when worn to the office or for a posh night out or even when you are wearing casual clothes such as jeans and sweatshirt.

And why not start a tradition among the other princesses in the family – buy each of them a heart charm bracelet when they are young and let them choose the theme they want to continue  on it over time.  These items of jewelry will be great to hand down over the generations as they will have such a story to tell.