Above knuckle rings, also called top knuckle rings or midi rings or first knuckle rings, have started to pick up speed in recent months. I see more boutique owners, fashion bloggers, and generally stylish humans rocking a small, minimalist ring on their upper fingers – often stacked with others.
At first, I kind of thought it was… absolutely ridiculous. Yeah, I wasn’t a fan. If your rings don’t fit, don’t wear them! What happens when you have to throw something in the trash bin and hundreds of dollars in semi-precious metals fly off your hand? Fingers: they’re tapered. At least with conventional rings, you have a knuckle or two to help with security. These upper-knuckle rings – they’re just flirting with disaster. Plus, when they’re too small & tight, it looks like your fingers are getting suffocated! Digital murder! Not very fashionable.
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…But then I saw a lot of these things, and they – like every other trend I loathe – started to grow on me. I even went so far as to try it with a ring I found under my kitchen cabinets when I moved into my apartment. It looked atrocious because it was a thick, clunky band, and I quickly learned that if you’re going to do this trend, that shit has to be dainty.
The rings have to look like they were made with lighter material because the area is smaller, and in situations like the above, if you’re wearing 9 rings and not trying to look like an Elton John impersonator, keep the hand-size to ring-weight ratio in balance.
Would you wear above the knuckle rings?
My verdict: Yeah, I’m into it. I’ve made a complete 180 from my original opinion and I’m okay with that. There’s no shame in my trend-digging game.
Here are some steals from the glamorous world of online shopping!
1. SunaharA Beaded Knuckle Ring in Silver, $10.95
2. SunaharA Thin Midi Knuckle Ring in Gold, $15.95
3. SunaharA Beaded Knuckle Ring in Copper, $7.95
4. VSNXTA Stackable Knuckle Ring Set D, $20
5. VSNXTA Stackable Knuckle Ring Set B, $18
There are a few really beautiful (and a bit more ornate) rings at Nordstrom:
L-R: Ariella Collection Bird Ring, $24; Stephan & Co. Cross Midi Ring, $8; Ariella Collection Bow Ring, $24
If indie designers are more your thing, you’ll find tons of these on Etsy and the prices are some of the best on the ‘net. I put my favorites in a Treasury!
DIY Knuckle Rings
It also seems like it’d be pretty easy to make your own above the knuckle rings, so I dug up some hand DIYs!
- DIY Chevron Knuckle Rings
- DIY Midi Rings (Using Jump Rings)
- Above Knuckle Ring DIY (Using Old Necklaces)
- DIY Above Knuckle Rings with Wire Shapes