Ring Sizing Guide
Sizing rings can be a tricky business especially when working across the internet.
Why is it tricky? Because every jeweller does things their way and those ways don’t always line up, jeweller-to-jeweller.
Firstly, there are a ton of different ring measuring systems depending on where you live. Thankfully, there are handy charts like this one that allow jeweller’s like us to convert from one system to another.
Next, we have our tools. Every jeweller has their own tools, manufactured from different places all over the world. Sometimes, this can mean that one jeweller’s tools are very slightly different from another’s. (We’re in Australia, but our tools actually have US measures on them, which means we need convert Aussie sizes to US before we can make rings.)
It’s for this reason that we recommend that all our customers go to a couple of different local jewellers to get their ring size. If you can get 2 different jewellers who agree on your size, you can be pretty confident that it’s the right one!
Any other method like using an online sizer, one you print out, or even a bit of string or tape around your finger are never going to get you an accurate size. The only way to be sure you’re getting the right size is to have a jeweller professionally size you in-person. Thankfully, any jewellery store will do this for free, and it takes just one or two minutes. It’s definitely worth the effort in the long run to get the size right, first time!
Size differs depending on the width of the ring you order, too. Jeweller’s can use either a thin or a wide set of sizing bands, as shown below.
Why? Because the width of your ring affects the fit.
Wider rings need to be larger than narrow ones to feel comfortable.
It’s for this reason that we always make any ring larger than 5mm between 1/8 and 1/4 size bigger, depending on the info you give us about how you got sized.
There are also 2 different methods for sizing rings depending on where they sit on the jeweller’s mandrel (we KNOW, it’s crazy!).
The first one is the centre line method. Using this method, the size is read depending on where the middle of the ring sits on the mandrel.
The second one is the true diameter method. This is read by where the bottom of the ring sits on the mandrel.
We use the true diameter method, because we believe it gives a more accurate size, as ring sizes can also be measured using inside diameter – and the point where the ring and mandrel connect is the bottom edge of the ring, not the middle.
A variation to this is when I’m sizing a comfort fit ring. Comfort fit rings aren’t flat on the inside they’re a little bit convex.
Therefore, they need to be measured by where the middle of the ring sits on the mandrel, as this is the narrowest part of the ring.
Can’t get to a jeweller?
If there is absolutely no way you can get professionally sized, then we recommend you find and purchase one of the following types of ring sizers online. Both of these are usually pretty accurate, and though they are not 100% perfect, they are better than home-grown methods.
Just search for ‘plastic ring sizer’. You should be able to buy one of either for less than $10.
Trying to Work Out a Ring Size Secretly?
So, sometimes you’re buying a ring as a gift or an engagement ring, and you can’t take the recipient along to a jeweller. One way to get a pretty good (though not perfect) ring size, is to measure a ring that fits the right finger, if you can get hold of it.
We can get a pretty accurate measurement by measuring the internal diameter of the ring.
The best way is to find a flat ruler that has millimetres (if you can – otherwise, you can use the 16ths on an inch ruler).
Lay the ring on the ruler, and line up the inside edge with the beginning of one centimetre. Then, adjust the ring till the widest point spans the measurements on the ruler. Take a photo straight down. Count how many mm there are between the two internal edges – this is the internal diameter.
We can work out a pretty accurate ring size from this measure, but if you can send me the photo we can double-check for you.
Here’s an example – this ring has an internal diameter just shy of 20mm:
Finally ring size is never perfect 100% of the time, because we don’t have metal, never-changing fingers. No, our fingers are malleable flesh, and they can shrink and swell depending on the weather, temperature, and even what we eat or drink. Not to mention when we gain or lose a few kilos!
If you’re buying a ring to wear for the first time (we’re looking at you, guys) you’ll probably think that it’s too small at first, because you’re not used to the sensation of a ring on your finger. We always recommend you give it a good 1-2 weeks of wear before you make the decision to get it re-sized, as you’ll probably find it becomes comfortable over time, and you won’t even know you’re wearing it.
So, with all that in mind isn’t it an amazing thing when your ring arrives and fits perfectly?!
We try really hard to ensure every one of my customers gets a perfectly sized ring, every time, but as you can see, getting the size right is a real collaboration between you and us, as we can only go on the sizing information you give us.
The more detail you can give us, the better, always!