Pinky Ring

A pinky ring is a ring worn on the little finger of either hand, which is also called the "fifth finger".

At times, pinky rings have been worn with the intent to convey a message or indicate affiliation. During the Victorian era, both single men and women uninterested in pursuing marriage could wear a ring on the little finger of their left hand. In the 1950s and 1960s, these rings became a self-identifying symbol in the gay community, worn by both gay men and lesbians. Especially in the United States, pinky rings also developed an association with criminal activity. Grifters were thought to wear such rings, sometimes to provide their associates with a source of funding for their funeral expenses in case of their death, as were made men in the American Mafia. Movies such as Little Caesar and The Godfather contributed to the association of this style of jewellery with organized crime.

One specific type of pinky ring, an Iron Ring made of either crudely worked iron or stainless steel, and worn on the dominant hand, is awarded to graduating Canadian engineering students during the Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer. A similar ring, known as the Engineer's Ring, is awarded by the Order of the Engineer in the United States.

The more modern use of the pinky ring has weakened its traditional historic symbolism. In the early 20th century, these rings were popular in Parisian fashion, especially among the youth. In the United States, such rings have become a "fundamental of American style", in some way due to its symbolic past.