Ring Sizes

Ring size and finger size are two totally different things.  A ring is just a hard, round piece of metal or other material.  It does not change its shape to fit a finger according to its shape but it remains the same.  The finger on the other hand may change over time by getting fatter or thinner, or may swell or shrink.  Other factors that affect finger size are menstruation, temperature, water retention by the body and exercise.  Plus you cannot overlook the knuckle that the ring has to pass to fit the finger. The most accurate measurement is gained by taking measurements over the course of a few days at different times of the day.    The correct ring size depends on not just the finger but also the ring.  There are numerous ways to determine one’s ring size.  Here is a list of the different ways to do so:

1. The best way is to have a jeweler take the measurement.  Jewelers use metal gauges and will take into consideration the type of ring that you need.  When measuring your finger with metal gauges, try smaller sizes first until you discover the size that fits your finger comfortably.
2. Use a ring that you already own that fits your finger well.
3. You can measure your finger by wrapping a piece of narrow, stiff paper around your finger.  However, this method is not recommended as it may be unreliable.
4. You may download gauges from the internet but this can produce inaccurate results.
5. By using a string.  This is the worst way of determining the size of your finger as the string is flexible and can take the form of any shape.  The ring is stiff and therefore the string will not make a good judgment.
6. Sometimes you can try guessing.  If you choose to guess a ring size, try to go bigger because it is easier to adjust a big ring to make it smaller than the other way around.

Different countries have different ring sizing systems.  Take a look at how the United States and the British sizing system are structured:

United States

They use quarter sizes and half sizes.  Even eight sizes are used sometimes.   This system has been in use as far back as 1874.

British

The earliest scale used by the British had steps of 1/64^th inch in a diameter.  However, in 1949 the British Standard whole size steps from 0.0155 inch of a diameter.  Still another standard was set in 1987. It kept the names of the sizes but initiated the use of millimeters instead of inches, and circumference instead of diameter.

Tips

• The type of ring matters.  A wide band ring can be worn loosely.
• People with large knuckles should wear a slightly loose ring while people with smaller knuckles need tighter rings.
• When trying on a ring, shake your hand vigorously to test whether the ring will fall off.