What These Beautiful Promise Rings Really Mean

You may have seen them here and there— tiny rings with a single stone or a plain band on the pinkies of women. No, it doesn’t mean she’s a crime boss, as we see in pop culture. Single women and happily attached women are finding them useful for making promises, but not the type of promise a mate would make through the symbol of a ring. Instead, the pinky promise – the sacred, binding commitment that one dare not break – is finding a new form of expression. Long used by children to seal secrets and by adults to seal deals, this time-old tradition has taken a fashionable turn. Women are wearing pinky rings to signify a pledge of self-love.

This pinky ring movement was started by Fred + Far, a jewelry maker run by two women. The idea is to celebrate your own awesomeness regardless of your relationship status. Although the design of the rings were inspired by engagement rings, founder Melody Godfred says the idea sprouted from her own need to remind herself to take care of herself.