Fashion Content // Getting the Right Ring Size*

Have you ever bought a gorgeous ring only to get home and realise it doesn’t fit? Yep, that has happened to me an most frustratingly it usually happens on holiday where I can’t get back to exchange the ring for my correct size. Checking your ring size can be a little difficult and it’s always recommended you do visit a jeweller to be measured correctly. However if you’re buying the ring for an engagement, dragging your other half into a store to have their finger measured it a sure fire way to give it away. Together with AC Silver, retailers of antique jewellery, we can advise you on how to measure yourself for the perfect ring.

Compare Size to an Already Purchased Ring
You may already have a ring at home that you could take with you when you’re ring shopping. Although this can be far from accurate due to sizes varying on different types of ring it can at least give you and the jeweller an idea of the size you’re looking at. The next best thing is of course trying the ring on yourself but if you’re buying for someone else that isn’t always something you can do.

The Thin Paper Method
I’ve seen my mum use this one on my sister when she demanded a ring like the one Angel gave to Buffy on Christmas in our teens. You simply cut a thin strip of paper, wrap it around the finger and mark it. Then you measure the length in millimetres from the end to the mark with a ruler. This millimetre measurement can be converted into the correct size using a guide. However, you should keep in mind that some designs are bigger than others, which will have an impact on your ring size.

Buy a Ring Stick
This is a great one if you already have the ring purchased and you want to make sure it is comparable to a ring they already own, or you want to measure rings to get a rough idea of what size you’re looking for. You can pick a ring stick, or as it’s called in the industry a mandrel sizing tool up for cheap on eBay or Amazon.

Other Things to Consider
Band Width. Did you know that thicker bands tend to hug your finger more than slender bands? The greater depth of the ring shank, the greater impact on the ring size and this may require you to go up a size for it to fit comfortably.

Temperature. It might never have crossed your mind but did you know your fingers tend to be smaller in the morning? Because of this you should measure your fingers later on in the day when they’re warmer. Your finger could be up to half a size smaller in the morning which means during the summer your ring could be too tight. It wouldn’t be great if you went on your honeymoon and found you couldn’t even wear your engagement ring because it was cutting your finger off!

Each Ring Design is Different. Keep in mind that different styles of rings fit differently. Large cocktail rings that are top heavy tend to have a snugger fit due to the fact they shouldn’t spin around while worn. This goes the same for engagement rings with large diamonds.

To recognise a good fit ring there should be a little wiggle room when you remove it over the knuckles. But remember, no measurements are exact as each ring could have a different fit, so to avoid leaving your partner disappointed always visit a jewellers to measure up for you.