Rings are exchanged between people for scores of reasons – to show belonging, membership, attachment and affection among other things. Traditionally, rings are worn on the finger – but there is also a popular fashion for wearing toe rings.
Toe rings have been worn in India for centuries – the toe ring is a symbol of marriage for Hindu women. The Hindu toe ring is usually silver, because gold has a special status and may not be worn below the waist – in modern practice, some Hindus do sometimes wear gold, and even diamond rings on the toes. Indian toe rings are worn as a matching pair of rings on the second toe of both feet. More ornate sets of bichiya are available, including additional ring pairs for two, three or four of the five toes. Bichiya are not worn on the pinky toe.
The benefit of toe jewellery is that it doesn’t require a piercing – toe rings simply slip onto the toe the same way traditional rings fit over the finger. As such, there are fewer limits on the materials toe rings can be made from – toe rings are commonly made from precious and semiprecious metals, as well as wood, certain stones and other non-metallic materials.
Because toe rings are worn on the feet, people are often hesitant to purchase rings adorned with precious or semi-precious stones – however, modern jewellers work to craft rings designed to stay securely on the toes. Some toe rings are actually crescents which can be slipped over the tip of the toe and then tightened for security.
When buying a toe ring online, be sure you’ve got an accurate size for the wearer. As that can be difficult to obtain, most jewellers, online or otherwise, have relatively flexible returns policies – check with the merchant in question before you commit to purchasing your toe ring online.
© Jewellery Box.org.uk 2006.