Wedding Rings

Before the 1940s, most men did not wear wedding rings.  In the olden days, wedding vows bound the wife to "love, honor, and obey..." and the ring on her left hand sealed the deal.  American men started wearing rings in the 1920s. My money is on Rudolph Valentino starting the trend, as he started so many other fashion fads.

Here is dear ol' Rudy (left) posing with his brother Alberto in the mid-1920s.  Clearly a wedding band shows on Rudy's left hand. 

Dial the Way-Back machine a couple of years, and compare to the hand of our red-blooded, all-American male, ex-football captain and man about town, John de Saulles. A newspaper photographer in 1914 snapped a shot of him walking down the street, and it's so clear... almost a 100 years later, I can zoom in on Jack's left hand. Gasp! No wedding band. He has a pinky ring, which could be a fraternity or a class ring. 

Now, thanks again to the Library of Congress - I love you guys!!! - I have a clear shot of Blanca's left hand from a portrait photo of her and the baby. Little Jack Jr. is in a beautifully embroidered white gown, that I assume is his baptismal dress. Hey, she's Catholic. The gigantic square rock is so heavy that the band sagged sideways as she places her hand delicately against the child's front. 

Say what you will about Jack being too busy with his real estate deals and his baseball buddies, but he knew how to bling-bling his trophy wife.