It is a pleasure to pick and buy silver jewelry. It makes a great present not only for yourself but also for your loved ones, relatives, and friends. It is extremely exciting to shop for a ring but at the same time, it is a very responsible process. You surely want a band or a signet to look awesome and fit well. The biggest problem is how to pick a ring if you buy it in an online store. Many people don’t know the sizes of rings they are wearing so shopping becomes guesswork. In this post, we describe four ways to measure your ring size at home. So dive in and take the stress out of jewelry shopping.
What is a Ring Size?
A ring size is equal to the circumference of your finger. If you live in a European country, you just need to measure the finger girth (or the inner circle of another ring you wear on the same finger of the same hand) in millimeters and the resulting figure will be the size you are looking for. Sometimes, the European ring size chart skips certain sizes (for example, there are no 50, 54, and 60 sizes), so it makes sense to buy the next larger size. You can also come across regional size charts (English, Swiss, French) but most jewelry manufacturers use either European or American standard.
The US ring sizes are also measured by finger girth but they are expressed in inches. The difference between the two following sizes is half an inch.
In the former USSR countries, there is a slightly different ring size chart. Instead of ring circumference, they measure its inner diameter.
In the table below, you can see a comparative scale of ring sizes from different countries. It will help you to easily convert American sizes to European ones or other standards.
The table will come in handy if you already know your ring size. But what do you do if you have no idea on what ring size you wear or if you are going to make a gift to somebody else? Do not worry, you’re about to find out how to measure your finger size.
Method number 1: Measure a ring diameter
If you have a ring you are wearing and you want to buy another one of the same size, you can simply measure its diameter with a ruler. The simplest way to do so is to place a ring on a piece of paper, circle it inside and measure the diameter (two opposite points through the center of the circle). When you obtain the length of the inner diameter, multiply it by the Pi number (3,14) and you will get the circumference.
When using this method, you should keep in mind that rings with a wide shank sit more tightly on a finger than thin ones. Therefore, their circumference should be slightly larger than that of their skinny counterparts. When you buy thin rings with a shank of up to 3 mm, there is no need to size up.
Method number 2: Thread, measuring tape or strip of paper
This method is suitable for those who do not have a ring close at hand that can be measured. But if you have your own finger, you can simply measure it. Please note that you need to fit out the same finger on the same hand you are going to rock your ring on. Because all fingers are different and the dominant hand tends to have a slightly larger size, if you measure a different finger, a ring may not fit.
So, you need to take a thread or a strip of paper, wrap it around your finger, and cut off the ends or mark them with a pen. Then, measure the piece you’ve got with a ruler.
This method has a high chance of error since any ring, unlike a thread or strip of paper, has a certain thickness. Rings of paper, thread, and metal are completely different things. A thread may get too deep into the skin while paper vice versa might be too loose.
We recommend using a thin and narrow piece of paper rather than a thread. When you cut it to fit your finger, tape the ends together and make a paper ring. Then, try to put it on your finger so that it doesn’t get stuck on the joints between the phalanges. If you feel that such a makeshift ring hardly slights through your joints, you need to pick a ring one size larger.
Method Number 3: Multiple Measuring
The previous method is very simple because we have access to our own fingers. Unfortunately, as we have already noted, this method is not 100% accurate. To minimize errors, wrap a threat (or paper) around your finger 5 times. Next, measure the length of the piece and divide this number by 5. Thus, your measurements will be more exact.
Method number 4: Statistics
If you don’t have a ring or a finger to measure (for example, if you want to make a present to a loved one or friend), there is only one way – to rely on the body size.
For example:
- girls weighing up to 132 lbs. (60 kg) and up to 5’7” (170 cm) tall wear rings between 5 ½ and 7 ½;
- girls above to 5’7” (170 cm) and weighing more than 132 lbs (60 kg) rock rings from 8 to 9 ½;
- men weighing up to 180 lbs. (80 kg) normally wear rings from 8 ½ to 11 sizes;
- men weighing more than 180 lbs. usually rock rings of 11 ½ and more.
In general, according to statistics, the most popular ring sizes for women are from 6 to 8, with 7 being the most common size. For men, the most popular size is 10, plus / minus a size. Please keep in mind that this data is only statistics for people of average weight and height. Therefore, you must be very careful when using this method because you might significantly miss the mark.
Ring Size Measure Tips
The human body is dynamic. If it is cold outside, it shrinks to save as much heat as possible. If it's hot, it tries to shed excess water. Therefore, there are conditions that will not give you reliable data when measuring a ring size. You shouldn’t choose a ring:
- in the morning;
- after a large fluid intake;
- during that time of the month;
- when it is too hot or cold outside or when sudden changes in temperature occur;
- after a long flight;
- if the temperature of your body is increased.
After a night or long flight, a large amount of water remains in the human body, which causes limbs swelling. The same goes for intensive workouts. Since the fingers are still swollen, a ring that fits ok after training will become looser in a couple of hours. As a result, you will experience discomfort when wearing jewelry - a ring will constantly slide along your finger. Besides, a ring sitting loose is very easy to lose.
Experts do not recommend measuring ring sizes in very hot or cold weather because your fingers tend to swell. It is best to pick up rings after noon, when there is a comfortable temperature outside, when you are relaxed, calm, and in good state of health.
To find out whether it is comfortable for you to wear a ring, simply squeeze your fingers into a fist several times. If you feel no discomfort then the size is chosen correctly. If you can’t turn the ring, the ‘muffin top’ situation is going on, or it squeezes your digit too tight, you should definitely size up.
Normally, jewelry stores have two types of ring gauges - for wide and narrow rings. When fitting a ring with a specialist, you need to clarify which design you plan to buy. If you purchase a pretty wide ring (8 millimeters or more) online or for another person, it’s best to add ¼” or ½” to the original finger measuring.
Is it possible to change a ring size?
It depends on the design whether you can size up or down your ring. If a ring’s shank is unusual, bejeweled with stones or features various inserts, it is unlikely that you can change its size. The easiest to resize rings are classic models with a smooth band. However, if your ring accommodates engraving, stones or its shank features intricate openwork design, you will either have to shell out to fix it or you might fail to find a jeweler ready to take this challenging task. Please note that it is impossible to change the size of an infinity ring, a band covered with enamel, ceramics, as well as a transformer ring.
If you worry that a ring size won’t be right, then pick one-size-fits-all models with an open shank. You’ll be able to easily adjust such a piece for your fingers.