How to choose a right ring size
How to choose a wedding band: Helpful tips from sellers.
When it comes to choosing a wedding band, the customer faces two important questions: what style of ring they would like and if it will suit them and also how to prevent mistakes with choosing the right size.
To correctly choose the size of a wedding band, you have to first off remember that the size of the finger changes due to weather conditions (summer/winter, hot/cold, etc.) and time of day. That is why, for example, sizing of cold fingers will be less accurate, since due to the cold the finger becomes narrower. It is also incorrect to size a finger after having a shower, exercising, carrying heavy bags or overconsumption of water/other liquids. That is why to get a correct size, we recommend you to avoid aforementioned activities and get sized at the end of a work day, when your fingers take their usual width.
So, you are in the store.
First thing that you have to be ready for is that the size indicated on the ring, might be different than the rings actual size. The size might vary in all directions and might reach up to 0.4mm. I.e., after trying a ring at store ‘A’, you might be taken aback by the fact that in store ‘B’, the ring of the same size does not fit you. Also, the cheaper the ring, the more likely it is to be of the wrong size. Especially if it is at a store where certain styles of rings are available in all sizes.
Secondly, you have to keep in mind that sizing your finger needs to be done with a ring of the size that you will wear. So, if you want to buy or order a ring that is 10mm wide, but try on a ring 4-5mm wide, you will have to remember to add 0.5mm to the size, since the ring of that size will no longer sit close to the joint, but will ‘slide’ behind it, where the ring would be a completely different size. In those cases, the rule should be: if the ring is 4-5mm wide, then on wider ring for every 1mm of ring you have to add 0.1mm of size.
Thirdly, size of rings depend on the inside profile of the ring. You have the choice of a flat inner profile or a round one, which is called “comfort fit”.
With the latter type of profile, even larger rings sit much more comfortably – they do not cut into skin, and when hands swell or become larger with age, then those rings can easily be sanded down until the new size is reached. That method is great for wedding rings with diamonds, which are impossible to enlarge any other way. That is why, if you try on a ring with a flat inner profile, but want to order “comfort fit”, then you need to subtract 0.1mm (with rings width of 4-5mm), and add 0.1mm, if you try on “comfort fit” but want to order flat inner profile. If you have to choose between two sizes, go for the larger one, if the inside will be flat, or smaller if it will be a “comfort fit”. “Comfort fit” rings can have thickness up to 2mm, with 1.4-1.6mm width on average.
Talking about how to choose a ring, and especially helpful tips that we provide, you have to remember that:
- On long, thin fingers (14.0-15.7) thin rings of 2.5-3.5mm or wide of 8-10mm look best. Average width of 4-6mm may suit you but it might not. It all depends of personal preference and specific build of the finger.
- On long, thick fingers (starting from size 17.5) wide rings of 7-8mm would look best.
- For short, thin fingers and short, large fingers there is one rule – thin rings that are 2.5-3.5mm wide.
- On fingers of medium length and medium sizes (15.7-17.5) optimum width of ring is 4.5-6mm.
- If the joint on your finger is wider than the finger at the base (30% of the customers), then while choosing the ring, you have to base it off of the width of the ring that you want. If the ring is thin – it has to have a slight amount of trouble to fit over the knuckle, so it will not move around once at the base of the finger. If the ring is wide however, the ring needs to easily fit over the knuckle and it will sit well on the base of your finger.
Of course, those are general rules and there might be exceptions. Best choice would be to try on many various types of rings, and then decide which one would look best on you. All thoughts about concave and convex or flat rings, inner profile designs, or crooked shapes should be forgotten. All those details are very personal. In choosing a wedding ring, you have to know what you are doing since that will be the one thing that you will be wearing for your whole life. A wedding ring must not annoy you, and you have to feel comfortable with it on. And, dear brides, if you want your husband to wear the ring always – do not force him to get your name, especially to match the two rings. Let it be his choice, after all, he will be the one wearing it at all times.
And lastly, we want to show you a way to find out your ring size at home. It is very simple:
- Take a piece of string or a strip of paper and a ruler.
- Wrap the string or paper around the place where the ring is going to be placed. There should be enough slack for the widest part of the finger to pass through.
- Mark the connection of two ends on the string/paper. Unwrap and measure with a ruler. Compare the result with the 2nd column of the table below.
Ring size guidance table.