Cocktail Rings: A Complete Guide

There are other rings too apart from wedding rings and engagement rings which have not been properly discussed. One such category is the cocktail rings. These rings are known for their bold designs which features a large center stone surrounded by multiple small stones. In the recent years, classy and bold designs have taken a long leap and are not back in the game. This blog will provide you with all the necessary information about Cocktail Rings such as their origin, what influenced them most importantly the reason of their significance.

What are Cocktail Rings?

Cocktail rings are considered typically large and flamboyant rings which is often set with colorful stones in a complex but alluring design. These rings are also referred to as Statement Rings at times as they are chunky and much larger than normal size rings. Usually they have an over-sized gem which is considered or taken as the center of attraction for the stone.

History and origin of Cocktail Rings

Cocktail rings were a bi-product of the 1920s symbol of feminism in America. Political and social trends were a big contributor to birth of these Cocktail rings. The first one being the Prohibition Law that had made alcohol illegal. The second one was women asking for their right to vote, demanding the right to work outside their homes in order to make an income of their own.

These women were also termed as “Flapper Girls” which began the infamous rebellion as the so called social norm. It involved indulging into illicit speakeasy parties on their own, adorning short cocktail dresses along with exuberant jewelry.

Even though drinking during that time was prohibited, some bars allowed it irrespective of the law but in secret. In order to indulge in this gala time, women developed a code to order drinks in the bar where they would raise their right hand to flash their large and flashy rings at the bartender. This was a sign for him to bring them an alcoholic cocktail. The ring got it’s name from this practice itself. One of the reasons why large gemstone rings are worn on the right hand.

What do these rings symbolize?

These extravagant cocktail rings served as a symbol of glamour and independence. The period of the roaring 1920s was characterized by liberation and cultural renaissance. Independence, confidence, glamour and individuality became the essence of these Cocktail rings. It was a strong symbol of women’s rebellion but at the same time their liberation. These extravagant rings turned into a standard in the 1940s.

Last Call for Glamour: Shop Cocktail Rings Before the Sale Ends

Main features of a Cocktail Ring

One of their main features is being humongous and bold as it was a symbol of rebellion and liberation. They are supposed to stand out from all the other rings and thus heavy embellishments and big center stones are preferred when it comes to Cocktail rings. Size of the Cocktail rings is considered an important aspect as it is one of the biggest contributing factor in making the ring look unique and alive.

Chunky and humongous size of these rings make it easier to spot the details of the jewelry and clearly the symbolism in them. The stones which are mostly preferred for Cocktail rings are vibrant colored ones which are highly attractive and alluring too. Since the center stone is going to be the biggest contributor in catching the attention, it is that element which receives much thought before finalizing it.

How To Wear Cocktail Rings ?

There are set rules which tells you to wear rings in a particular manner, but rather they are suggestions as to how you can style them and elevate your style.

  1. Things to keep in mind as to how cocktail rings are supposed to be worn

    Traditionally, the Cocktails rings were meant to be worn for evening parties. However, the current scenario has shown certain developments in this trend. People have started to wear these rings for the day parties as well.

  2. Wearing Cocktail Ring as a Statement Ring

    The original purpose of a Cocktail Ring is to make a bold statement, thus it can be worn as a Statement Ring. But it will always be originally known as a Cocktail Ring.

  3. Matching the Cocktail Ring with your outfit

    There are two ways in which one can match their Cocktail Ring. In one the wearer can go for opting similar colors for both the outfit as well as the ring. For example if a lady decides to wear a shimmery black dress then she can opt for a black diamond to color coordinate it. On the other hand, if she wants some playful contrast of colors, then she can opt for an emerald Cocktail ring which would add a splash of color to her outfit.

  4. Wearing the cocktail ring on the correct hand

    The Cocktail Rings are traditionally supposed to be worn on the right hand , but as the fashion has evolved there have been certain changes. More than thinking about the hand in which they are going to wear the ring, they are more concerned about the impression the ring will leave on everyone.

  5. Wearing multiple Cocktail Rings together paring them with other rings

    Yes, the Cocktail Rings can be stacked with either other Cocktail Rings, or different ones other than Cocktail Ring. The motive is to showcase one’s personality. Multiple rings worn together can help to portray a mix and match of personality traits.

Wearing the Cocktail Ring on a daily basis

The traditional purpose of a Cocktail Ring is to be worn in special evening parties and this was born out of a rebellion which was part of the Women’s Liberation Movement. The significance of Cocktail Rings are different is connected to a remarkable movement in the history where women expressed their rebellion through fashion as well, specifically the Cocktail Rings.

A lot of people like to preserve its essence and adorn it on special occasions. On the other hand there is a different set of people who wish to make that flashy a part of their everyday lifestyle. There is no hard and fast rule regarding wearing Cocktail Rings apart from parties, but preserving the significance is the key.

What Gemstones Suit the best with Cocktail Rings?

Mostly, Cocktail rings have stones which are very much vibrant in color and can easily grab anyone’s attention. They can even be a combination of stones in order to increase their attractiveness, but the single stone has its own allure and charm.

  • Color- The color of the gemstone plays a vital role in making the ring attractive, Choosing light and vibrant color gemstones such as Aquamarine, Citrine, London Blue Topaz, Opal (for a vibrant play of colors!), Ruby and Emerald. These colors are so flashy and charming at the same time and would make your ring look fabulous.
    Best Gemstone Colors For Statement Rings.

  • Hardness- One must also consider the hardness of the stone which is going to be placed in the ring. Since the stone is going to be humongous, one has to make sure that its hard enough to tolerate the impacts and not get damaged. Sapphire has a hardness of 9 on Mohs scale which makes it a durable gemstone. Yellow Sapphire and Pink Sapphire are vibrant colors so one can choose these stone instead of dark shades of Sapphire such as Blue Sapphire.

  • Choosing gemstone according to birthstone- The Cocktail ring can be personalized further by choosing one’s birthstone as their main gemstone.

Caring tips for Cocktail Rings

The Cocktail ring is no different than a regular ring with gemstone when it comes to taking care of them. Below are mentioned some tips to take care of the Cocktail ring:-

Annual Check-ups : The Cocktail ring should be sent to a professional once a year for them to check for any structural problems before the ring has any sort of serious damages. If the claws of the ring are left unchecked their can either result into loss of gemstone or even the entire ring.

Proper Storage and Avoid Chemical contact : If the ring is not stored properly, it can lead to its deterioration or even permanent damages. It must be stored in its own box if it is not in frequent use. If someone is using it regularly then they must keep this in mind that they should any contact with lotion, makeup or harsh products as it can dim the luster and shine of the ring.

Avoid intense physical exertion : While doing any kind of laborious or intensive physical activity, one must make sure that the pressure is not exerted on the ring. There are high chances that it could do some serious damages to the ring or in some cases even break it.

Conclusion

The concept of Cocktail rings started as a part of a rebellion where movement fought for their freedom. But now the entire concept of Cocktail Rings have change and they are such a significant part of the jewelry industry. Cocktail rings are considered a bold personality statement where the person speaks their mind and is not afraid to put themselves out there. That was the core idea of Cocktail Rings, being freely able to express yourselves.

In this blog, we understood the actual meaning of cocktail rings and the reason behind their popularity. The major part where we understood how it started as a rebellion but successfully converted itself into a style. The main features and how are they supposed to be worn. Understanding the daily wear scenario of cocktail rings and how they have to be taken care of.

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