Obama's "Intricate" Indonesian Wedding Band: A CLOSE-UP (PHOTOS)

We always thought President Obama's wedding ring was just a plain old gold band: the same style that many men wear. But then we read this interesting tidbit in the New York Times Magazine's cover story "First Marriage."

Just before the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. pronounced Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson man and wife on the evening of Oct. 3, 1992, he held their wedding rings -- signifying their new, enduring bonds -- before the guests at Trinity United Church of Christ. Michelle's was traditional, but Barack's was an intricate gold design from Indonesia, where he had lived as a boy.

Nevermind the Reverend Wright part--that's been covered, to say the least--but what jumped out was that the president's band is actually "an intricate gold design from Indonesia." Well, that's a little more stylish than we thought! So we took a closer look, and you can too:

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Comments

[Marrymeplease]

04:44 PM on 11/02/2009

The President's Mother could have given him the ring. But what is the big deal? Can someone please tell me?

[Kevins]

02:58 AM on 11/02/2009

Very pretty ring.

[dadw5boys]

02:27 AM on 11/02/2009

LOL what a silly thing to report on you know his wife picked it out !!!!

[PeppermintPatty08]

10:35 AM on 11/01/2009

What a beautiful ring. The Obamas have great taste.

[Vandehey]

03:30 PM on 11/01/2009

Yeah they have great taste. Have you seen the artwork they put in the white house? Lots of sh*tty african art that looks like it was made by a ten-year-old.

[Kevins]

02:57 AM on 11/02/2009

Are you really as nasty as that?

[gloriab]

09:54 AM on 11/01/2009

OMG. Do you think it's possible his briefs are made in China?

[okila]

11:11 PM on 10/31/2009

I think even Obama enjoys the loonies. This makes it too easy for them. Come on loonies!!! Where are you tonight?

[lafayette2009]

08:06 PM on 10/31/2009

Mine is intricate as well; it is a Chladaigh (Claddagh) but all that shows is that I love the design and what the hands, heart and crown represent. It does not make me a paid up member of the IRA!!

If this is Indonesian design then I guess it is free advertising for Indonesian jewelry makers and sellers everywhere and they may well see a run on orders.

I am sure Orly will be all over it. I mean this is better than the 39 Social Security Numbers he has - right?

[Niasia]

11:48 AM on 10/31/2009

I like it! Geez people the man DID live in indonesia...why wouldnt that culture be all through out his life? Isn't his sister half Indonesian? Some people need to chill out. And HP I am starting to think you like to incite the loonies!

[ThirdSection]

02:52 PM on 10/31/2009

Inciting the loonies is what some of us like to call entertainment.

[Genius]

01:44 AM on 10/31/2009

This has to be the best wedding ring comment I have ever heard. It was recently remarried Craig Ferguson saying that his new wife had a GPS installed in it, and he makes a running joke of it whenever possible. The man is brilliant.
Can't we all just lighten up?

[tssent]

10:00 AM on 10/31/2009

Horrors. Had I any idea Obama would be the kind of man to own
and wear an "intricate wedding band," I'd never have voted for him
for president.

Anything that seemed positive or intelligent and good about him
would have be exed from my mind.

Any ideas I had about his Harvard education or his magnificent
orations would have been cast aside.

Hurumph. The very idea. I'll look more closely at the finger of the
next candidate before voting for him.

[pico]

01:12 AM on 10/31/2009

I'm not sure of the translation, but I think it starts out, "One ring to rule them all..."

[Bloggerrogr]

03:52 PM on 10/31/2009

that was uncalled for.

FWIW

[LiberalLee]

03:54 PM on 10/31/2009

Take head out of @ss. Shove ring of choice in as replacement.

[riverhouse]

06:46 PM on 10/30/2009

Beautiful.

[bruja]

06:23 PM on 10/30/2009

It appears to be a beautiful ring. Wonder if his sister helped him select it. Interesting stuff about the President of the USA is newsworthy. We all need to lighten up sometime.

[BuddhaNasty]

06:13 PM on 10/30/2009

His ring appears to be either Majapahit (1293 - 1527), or a copy of a Majapaht design.

And for all the people who see this as reinforcing a Muslim connection, the Majapahit was a Hindu empire. Islam did not become the dominant religion until almost a century after the decline of the Majapahit.

[cutesky]

05:36 PM on 10/30/2009

Not only is Pres. Obama a great leader and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize...he also has beautiful taste in jewelry.

[EltonRules]

04:43 PM on 10/30/2009

I think it 's kool with a k because it's wicked kool , leave Mr. Frank out of this he's a great person .