What ring size do I need?

There are a number of things to consider when checking what size your finger is before ordering. Many of the rings I make are not easily sized so it saves both parties allot of time and hassle to double check what size to order.

The width of the ring has an affect on how tight the ring "feels" on the finger. You may know that your ring finger is size X for example, because you have previously bought a ring that "fits". But if the previous ring was 2mm wide and the one you are considering buying is 11mm wide like this one for instance, then you will need a larger size in order to have the same "feel" of "fit". This is because a finger is bone with a bit of flesh and skin around it; the ring needs to grip the finger (a little) to stop it sliding off. but the wider the ring is the greater the surface contact with the finger making a wider ring of the same size "feel smaller".

The best thing to do is try on a few rings, of a similar width to the one you are considering buying, and then measure, or get the rings size measured.

I considered this advice fairly fail safe until recently, when an order containing seven rings ran into problems with all the rings reported as "two sizes too small!"

The size of a ring, (assuming it's round on the inside, and not square like this one), is the internal diameter. That may seem obvious, but some jewellers make a habit of taking the size which is under the ring. This is OK if the ring is oval or round in section etc, as the middle in that instance is the narrowest internal diameter; but if the ring is parallel inside, then reading the size under the middle of the ring, when it's on a ring stick (especially if the ring is wide) does not equal the rings' internal diameter / size!



The size should be taken from the leading edge, (A) which equates to the internal diameter of the ring. If the size on the ring stick under the middle of the ring is quoted (B), then the ring will be too small.
I think this is what happened with my last order, where "all the rings are two sizes too small". So I thought I'd write this, and link to it from the ring size chart page, so that it can be avoided in the future. Hopefully.