everybody needs a jimmy ring

A "Jimmy Ring", as I have dubbed them, is a generally large ring that is often not too subtle in appearance. A lot of successful card players have them and by technicality, many championship athletes and high school graduates do as well. However, to me, a true Jimmy Ring is not a team or school ring, they tend to lack a unique character. If you are ever in a casino, stroll around and look at some of the card players and you will see what I mean. Many low key, as in not well known,  gamblers, after a very successful run, get rings (as well as other jewelry) made from part of their winnings. I suppose it is a way to subtly show off and also a way to hedge some of their winnings for a future dry spell.

However, the best Jimmy rings are the ones working class people purchased for themselves, often for no other reason than to have something that let them feel good. I call it a Jimmy Ring because my dad had one and his nickname at his factory was Jimmy and the ring itself has a big-ass letter "J" on it. He wore his on his pinky as many men do with such a ring. It is not a rule, but that is its usual locale. For these reasons they are often called signature rings or pinky rings,  or signet rings, but I like my term better.

Ed O'Neill as Dutch Dooley in the film "Dutch" has an outrageous Jimmy Ring on his pinky, which he uses at the end of the film to stamp a jerky dad in the forehead.

dutch dooley (ed o'neill) and his jimmy ring (courtesy imdb.com)

Now, before my father parted ways with this world he generously gave me his Jimmy Ring and stereotypically, I wear it on my pinky as it does not fit any other finger. I love this ring. I do not wear it every day, but I find I am wearing it more often than before. I have never had to stamp anyone with it, but I saw my dad do it to a disk-jockey that tried to rob us at my mother's work when she ran a banquet hall in Hamilton.

One word of caution, because they generally reside on a superfluous digit, take care when washing your hands, they can easily go flying and you may not know where they land or worse. I once had a haematite ring that I wore as a Jimmy Ring, and that happened to me. At a public restroom. On the highway. It flew off and broke into several pieces. Oh well. Now I remove any rings and pocket them before I wash-up.

I find this accoutrement is more stylish than most people give it credit. They also are often an icebreaker with people coming up to you to ask about it. Probably more for a lark, but if you have an interesting story attached to the ring, it can segue into a pleasant conversation.

And gals, they are not just for guys. I have known more women than men over the years with Jimmy Rings. Just leave the stamping to your postage. blbbl

my jimmy ring, formerly my dad's