What is a Cocktail Ring?
Cocktail rings are lavishly large, usually made with colorful precious stones that are put into an intricate design surrounded by smaller diamonds. They were first introduced during the 1920s and have come back into fashion trends time and time again. These rings are flamboyant and expensive in nature, but more importantly, they are inherently linked to a sense of fun.
When they first came about, cocktail rings were made of platinum, which then turned into large, luxurious stones as the 1920s rolled by. These stones included but were not limited to diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and aquamarines. Throughout its history, the classic cocktail ring has stayed the same in many aspects. It was up until the 1950s when newer and more intricate designs were being made, similar to this multicolored rhinestone cluster stretch ring.
Nevertheless, with all these new designs, their flashy nature remains.
Ultimately, there has never been an official set of guidelines on what was or wasn't considered a cocktail ring, which means that from then and now, anything goes!
How to Wear a Cocktail Ring
The primary purpose of cocktail rings is to be noticed, and they were mainly designed to be the life of any party. Traditionally, they were meant to be worn at cocktail parties and large social gatherings. This was due to their extravagant nature as it would become aesthetically overwhelming if worn daily. However, more and more people are combining casual and formal wear into their day-to-day outfits today. Nowadays, as long as it works for you, any type of jewelry/outfit combination should be okay.
Cocktail rings are often highlighted as a focal point in an outfit when paired with a black dress, or anything that is plain and dark. The color contrast helps to highlight the ring and its beautiful, vivid colors. Despite that, people are becoming more experimental with their outfit choices, and we've realized that even a simple white shirt and some jeans can look great with a cocktail ring.
Last but not least, cocktail rings are traditionally worn on the right hand, and this is to prevent any confusion with engagement rings or wedding bands that go on the left hand. They are commonly worn on the ring finger, but some will wear them on their index or middle fingers too. As was mentioned before, these are just guidelines you can follow, but in the long run, anything goes!