About Purity Rings

Purity rings, chastity rings or promise rings originated in the United States in the 1990s among Christian sexual abstinence groups. The rings are sold to teenagers, or to parents so that the rings may be given to their adolescent children as gifts.

It is intended that wearing a purity ring is accompanied by a vow to practice celibacy until marriage. The ring is usually worn on the left ring finger with the implication that the wearer will remain abstinent until it is replaced with a wedding ring. Although the ring is worn on the hand, where others can see, its main purpose is to serve as a constant reminder to the wearer of their commitment to remain pure until marriage. There is no particular style for purity rings; however, many worn by Christians have a cross in their design in reference to Jesus Christ. Some rings contain a diamond chip or other gemstone and/or "True Love Waits", "One Life, One Love", or another similar saying embossed somewhere on the ring.