The tradition of displaying an army ring at the U.S. Military Academy began with the cadets in the Academy. At that time, the ring was a piece of rough-cut stone attached to the finger by a pin. The stones used at that time were relatively coarse and rough. Thus, it was difficult for a soldier to wear the ring without discomfort. However, with time, the stones were reduced in size, and the ring became more popular.
Currently, the tradition continues among the military members, and there are several different types of army rings available. Each branch of the military needs to provide its rings. The standard is seven, but some units may elect to use fewer rings as per their discretion. There is also a variation among the branches, as some may not require all of their staff members to wear rings.
Most of the forces use engraved and unpolished army rings that come in a variety of different colors. Since the engraved military rings are more expensive than the unpolished ones, they are usually worn on the right hand. Those who have chosen to wear unpolished military rings must polish them before wearing them so that the finish is not dull.
There are many types of engraving used for military rings. Some examples are cross, anchor, flag, heart, eagle, and star. The majority of these symbols have meaning or historical significance. They are usually combined with another smaller symbol which helps to accentuate its importance.
One of the most famous military ring styles is the flat banded ring. These are also known as flat top or simple bands. Although these rings do not have any engravings, the stones usually have a variety of different gems set close together on the ring to look more like a solid band.
Another military ring style is the flat banded with an addition of an enameled center stone. The most commonly used center stone is the cubic zirconium. Other stones such as sapphire, rubies, tanzanites, and emeralds are also used. Because the stones are naturally solid and do not need any additional engraving, this style is less expensive than the other styles. On the downside, this style is not very customizable since all the settings are present.
Since there are countless options for selecting suitable ring styles, some people opt to go for custom signet rings instead. Customization is done by etching the letters and adding designs, charms, and even logos.
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