BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / The ring

**Posted by Davina** April 25, 2012 7:10 am

Mycroft wears a ring on his third finger right hand. Mark Gatiss makes it clear in the DVD commentary that this is a prop/costume item. So why do you think he is wearing the ring?

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** April 25, 2012 8:34 am

Is it a Masonic ring? Mycroft being a Mason would not surprise me in the slightest.

**Posted by kazza474** April 25, 2012 9:04 am

Gatiss makes it clear that its a prop rather than people think it is his own ring.

However it has been noted elsewhere that Anthea also wears a similar ring on the same finger. Possibly just pure speculation as there's no reference to Mycroft being involved in any secret societies or lodges etc etc nor would he need to be really.

I think it was discussed more to allay speculation that there's more to it; which like every other syllable uttered by Gatiss & Moffatt has probably been twisted into wild theories already .
lol

**Posted by Davina** April 28, 2012 7:55 pm

But it still comes back to...why have the ring as a specific prop?

**Posted by kazza474** April 28, 2012 10:06 pm

Why have Mrs Hudson trying to carry on an affair with the guy from the deli?
Why have Sherlock eat from Mrs Hudson's fridge at will?
Why does Sherlock wear a scarf & coat?

It's just something to round out the character. In most scenes nearly everything you see is a specific prop, someone has decided what goes in the scene and what goes. The ring, the shoes people wear , etc would all be no different.

Funnily enough it does spark conversations in another area but I will leave that alone.

**Posted by Davina** April 29, 2012 6:18 am

It's very unusual in British society for a man of Mycroft's class and line of work to wear jewellery of any kind, apart from a wedding ring. Therefore the ring can be seen as significant. It is certainly to round out his character, but it is unexpected.

**Posted by Tantalus** June 4, 2012 3:13 am

Well, if it's true that the ring Anthea wears is identical to Mycroft's (I haven't noticed), seems we should all be looking for similar rings on other characters' fingers (i.e., the people that swarm to Sherlock's "body", etc.). Something to keep us busy during hiatus, anyway.