The Pinky Finger Is Taking On Big Ring Responsibilities

When I was doing a due diligence internet dive before writing this story, I was annoyed to discover that just a few days ago the international edition of The New York Times published a piece titled “Pinkie Rings Go Big.”

My initial upset came from the title. It felt a little too close to what I had planned to call this piece, “Pinky Rings Have Never Been Bigger.” It turns out they are using the word “big” in reference to popularity. I am thinking of the size of the jewel.

But the thing that really annoyed me about the Times story was the repeated idea that: “Pinky rings were traditionally worn by men.”

“What?” I screamed into the void. “Women have worn pinky rings just as long as men.”

Historians hypothesize that a ring is a pinky ring based on the ring size for the finger. Another way to know about the longevity of the look is through paintings and photographs.

Experts believe the signet sported by the first female pharaoh of Egypt, Hatshepsut, was most likely a pinky ring.

A 1543 portrait by Agnolo Bronzino of the Duchess of Florence, one of my favorite images in my book The History of Diamond Engagement Rings, shows her table-cut diamond engagement ring on her index finger and a pinky ring on her little finger.