Promise ring

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For the band, see The Promise Ring

A promise ring or friendship ring is a small, inexpensive ring given to a boyfriend or girlfriend, to promise to be committed in a serious relationship. These indicate that serious courting is under way.

A promise ring can be worn on any finger on the left or right hand, although ring fingers are far preferred. Most often it is the left ring finger, but due to engagement confusion, the right ring finger is finding acceptance in today's world.

High school class rings (rings purchased to represent one's high school and year of graduation) are coveted by young people of either sex. "Wearing his/her class ring" means that the couple is 'going steady' and that theirs was an exclusive relationship (if the young man/woman wore a 'letter jacket' -- an overt symbol of athletic participation -- his/her girlfriend/boyfriend may be given that to show that he or she is 'taken').

Some people judge the seriousness of a promise ring by its value and by the size of its gem. In general, promise rings with a value of more than a half-week's pay might be considered engagement rings and are refused if the recipient lacks a desire for a permanent relationship with his or her partner.

In some cultures, young adults in partnership wear 'friendship rings' as a sign of their commitment to each other. Generally speaking, however, 'promise rings' are uncommon except for the very young.

Also in some cases, but not all, a promise ring may take the place of an engagment ring in the most serious of relationships among adolescents. This is often because one or both of the partners are either too young to legally be wed under the law or unwilling/unable to receive legal waivers, required due to status as a minor/dependent, from their respective parents and/or guardians.