A ring is a circular band worn as ornamental jewelry on the hand. It can be made from almost any material that holds its shape and is resilient to wear, and is often adorned with precious gems such as diamonds. A ring can be worn on one or more fingers and may be used to indicate a relationship between two people, such as engagement or marriage, or it can be worn for friendship. Rings are also commonly worn to symbolize wealth and association, especially when a ring is made of metal such as gold.
The term ring can also refer to mathematical rings, which are collections of numbers that have the properties of a set, including commutative addition and associative multiplication, a zero element (which functions as an identity element for addition), negatives of all elements, and two distributive laws relating addition and multiplication [a + b = ab and (a+b)c = ac]. Examples include the ring of integers and its standard operations, Dedekind domains in number theory, polynomial rings, coordinate rings of affine algebraic varieties, group rings in representation theory, and cohomology rings in topology.
In the case of jewellery, a ring is typically worn on the finger nearest the heart and is most commonly worn as a symbol of love and commitment between two people. It can also be worn as a sign of friendship or loyalty, or it can be used to identify an individual as a member of a specific organization, such as a sports team. In the United States, a ring is often presented to athletes who win championship games in professional sports leagues and college tournaments.
Rings may be worn on other parts of the body as well, and these types of rings are usually referred to by a different name, such as anklets or bracelets. The word ring is also sometimes used to describe a general class of abstract geometrical figures, including circles and ovals, and it can be applied to any structure that has a continuous boundary.
Many celestial bodies have visible rings that can be seen with a telescope or satellite. The rings of Saturn are particularly striking, with a series of well-defined rings that vary in size and appearance, while the rings of Jupiter are more faint, consisting of a few poorly defined bands and some gossamer-like rings.
For those looking for the perfect ring to add to their collection, Vogue has curated a selection of styles that is sure to impress. From delicate and dainty pieces to statement-making designs, this curation has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a ring that will tell your own personal story, whether it’s a tale of love, success or balance, choose from this collection and discover the meaning behind each piece. You can even use our handy guide to measure your ring size at home. It’s recommended to measure your ring three or four times to ensure the best fit. The more accurate your measurements are, the more comfortable your ring will be and the better it will look.