Rings for the toes of the feet are notable garments for the beach days or to shine on special nights and is now a Western fashion which originated in India. As bibliographical sources report, in the fourth century BC, married women in India used the ring as a sign of commitment.
The existence of accessories for the toes, first appears in one of the major epic Sanskrit poems of ancient India, the “Ramayana”; written by the respected scholar and poet Valmiki. Also, the piece was called In Hindu “bichiya”; name that is still used in some countries. There are also records of other terms to refer to the ring as “metti” in Tamil.
The history points out that the ring was placed in the big toe; and it has supported the use of a complete set of rings for all the toes, except the little finger. Later they preferred only the second finger to allocate the use of the ring, because is the longer and less annoying.
But the ornament was not just for women. It is known that the rings were created in pairs, for the lady represented her marital status; instead the man took the opportunity to reinforce his masculinity or to overcome a disease. Currently, the materials most commonly used for toe rings are gold and silver; but there are also more affordable options. Major jewelries include it in their shelves with various designs, and the growth of online stores facilitated the purchase of cutting-edge models. Although styles vary, for those who are daring to use then for the very first time; the suggestion is to choose a thin piece, in addition to being sensitive to be inconspicuous. You can try with plain and flat designs that do not attract attention.
Meanwhile, women who already have experience in the use of such rings and are looking for something more extravagant can’t go unnoticed with thick and heavier designs. There are also options for girls with fun shapes as the symbol of peace, flowers, animals or tribal.
Overall, the measure for women is between three and four; while the man is between five and six. However, you must know the extent of your toe to avoid problems at the time of a purchase, to measure it, take a ribbon or string around the finger and pass through it, marking the point where the two ends join.
Why it spreads to the rest of the world? In the East the ring was charged with symbolic intentions in addition to highlight femininity, represented the emotional commitment; and probably is this origin, which makes the modern woman conceived the piece as a singular detail, with a load of mystery and fascination.
Very interesting post. I did not know there was a meaning according to the finger you place the ring. It was nice reading some facts about these type of rings. In my case, I do not use them, but they sure look beautiful!