Prince Harry wearing a black ring

Well, so much for the black ring. It is the new "fit bit" for the finger! Wear it on any finger like Harry does and it monitors sleep, activity, etc. Now you really can't rely on those!

My niece got married last year and her husband chose a black wedding band. We said nothing. My niece told us they were out one night and someone asked them if they were swingers. They were so insulted and couldn't imagine why someone would ask until they explained about the black ring.

Not something you can really trust before and now it's history.

Well, you sent me to the World Wide Web to research this one. Nice job. Now my wife wants one:)

Black rings became a thing when Mr. SwapFu from a swinger podcast suggested, a few years ago, wearing a black ring on the right hand as a way to identify yourself as a swinger. It actually gained some traction.

LibChrist, several years ago, suggested some sort of regalia, a symbol I think, which never caught on. Ankle bracelets were supposed to be a way of identifying hotwives. Upside down pineapples and pink flamingos have been used as swinger identification. For one reason or another, either novelty, fashion or curiosity, they all seem to be taken up by the mainstream.

The black ring is still probably the best identifier out there for now, just keep in mind that it has to be on the right hand and if you see one approach with sensitivity.

I had never heard of this. Is it worn on the right hand ring finger?

We wear Partners ID jewelry. The black ring is definitely not a reliable indicator!

I had never heard of this. Is it worn on the right hand ring finger?

Typically the ring finger but any finger should be OK. It's simply a way of opening the door. It shouldn't be too difficult nor would it have to be an awkward situation to simply comment on someone's "unique black ring" on their right hand. The response should tell you if they are lifestylers or simply wearing it for fashion. Swingers are used to and know how to handle being approached so they would be open to it. A vanilla person would most likely be a little more closed off and less responsive.

We wear Partners ID jewelry. The black ring is definitely not a reliable indicator!

Partners ID is getting some traction. It's mostly necklaces and bracelets neither of which I wear. My wife might wear a bracelet every now and then. Most of the jewelry is geared toward women. I think they have an iphone case now which would be a little more our style but I use a Galaxy. I'm not sure what else a person could wear. Masons have their symbols on lots of things masculine. Perhaps PI could look to what they do and emulate some of the regalia giving men more options.

As far as any unique symbol goes, I think most people want a certain level of plausible deniability. With the PI symbol, as far as I know, PI is the only place to get it and there is no doubt what you are buying. If a vanilla person knows what it is you've been identified.

With a black ring you can claim all sorts of things. Fashion trend, some sort of metal or rare earth for some health benefit, saw it at a flea market and liked the look, etc. As in the previous example, if you are the one being approached it won't be hard to tell where the approacher is headed and if you have any experience with swingers you'll be able to respond appropriately.

Maybe it's because his wife is black. What color is Meghan's ring?

"Partners ID is getting some traction. It's mostly necklaces and bracelets neither of which I wear. My wife might wear a bracelet every now and then. Most of the jewelry is geared toward women. I think they have an iphone case now which would be a little more our style but I use a Galaxy. I'm not sure what else a person could wear. Masons have their symbols on lots of things masculine. Perhaps PI could look to what they do and emulate some of the regalia giving men more options.

As far as any unique symbol goes, I think most people want a certain level of plausible deniability. With the PI symbol, as far as I know, PI is the only place to get it and there is no doubt what you are buying. If a vanilla person knows what it is you've been identified

We have Partners ID jewelry too and have met several couples because of it. I have a key chain which I lay on the bar when we want to attract attention and my wife has earrings. They had a lot to choose from. I don't see how vanilla people would know what it means unless we tell them and I don't see swingers outing themselves.

With every Tom, Dick and Harry wearing a black ring it is pointless to try to guess.

The problem will always be the problem: People who just like the style will wear it without knowing any attached meaning. Also, if it ever caught on, then anyone that knows what it means will know what you are into. Take the rainbow...originally it mean that you like rainbows, but now if you see a rainbow (say on a car as a bumper sticker) it more than likely means that they associate with the LGBT community. Any form of 'secret' identity for swingers will just be the same. Most want to remain anonymous, but anyone who knows what the symbol means (weather they are a swinger or not) will know what you are into. Unfortunately, there just isn't any way to have a 'secret' symbol any more.

I actually own Partners ID jewelry as well and have to disagree. I think it is complicated enough that it would be impossible to google. You can google "rainbow" or "black ring" but how would you even describe this? My hubby has a wallet and nobody has ever questioned him about what it means, only asked where they could get one lol!

So interesting; has black rings always been a 'secret tell' for swingers?

I wouldn't wear a black ring just because I don't think it is very feminine. I do wear a gold anklet and it has brought unsolicited attention. I travel a lot alone and I have had many men compliment me on it and in a clever way, ask me if it meant what they thought...I am a hot wife. So people, at least men know. But, being out with my husband in a social setting, no man or couple has had the nerve to test the meaning.

I do know that in certain situations, the pineapple is an invitation for swapping or a threesome. Pineapple clubs were started on military bases to identify swingers and mostly to service a lonely wife when their husband was away. The participants would go to the base grocery store and place a lonely pineapple in their cart and tour the store looking for other pineapples.

Laura had a gold anklet that said "Ho-Ho-Ho." Yes, she wore it at Christmas but to her it had a special meaning the rest of the year. When she died, I gave it to a dear friend. I don't know if she still has it or wears it.

Some times I think because we know it has meaning we think others suspect something when in reality they don't. I don't pay that much attention to the jewelry that my friends and family wear. I certainly don't look for deeper meaning to their pieces.

Hey don't you rain on my dreams of fucking a prince!  Fit bit or not its black, he's a swinger I know it.