How to Determine Ring Size

How to properly determine ring size? For a purchased piece of jewelry to delight not only with its appearance but also with comfort, it’s essential to choose the correct size. This is especially important for rings, as even a 0.5 millimeter error can cause significant discomfort during regular wear. Don’t choose jewelry by eye. Use one of the tips presented below.

How to Find Your Finger Size for a Ring Using a Ruler

This method works best for those who already have similar jewelry accessories available. Take a piece of jewelry that you wear on a specific finger and measure its inner diameter at the widest part with a ruler. The result, expressed in millimeters, will be your desired size. The standard ring size for men ranges from 19 to 23 mm. For women, this range is between 15 to 19 mm. Russian-made jewelry has increments of 0.5. Foreign rings may differ by 0.1 mm.

Size Chart

You can find a good helper for this challenging task online. Download and print a special size chart. Just pay attention to the scale when transferring the image to paper. Incorrect proportions will distort the actual size of the item.

Try placing the ring against each circle in turn until you see a perfect match between the template and the jewelry. If you get an intermediate result, choose the larger number. Measurements should be taken strictly by the inner diameter of the ring.

Download “Ring Diameter Chart” (PDF)

Using Improvised Materials

This little trick will allow you to accurately determine your finger size for purchasing jewelry. Cut a strip of regular paper or thread. Wrap it tightly around the desired finger, but don’t squeeze the skin, otherwise the measurements will be incorrect and the ring will end up being too small. Use a pen or pencil to mark the thread or paper strip where the edges meet. Measure the resulting segment with a ruler. Divide the result by 3.14. This will be your finger size.

If the jewelry store tells you that such a size isn’t available in their jewelry line, choose a ring that will differ slightly in diameter, but definitely on the larger side. When an item is slightly loose, it’s not as problematic as an accessory that’s difficult to put on. Remember that hands tend to swell in heat. If initially the ring fits very tightly when purchased, there’s a risk that it will later need to be removed with a doctor’s help.

A piece of jewelry that’s frankly loose on your hand isn’t the best option either. Such an item can easily be deformed during wear or lost. Therefore, try to take all measurements as accurately and carefully as possible. By the way, you can use regular tailor’s measuring tape with equal success. All the numbers are already marked on it in advance. But the result will still need to be divided by 3.14, otherwise the salesperson at the jewelry store simply won’t understand you.

When Not to Measure Your Finger for a Ring

The human body is a complex thing. There are periods when finding out the exact size of jewelry simply won’t work. Here are several tips for when you should not attempt to take measurements:

• Right after a flight;
• Early in the morning;
• In very hot or cold weather;
• During menstruation;
• After sports exercises.

The fact is that in the mornings, as well as after flights, a large amount of fluid accumulates in the human body. Limbs swell and become larger than they actually are. Therefore, measurement results will be incorrect. This same rule applies to physical exercise and “regular women’s problems.” In severe cold, blood vessels in the hands constrict, which can lead to purchasing a ring that’s too small.

It’s best to select jewelry in the middle of the day when there’s no even slight illness or stress. To understand whether this particular ring will be comfortable to wear in the future, clench your hand into a fist several times. If the accessory digs into your skin or causes discomfort, it’s better to choose a slightly looser item.

How a Man Can Secretly Determine a Woman’s Ring Size

Not every gift should be known in advance. This is especially important when planning to make a marriage proposal. There are several methods that can help a man find out a woman’s finger size and choose the right ring.

Use an accessory she already has. You can use the ring sizer widget on the homepage of our website to secretly measure your beloved’s ring. The measuring widget works on both regular computers and mobile phones.

Try to secretly take one of her rings with you and go to a jewelry store with it. The consultant will be able to determine its size using a special device – a ring mandrel. But it’s very important to remember which finger your lady wears this particular item on, as they can sometimes differ significantly from each other. The hand itself also matters. Fingers on the left hand are usually half a size smaller than the right.

Try the Ring on Yourself to Determine Ring Size

This is a quick and generally inconspicuous way to determine ring size. Remember or mark with a pen how far the jewelry went on your finger. In the store, also try on the option you like. Do the results match? You can confidently make your purchase. And don’t forget about a beautiful box.

Ask Her Best Friend

She probably knows exactly what ring size your girlfriend wears. But even if the friend has never wondered about such a question, it will be much easier for her to find out. In any case, there definitely won’t be any suspicion from a long-time confidante. But this method only works if the friend doesn’t spill secrets.

For the Most Skilled

When the girl is sleeping, quickly and carefully, so as not to wake her, wrap her finger with thread and tie it in a knot. Then cut it with scissors. Then proceed as described in the method above. With a tailor’s measuring tape, this will be somewhat easier. Particularly inventive grooms can use calipers. Always round any intermediate result up.

Paper Outline

Quickly and inconspicuously trace the girl’s ring with a pencil or pen. With this drawing, you can quite confidently go to the store and compare rings to it. This is very convenient when there’s no possibility to bring the actual jewelry as an example.

To avoid making sizing mistakes with your gift, use these tips:

• wide rings fit tighter, so they should be purchased half a size larger;
• thin bands are better bought to fit the obtained result exactly;
• items studded with stones cannot be resized, so such accessories must be purchased with certainty;
• don’t increase or decrease a ring by more than one size to avoid damaging the jewelry itself.
• only rings with smooth bands can be increased or decreased. By half a size but no more than one size.

Remember that according to Russian Federation legislation, jewelry items are not subject to exchange or return in the absence of manufacturing defects. Therefore, if the ring still doesn’t fit properly, you need to contact a jeweler immediately.