Korean promise rings for couples – What they Mean and Where To Buy Them
There is more to the Korean tradition than just the engagement and wedding rings. Korean couple rings, or promise rings, are matching pieces of jewelry that young couples exchange to mark a milestone in their relationship.
The tradition of Korean matching jewelry began in the 1980s, when Niki Lee, the general manager of Minigold’s parent company HON CO., Ltd., explains. “While marriage bands were already in use, Korean youth started exchanging rings early in a relationship, usually around milestones.” This practice became part of Korea’s wider ‘couple’ culture. Celebrating 100-day or one-year anniversary with couple rings has become a popular and beloved tradition.
Some say the inspiration goes back further. The couple rings that young Korean lovers exchange today are a direct descendant of an ancient tradition known as ssang garakji (literally ‘paired rings’), explains Soung Eun Kim, the founder and creative director at Naschenka. This Korean jewelry brand has been worn by K-pop celebrities and actors. In Asia, and especially in Korea the style of stacking two rings is deeply rooted into our heritage. Unmarried women would wear only half the set, or ban-garakji. Married women wore two identical rings called ssang garakji. The practice of wearing couple rings is a modern one, but its origins are ancient. Two matching rings symbolize a destined relationship.
Find out what Korean couple rings mean, where to buy them, and how to wear.
What are Korean couple rings?
Consider a Korean couple band as a promise or commitment ring that is worn by both partners. These rings are not required to be worn before the engagement ring but they can be a great way to celebrate a milestone.
Korean Couple Rings Meaning
Lee explains that “Korean Couple Rings are matching rings which symbolize love, commitment and togetherness within a relationship.” They are a sign of two people being committed to each other and connected. These rings are often seen by couples as a sign of commitment and love, as well as a way to show their love. They can also be a precursor to marriage or engagement.
What do Korean Couples Rings look like?
Couple rings tend to be minimalistic, and not as flashy as an engagement ring. Lee says that they are usually made in modern and simple designs, often in gold or sterling silver. Many couples choose minimalist bands that have subtle details. Others add personal touches like engravings, birthstones, or small diamonds. “The focus is on everyday wearability, rather than extravagant extravagance.”
When do Korean couples exchange rings?
In Korean tradition, the couple’s gold ring may be referred to as the Korean “100-day” ring. This is usually done around 100 days or slightly more than 3 months into the relationship. Lee says that couples usually exchange rings when they reach significant milestones in their relationship, like 100 days. It’s a way of commemorating the progress of a relationship and making a public declaration of love and commitment.
Couples’ rings operate a bit differently. While traditionally, engagement rings were given by men to their partners (although historically women could buy the ssang garakji themselves), they work in a slightly different way. Kim says that today’s couples rings are often chosen by both partners. This reflects a shared commitment, rather than an unidirectional gesture. “They are a cultural legacy where more than a thousand-years of history meets modern expressions love.”
How to wear a Korean Couple Ring
Lee says that couples of younger generations often save money and buy matching rings together as a gesture. This shift is a reflection of a more collaborative and equal approach to relationships. Some couples are even making their rings together in jewelry workshops, like the one offered at Honze Workroom Seoul.
When couples receive their rings, they will typically wear them on the left. Kim explains that rings are worn today on the left ring fingers, as per Western custom. In traditional Korea, however, no finger had a specific meaning. Women could wear their rings anywhere they wanted–ring finger. index finger. or even the pinky.
It’s ultimately up to the couple. Lee says that some couples choose to wear their rings on the right or left hand, or on different fingers depending on their personal preferences. The key is not uniformity, but rather the shared meaning of partners.
Korean Couple Rings: Where to buy them
Couple rings can be a niche market that is hard to reach online. In Korea, many couples will visit a workshop together to make the rings. We compiled a list with jewelers who offer matching rings or their own version of the traditional Korean couples ring.
Minigold
Minigold has been a leading jewelry retailer in Korea since 1978. It is consistently ranked high in the Korea Brand Power Index. Minigold’s designs are heavily influenced by patterns, architecture, nature, and the culture of Korea. This is evident in its online collection of Korean couple rings. Most of its pieces are made from recycled materials.
Couples’ rings are a Korean tradition that is influenced by Western culture. Several Western brands also make them. Sett, a men’s jewelry company, offers an incredibly unique one in which the first initials of the couple are carved into the rings so that the initials can only be seen when they are placed side-by-side.
La Bouclette was founded by a Korean designer whose French name means “little earring”. Its goal is to bring Korean culture around the world. La Bouclette has a variety of rings that could be used as Korean couple rings. One of them even features name engravings (each partner can wear the name for their partner).
