I Rock My Ring, Do You?

My engagement ring

With my 2nd wedding anniversary tomorrow I came across this article on Clutch about ringless spouses and was inspired to share my thoughts.

First, I have to say that I am not a jewelry person. I wear the same few keepsakes over and over again and despite being given jewelry I just can't bring myself to swap them out, even if it color coordinates with my outfit. 

My engagement ring was a surprise - meaning that I did not go pick it out. Mr. Love Bird did ask me several months before proposing what cut and setting I liked and I let him know: Asscher with a criss-cross band.  

Just my e-ring

When we got engaged in September 2007 my engagement ring became a symbol of my promise to Uka and of my fidelity to him. If I were to remove my ring I would no doubt still feel the same, but it's an outward sign that I'm taken.  

Wedding set

I sometimes go without my rings when I'm around our apartment or running out quickly to grab something at the store, but 90% of the time I wear both my rings. Besides a fear of losing them, I wear them so that it's clear that I'm married. Being in NYC there are a barrage of cat calls towards women when they walk down the street and it really grates on ones nerves. By wearing my rings I don't necessarily get rid of them, but they do diminish significantly compared to the times when I do not wear my rings.

Mr. Love Bird is good about wearing his ring, although it has gone missing before, but we promptly find it! I know as it goes with me, I'm sure there are many women who see he has a wedding band on but still flirt with him - just because the ring has significance to me doesn't necessarily mean it does to anyone else. I just think it makes interactions between the sexes more straightforward.

I agree with the author when she states:

I know what most will argue, a ring won’t stop the infidelities. I get it. I really do. But infidelities aside, to exchange vows and place upon my finger the very symbol of what those vows supposedly mean only to decide not to wear the ring, feels like a slap in the face. It is a blatant disregard of feelings and the ultimate disrespect.

Do you?