One Ring to Fool Them All Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aqiq ring

Also known as an aqeeq or akik, the aqiq ring is made of the semi-precious stones, carnelian or agate. The stone on the ring is buffed up to a beautiful shine and sometimes features an inscribed religious motto as well. It is considered traditional to wear one in the Islamic faith as it is believed Muhammad himself wore one to mark the removal of idols from Mecca's Grand Mosque.

Answer: Wedding ring

The gimmel ring was like a small puzzle in a way. It consisted of two interlockings bands. These bands were separated during the betrothal period, at which time the future bride and groom wore one half each. During the wedding ceremony that subsequently followed, the two bands were linked back together, and, from that time on, the wife wore the completed ring on her hand.

Answer: Cameo ring

As the centuries passed, other images which began to be seen on cameo rings included depictions of Christian saints or even attempts at self-images of the wearers. Interestingly, men were seen wearing cameo rings more often than women. The material on which these images were carved produced a three-dimensional effect which was quite striking. Today, oh dear, depictions on cameo rings have reverted back to those of pagan gods once more.

Answer: Thumb ring

Long before the advent of bombs and bullets, archers played an important role in the battles of the day, shooting their arrows with deadly accuracy at the enemies. Skill at this weapon was paramount and involved the strength of the thumb in particular, in positioning and holding the bowstring. Over time, rings evolved to be worn on thumbs both to protect the thumb and add extra pressure on the string, but also for decorative purposes.

A fine archer meant a high position in society, and a highly gem encrusted thumb ring reflected that status.

Answer: Claddagh ring

There are various legends about the origin of the Claddagh ring. One involves the 1700 circa tale of Richard Joyce, a silversmith from Galway, who was captured by Corsairs and sold to a Moorish goldsmith. After fourteen years as a slave, he was released and returned to Galway, taking back a ring he had fashioned during his imprisonment, to give to his faithful sweetheart. So the tale of the Claddagh ring was born, to be sure, to be sure. Even worn today in Ireland, the ring's design usually comprises a heart, two clasped hands, and a crown. Fenian Claddagh rings, however, because of the traditional enmity towards the English, normally leave the crown off.

Answer: Cocktail ring

A cocktail ring is also known as a statement, dinner, or cluster ring. The design of this piece of costume jewellery is usually much larger than a normal ring, and features a very large stone in the middle, surrounded by various smaller stones. It seems to be more of a status symbol than anything else, as it not worn on an everyday basis, but on special public occasions only. One rather amusing description of a cocktail ring in Wikipedia states that a cocktail ring is "an oversized ladies' ring", so one has to wonder if this means the ring is oversized - or if the ladies are?

Answer: Iron ring

Also known as a technology ring, iron rings are part of the university graduation ceremonies of Canadian engineers. Plain and unadorned, and sometimes made from stainless steel as well as iron, these rings are presented to graduate students at a ceremony known as The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer - which dates back to 1925. Worn on the little finger of the dominant hand of the wearer, these rings are a reminder to engineers to live by a high standard of professional conduct.

Answer: Doctoral ring

The doctoral ring adornment, which originated in Denmark and Sweden, is a gold ring worn by any graduate who has earned his or her doctoral qualification, following years of hard work and study. After making its way to the United States, the wearing of the doctoral ring became associated with priests on completion of their theology studies.

It is usually worn by such spiritual leaders on the ring finger of their right hand.

Answer: Prison ring

Rainey Bethea lived from 1909 until 1936. Prior to his conviction for the rape of murder of 70-year-old Lischia Edwards in June 1936, Bethea had spent several occasions in prison for stealing and drunkenness. He was caught, convicted and executed for the murder of Edwards because, after killing her, he had rifled through her belongings, and stolen several of her rings. Unfortunately for him, he had removed his hand made prison ring in the process, in order to try on the stolen jewellery - and forgot to collect it as he left. Dating back to the 1930s, a prison ring is an object made from scrap metal or melted toothbrushes and pens by incarcerated prisoners.

It is common for these people to affix a small photograph on the bezel - the wider part of the ring.

Answer: Key ring

While we know keyrings today as small rings on which to hang various keys associated with our daily lives, a key ring (two words), which dates back to the days of Ancient Rome, was a crafted metal ring, into the bezel of which a real key had been incorporated.

This key was a visible status symbol object, but its prime purpose was to unlock the treasure chest which contained the family valuables.

Answer: Memento mori ring

How cheerful. The use of memento mori rings go back as far as the 16th and 17th centuries in various European cultures. These rings were especially popular with English Protestants, the puritans in particular, to remind their members to live pure, chaste lives free from sin - because otherwise a not so pleasant reckoning was to be held in the afterlife.

The rings, which also featured a gruesome skull, were engraved with the Latin words "Memento Mori". That translates into English, more or less, as "Remember thy death".

Answer: Guard ring

The purpose of a guard ring? Placed on the finger below a more valuable jewel encrusted ring, and once worn as a matter of course, the guard ring, a small and slender securely fitting adornment, acted as a guard to prevent the more valuable ring from slipping off the finger and becoming lost. No doubt men may have worn these as well from time to time, but these were once mostly associated with women and their precious jewellery.

They are still in use today, but not as commonly seen as in previous times.

Answer: Mood ring

In 1974, an American jeweller, one Marvin Wernick, was perusing an article in a magazine about "liquid crystal elements in medical thermometers" (Wikipedia). After doing follow up research on this, Marvin found an element that could change colours based on surrounding temperature ranging from 32-38 degrees Celsius.

He made various pieces of jewellery as a result of this, stating that his jewellery could reveal a wearer's character. Unfortunately, the clever fellow forgot to patent his discovery - and that soon saw other jewellers designing their own thermosensitive products.

These eventually became known as mood rings. Such was the over production of these that the market became flooded, people lost interest - and the rings went out fashion. You could even say that people just weren't in the mood for them.

Answer: Posie ring

Posie rings, also known as posy, posey or posey rings, were once popular from the 15th to 17th centuries in England and France. Made of gold, these rings were commonly given as gifts of love from an adorer to an adored. The word posie is not, as one would think, associated with flowers, but derives from the word poesy - which is related to a poem or a small book of poetry.

These gold posie rings were usually inscribed, either on their upper or inner surfaces with a short line of poetry.

Answer: Mother's ring

That's a lovely thought, but a bit expensive for large families. A mother's ring incorporated into its design the birthstone of each child. These rings came with small screws added into their foundation so that a new stone could be added for the birth of each new child.

The ring is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the right hand, and the birthstones are a reminder for the mother as to when a child's birthday is coming up. As if she could forget. My poor little Irish granny, with her large brood, would probably have had a dislocated finger if she wore one of these rings.