30 years on and my wedding band is never coming off—how about yours?

[Pauline2026]

I often wonder who still wears their wedding ring permanently after many years of marriage.
My mum is 72, and she has never taken off her cigar wedding band since the day my dad slipped it onto her finger 48 years ago. It always fascinated me, and I knew I wanted the exact same style to wear continuously from my wedding day onwards. So, we ordered a matching set: a wide, chunky, plain 9mm band for me, and a thin, simple one for my husband. I have worn mine ever since—for nearly 30 years now.
Because I have rather prominent knuckles and slender fingers, I remember my husband had quite a struggle getting it on during the ceremony. Later, after my first pregnancy, I put on a bit of weight and couldn't have removed it even if I’d wanted to. Now, it simply feels like a part of me. It won't come off at all anymore, as my knuckles have grown larger over time, yet I still adore it.
I’d love to hear your ring stories. Do you still wear yours, and what about your husbands?

I have a gold signet ring (a proper one, with the initials reversed) that was my grandfather's. My Dad gave it to me when I was 18, and I've worn it ever since;54 years. I don't have children, so it will go to my only nephew when I die.

I’ve been married 15 years, I take my rings off all the time. When I shower, when I put hand cream on, when I exercise, at night when I go to bed. I don’t like the feeling of my rings when doing certain things and definitely couldn’t leave them on 24/7 and never remove them.

Married nearly 40 yrs. Never taken either engagement or wedding ring off. Clean it in the shower by twisting it around .. they are 18ct not 24 because 24 cts are too soft and it would have been damaged by constant use. Whenever I’ve been to hospital I’ve just had it taped up. Never needed to take them off.

My husband put mine on my finger 5th Jan 1973..it is still on my finger..my husband passed 2yr ago..I will die with it on my finger..the undertaker can cut my finger off to remove it for my son..

I've been married 43 years and my ring won't move. However you can't see it at the moment because I am wearing two pretty costume rings which sit over the top of it.

My mum never took her rings off - wedding ring at the bottom, eternity ring and engagement ring. In the summer of '23 she was in a nursing home and her hands were seized into fists through arthritis and dementia and the rings had to be cut off. The ladies in the home were thrilled to have the fire brigade come and do it. I was so upset on her behalf I bought a simple chain and three costume rings to hang on it. She didn't understand her rings were gone so she didn't want the one I'd bought her.

My ex used to be a jeweller and he cut so many wedding rings off women's fingers, so yes, I take mine off every night.

I had our initials tattooed on round a heart as my job prevents me from wearing one

I took mine off on 31st August 2024. After 34 years of marriage my husband decided he wanted a divorce. Not what I wanted but nothing I could do.

We've been married around 3 months and mine is off every day.

I have a dirty job and don't want the diamonds to get all gunked up. I also take my rings off to make pastry or knead bread dough... or handle raw meat, yeurch. And for cleaning. I also take my earrings (same cluster style as my ring) out for showering.

My jewellery came with a long care list.

I’ve worn my wedding ring for 32 years. I wear it every day, including overnight, but I do take it off occasionally to clean it etc. I have recently had it resized as I could no longer get it over my knuckles and I was worried, if anything happened, it would have to be cut off.

Well, ideally, but, as I lift heavy weights in training, as a matter of safety and not wishing to lose the diamonds (in my hand made to DHs specification engagement ring) due to the platinum bending due to the type of metal, I have to take mine off and put a rubber one in its place and then change them back over when I am finished working out.

I wear all three, engagement, wedding and eternity and they only time they come off is for medical reasons ie operations.

My DH used to remove his when he did DIY as he didn’t want to scratch it but I didn’t like it so he stopped and yes it’s a likens scratched which he will comment on and jokingly blame me, but he still wears it every day. It’s been well over 20 years for us.

And you think someone would a. Want to do this and b. Actually do it? Of course they won’t. It’s illegal

I take mine off to do gardening and really dirty work. I also take it off to make pastry, I don’t want food under my ring. I need soap to remove it. I am actually looking into replacing it. Still married but think I want to change from white gold to yellow. Just personal choice. Husband and I have been shopping for this ring together.

They come off at night, I can’t sleep with them on. They’re v loose bc I’ve lost 4 1/2 stone (damn right imma brag!)

What’s the point of wearing a replacement rubber ring to work out?

Anyone would think you stopped being married the second you remove your wedding ring, the attachment some seem to have to them. Any man who got upset because I didn't wear a bit of metal (I don't because allergies and general dislike of jewellery) would not be my husband for very long.

Don't you know that the mere sensation of a naked WRF risks us married ladies forgetting our marital status and becoming overwhelmed with lust for any nearby men, available or otherwise? Can't be having that!

I hate wearing rings so I had a pound cracker one to get married and haven't worn one since! Can't see the point really

My engagement ring is a £10 job from Elizabeth Duke at Argos. 😁 Haven't worn it for years, obviously.

I only wear mine when I leave the house. The rest of the time it's nestled in its box.

I had my wedding ring stuck on my hand like this I lived with it for years but then starttrd to worry about it. I managed to get it off with the ribbon technique.

If you want to try, get your hand as cd as possible so it's the least swollen it can possibly be. Then get a narrow ribbon and tuck the bottom end of it under the ring (put about 1cm of ribbon through the ring like a tail). Take the top end of the ribbon and wrap it as tightly as you can round the finger above the ring, keeping tight hold of the tail.

Once the finger is wrapped up above the knuckle, get the tail and start unwinding the ribbon from the bottom, which will gradually lever the ring up and off the finger without damage to you or iy.

It's not grubby because if it's on your hand all the time it gets washed regularly. I'd say the rings which are taken off for hand washing are likely more grubby as they aren't getting washed.

My rings are still loose enough to move / remove though, so soap can get under them easily.

I only took mine off in pregnancy when my fingers were swollen and these days they're only taken off when I put product in my hair, as that's sticky / gloopy so I want to avoid getting it on them.

I read this post yesterday and other than having my caesarean and another op. I had never taken my ring off in nearly 36 years! Until tonight when my finger swelled and I had to take it off. I am hoping it is because I am warm ( getting arthritic too). I will have to wear a ring tomorrow (as it would feel weird) so I am hoping my eternity ring will be ok and not too tight or loose!

I never take mine off. Married 25 years. I have taken it off occasionally in that time but now like the OP my knuckles are too big. There's plenty room around the finger though so it's not in any way uncomfortable.