The History of Cigar Band Rings

by Freida Rothman Luxury Jewelry and Accessories

Cigar band rings date back to the late-Victorian era of the 1800s. These type of rings are frequently patterned and include an inscription or engraving and are geometric in style. Cigar rings themselves are usually wide and approximately the same width and length from piece to piece. But where did this piece of jewelry get its name, you ask? Well, from cigars of course!

Legend has it that Catherine the Great was unhappy that her cigars were leaving stains on her fingers and needed a solution to this problem. Catherine ordered that her smokes be wrapped in silk before being presented to her to avoid future stains. Whether this proves to be true on not, one thing is fact, cigars these days are indeed wrapped with fitted rings of paper or foil around the body of a cigar and have led to the creation of a piece of jewelry mimicking its form. At one point in time, cigar bands were even used as fake engagement rings! Daughters would steal their father’s bands and slip the colorful pieces of paper over their ring fingers, pretending to be engaged to the boy they had a crush on.

Today’s cigar band rings come in all shapes, sizes, colors and metals. This piece of jewelry can be as simple as our Industrial Finish Caged Ring, with a bit of bling to brighten up any outfit. Or these rings can be as extravagant as our Amazonian Allure Multi Stone Cigar Band. This ring shouts ‘royalty’ as the gold plated sterling silver is wrapped with hand-set cubic zirconia stones, amazonite and mother of pearl stones.

Switch up the everyday circular band with our Ocean Azure Banded Ring, as the cross-cross style will look beautiful on any finger you style it on. Add a pop of color and texture with the Rouge Stone Cage Ring, set with red jasper and white chalcedony stones. Similar to the traditional cigar band styles, but with a modern twist, is our Radiance Open Cuff Ring in Silver. This cigar band has all the tradition you are looking for, but the middle opening crested with hand-set cubic zirconia stones will add the contemporary feel you want.