Ring shanks explained: straight, tapered, split and twisted
The shank is the part that goes around the finger. Its shape decides whether a ring looks light or heavy from the side, and how much the face stands out.
There are four common shanks: straight looks solid, tapered makes the face stand out, split looks lighter and often holds a stone, and twisted is decoration in itself. Check the side view first, then how the shoulder meets the face.
Four kinds of shank
Straight
The same width from the face to the bottom. It looks solid and tidy from the side, and it is the default for plain bands and most signet rings.
See straight shanks in the catalog →Tapered
Narrower near the face, so the face looks bigger. A wider or narrower bottom changes how it feels on the hand.
See tapered shanks in the catalog →Split
The shank splits into two branches at the shoulder to hold the face. Common on stone-set rings, and it looks lighter.
See split shanks in the catalog →Twisted
Two or more strands wind around each other. The shank is the decoration, so it usually pairs with a simple face.
See twisted shanks in the catalog →How to tell from a photo
- Find a side or three-quarter photo first. A front view is the hardest place to judge a shank.
- Look at the shoulder: does the shank get narrower, split or thicker near the face?
- Look at the bottom: whether it is wider or narrower than the top decides how heavy the ring feels.
Side by side
| Shank | From the side | The face looks | Often paired with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | Solid, tidy | One piece with the shank | Plain bands, signets |
| Tapered | Clean | More prominent | Solitaires, signets |
| Split | Light, open | Lifted up | Stone-set rings |
| Twisted | Decorative | Secondary | Small or no face |
All four can be made in 316L stainless steel. Copying an existing design keeps the mould; changing the shank needs a mould change or a new mould, see how custom works.
Next steps
Written by our editors; diagrams are original line drawings. Spotted a mistake?Tell us and we will update it and note the date.