Wedding rings: which hand, left or right?

You have said yes, or you are planning the wedding right now, and at some point the practical question comes up: which hand does the wedding ring actually go on? The short answer for Switzerland is clear, but just like with the engagement ring, there is no rule here, only a habit that most couples simply follow without questioning it. We explain what is customary, where it comes from, and what to do if you already wear an engagement ring.

The short answer

In Switzerland, most married couples wear the wedding band on the ring finger of the left hand, the same finger as the engagement ring. That holds true whether you marry in Zurich, in French-speaking or in Italian-speaking Switzerland, and it applies equally to both partners. The wedding ring is placed on the day of the ceremony and usually stays there for good. So if you do not want to think about it for long: left hand, ring finger, done.

Where the custom comes from

The reason is the same as for the engagement ring: the legend of the "vena amoris", the vein of love, believed to run from the fourth finger of the left hand straight to the heart. The idea comes from ancient Egypt and was carried through ancient Rome into the Christian tradition of Europe. In predominantly Protestant countries like Switzerland, Germany or the United States, the left hand became the norm. Interestingly, there were historical phases in parts of Central Europe where the right hand was customary, especially in Catholic and Orthodox regions, where the right ring finger is still used for both engagement and marriage today, for example in parts of Germany, in Greece, Russia or Poland. For Switzerland today, though, the left hand is clearly the standard.

What matters is that this is a cultural habit, not a law or a religious duty. In our atelier we regularly meet couples who deliberately choose differently, and that is just as valid as the majority choice.

• Before the wedding: if you are already engaged, the engagement ring sits alone on the left ring finger.
• During the ceremony: the witness or the officiant hands over the wedding bands, and you place them on each other's left ring finger.
• If the engagement ring is in the way: many brides briefly move it to the right hand shortly before the ceremony, so the wedding band fits smoothly onto the left finger.
• After the ceremony: the engagement ring moves back to the left hand, the wedding band stays there too, and from then on they are worn together.

Wearing wedding ring and engagement ring together

If both rings sit on the same hand, the question of order comes up. The most common Swiss variant: the wedding band sits closest to the heart, so underneath, right on the finger, and the engagement ring goes above it. There is a practical reason for that, since the wedding band was put on first during the ceremony and the engagement ring slid back over it afterwards. Some couples prefer it the other way round, or wear both rings as a matching set designed so the shapes interlock. Others move the engagement ring to the right hand after the wedding, or wear it on a chain, for example when the two rings do not look right together or when two rings on one hand become impractical for manual work. In the end, what matters is that you both feel comfortable with the solution, not the convention.

For anyone who also wants to get the size right, not just the hand: we explain step by step how to find the correct ring size, including for your partner, in our article on ring size.

What wedding rings cost in Switzerland

The hand is settled quickly, the budget usually needs a bit more conversation. At émin, a pair of wedding rings starts at CHF 2,400, set with diamonds from CHF 3,600, depending on material, width and setting. We always design wedding rings in a joint appointment, so you choose material, profile and width together, instead of ordering two rings separately that end up not matching. You will find more on models, metals and the process on our wedding rings Zurich page.

Left or right, alone or as a set with the engagement ring: in the end they are your rings, for your everyday life. At an appointment in our atelier in Zurich district 4 or by video, we take the time to work out with both of you what truly fits, on the hand and in the life that follows.