Swingers explain why they wear black rings after real meaning exposed

While the swinging lifestyle has been knocking about for donks, people remain fascinated by the workings and the scale of it.

From the discovery that ‘spicy cruises’ exist to learning the signs of spotting one, the questions and myths continue.

And one of the subtleties of swingers’ traditions can be spotted in plain sight – on their finger.

Far more low-key than sticking an upside down pineapple sticker on their cabin door, an ex-cruise ship worker explained that some passengers will wear a black ring to send out a signal. That signal obviously being an indication that they’re a swinger and looking for others to have fun with.

There’s even a whole site dedicated to selling the accessory to help swingers send the clear message while they’re out and about.

It's got to be on the right hand. (Getty Stock Image)

My Black Ring sells a variety of styles with reviews saying that wearing theirs to a bar was ‘like being part of a secret club where everyone was friendly and delightful’.

And the site explains just what wearing the ring really means as well as the little rules around it – the most obvious being that it must be black.

It says that the black ring should be worn on the right hand and on any finger but the middle one.

“A black ring worn on the middle finger of the right hand is an infrequently used symbol of asexuality,” it adds. “Please avoid wearing your ring on this finger as a courtesy to that community.”

The site says wearing the ring helps the effort to ‘help us all discretely identify others in the swinging lifestyle’.

It explains: “Wear your black ring on your right hand if you are out and open to meet other swingers.”

The ring is to be worn only when you want to be recognised by other swingers and is ‘a way to start a conversation’.

It helps swingers spot like-minded individuals. (Getty Stock Image)

Issuing advice to swingers, it advises to start a conversation if you see someone sporting a black ring on their right hand.

A starter to that chat on approach is suggested to be: “I see you’re wearing a black ring on your right hand. Maybe we are in the same club.”

It also says that wearing a black ring does not ‘necessarily’ mean you are polyamorous but just ‘means you are a swinger’.

“You may also happen to be polyamorous, but the black ring is not meant to be a symbol for polyamory,” the site explains.