WORDS BY ASHLEIGH GRIBBON
ILLUSTRATED BY NOUR ALGHARABALLY
There’s a lot of noise online around ring sizing conversions, gifting your partner, and tips for measuring your own ring size at home. But how do you separate the fact from the fiction when it comes to the topic? We’ve put some of the key questions to the in-store jewellery experts of some of our most renowned jewelry boutique partners, including London-based demi-fine specialist The Alkemistry, US-based fine jewelry specialists Marissa Collections and Kuwait-based trend-and-niche-brand specialists Aubade. Find out all you need to know from the experts on finding your own and your partner's ring size - shop their favourite pieces below.
DIY Ring Sizing At Home
What should you consider when measuring your own ring size?
‘I think the most important thing that people often don’t think about when trying to gauge their ring size at home is the thickness of the band – how thick or thin the ring band is will really affect its fit. If you have rings that you like already it’s worth taking the measurement from that. You can do this simply by measuring the inner ring size circumference and then looking at an online sizing chart to give you the correct measurement.'
Which technique do you recommend for at-home ring sizing?
'In terms of sizing at home, the string technique is probably the most accurate out of these, but I would say proceed with caution. We do find that when people measure from home they measure too tightly around the finger because they want it to fit perfectly and they don’t take into account that your fingers swell throughout the day. Personally, I recommend being generous with your sizing and considering the ring's height and thickness. The best thing to do is to pass by any local jewelers and they’ll measure you on the spot. You’re going to get a really accurate reading from that.' – Harriet Lindsay, Brand and Buying Director, Aubade Boutique
Do you have any tips for ensuring you get an accurate fit?
‘I would personally take more than one measurement. Being that the thread is soft it will be a different fit from a solid band ring, so you can’t take it for granted – you’ll need to make 2-3 measurements to make extra sure. Simply measure with a thread and a ruler – when you take the circumference from your finger, the inner circumference is where the sizing comes from. The inner circumference is the French sizing standard, and while every country uses a different sizing standard, you can use a ring sizing chart online to translate your ring size from one sizing to another.’ – Roman Dvoretskyy, Concessions Manager, The Alkemistry
When is the best time to measure your ring size?
'I would say about mid-afternoon is the best time to measure your ring size. Your fingers are at their smallest in the morning and if you want your ring to sit comfortably – allowing for them to get slightly smaller or larger – around 4pm is the best time to measure them.’ – Harriet Lindsay, Brand and Buying Director, Aubade Boutique
Local vs. International Ring Sizing Conversion
Is there a standard ring sizing conversion chart?
‘Not all jewelers use the same ring size scale – it depends on what country you live in and what international vendors the jeweller you’re looking at carries. There are international ring measurement charts that are available only for you to easily compare international sizes, which are based on the finger's ring size circumference by the millimeter. For example, the US uses a numerical measure for whole and half-ring sizes while the UK uses alphabetical letters for both. Italian ring sizing is specified as the circumference minus 40mm. And France and Germany base their sizing on the inner circumference of the ring in millimeters.
Are there any differences between men's and women's international sizing?
Both men’s and women’s ring sizes are based on the same measuring chart system, which makes things easier.’ – Jay Hartington, Director of Ecommerce at Marissa Collections
Rings Styles For Finger Shapes
Do you have any recommendations on choosing a ring for different types of finger shapes?
‘Delicate jewelry with small stones tends to look nice on slim, slender fingers, as it gives the hand a good balance – it’s a clean look. If you have bigger hands, big jewelry is likely to really suit you, and doesn’t look too much. If you’re thinking of an engagement ring and you have long fingers, an elongated stone like a pear shape, marquee cut or emerald-shaped stone looks really nice on a longer finger. I would say that signet rings are a universal type of ring – especially delicate, slim styles. In my opinion, they’re a timeless style – you can’t go wrong with a signet style on any finger. The double-row ring from Kismet by Milka, for example, is a beautiful versatile style – it’s nice and delicate, but would still work with bigger hands.’ – Roman Dvoretskyy, Concessions Manager, The Alkemistry
Can different knuckle sizes affect ring fit?
‘I’d say if you have larger knuckles, going for an open band style would be best - something that you can fit over the knuckle and then gently squeeze into place is ideal for this, and there are loads of great styles at the moment, like those from Anita Ko and Zoë Chicco.'
'Some people have 30% bigger knuckles than their actual ring size so it means that there are styles that don’t really work – a ring with a heavy stone, for example, will never sit right and would swing, so I’d say an open ring would be best. It’s also good to consider the length of your fingers. I’ve got larger fingers, so I don’t wear anything too dainty – it’s all about what complements your hand the most. I’d also think about the shape of any stone or detail on the ring – say, if you’ve got lovely long fingers, a nice oval ring is going to look really nice. And if you’ve got shorter fingers, a thick band style isn’t going to highlight that.’ – Harriet Lindsay, Brand and Buying Director, From Aubade Boutique
Finding Out Your Partner’s Ring Size
How can you determine your partner's ring size without asking them?
‘This question tends to scare me the most, especially when we’re talking about something custom for a customer because it’s quite a risk, particularly when we’re talking about surprise or engagement rings as they tend to be diamond bands with diamonds all the way around which can’t be resized. If it’s possible to get your hands on one of their rings and take it to a jeweller they can measure it on a mandrel – it’s a stick that you slide a ring down and it will give you a measurement – or alternatively you can order a mandrel online to keep at home as they’re quite handy to have, especially if you’re an online shopper.'
Can all rings be resized?
'In terms of ring resizing, basically any ring that’s a completely plain band and relatively thin can be resized. As a general rule, you may run into problems with getting a ring resized on styles with stones or diamond details around more than 50% of the band. It does vary style by style – some bands might only have three stones, but it’s still going to be too difficult to resize, so that’s something to be wary of, especially if you’re gifting. I would never edit a ring too much, because when you do you start to mess with the integrity of the original design.’ – Harriet Lindsay, Brand and Buying Director, Aubade Boutique