Is there anything more frustrating than seeing the perfect ring for a friend but not having her ring size? Sure, you could call her husband, but the odds are good that he does not know her ring size either. Even if you are willing to forgo the surprise and ask your friend directly for her ring size, there is a good chance that she does not know what it is. Do you know what your ring size it? How do you find your ring size in the first place?
Location Matters
If you are an avid estate jewelry buyer, you may have noticed that imported rings have different sizes than you would expect to see in America. In the United States and Canada, we measure the inside diameter or the inside circumference to arrive at a size. This allows for the use of quarter and half sizes. In much of Europe, size depends on the metric sizing of the internal circumference. There are few – if any – half sizes in use. Other European countries take the circumference, subtract 40mm and thereby arrive at a size.
Measuring the Circumference
- Cut out a thin strip of heavy paper.
- Wrap the paper around your ring finger or the finger where you intend to wear the jewelry.
- Mark the paper at the spot where it first completes the circle.
- Flatten the paper and measure from the edge up to the mark you made. If you use the metric marks, follow the instructions below to calculate your ring size. If using inches, the handy chart below reveals ring sizes by inch measurements (and millimeters).
Calculate the Inner Diameter
The inside diameter is really little more than a straight line that connects to opposite ends of a circle. Calculate it by dividing the circumference measurement by 3.14. Round up or down the resulting number. For example, if your circumference is 44.2mm, your diameter would be 14.07 or 14.1 rounded up.
Sizing the Ring
Jewelers generally base their sizes on the diameter measurements. These are commonly:
- Size 3: 14.1mm diameter
- Size3.5: 15.5mm diameter
- Size 4: 14.9mm diameter
- Size 4.5: 15.3mm diameter
- Size 5: 15.7mm diameter
- Size 5.5: 16.1mm diameter
- Size 6: 16.5mm diameter (the most popular women’s ring size)
- Size 6.5: 16.9mm diameter
- Size 7: 17.3mm diameter
- Size 7.5: 17.7mm diameter
- Size 8: 18.1mm diameter (the most popular men’s ring size)
- Size 8.5: 15.5mm diameter
- Size 9: 19.0mm diameter
- Size 9.5: 19.4mm diameter
Measuring the Right Way
The circumference of your finger changes throughout the day. Warm fingers are slightly larger than cold fingers. At the end of the day and after exercise, your fingers are usually a bit swollen when compared to the early morning.
For best results, it is a good idea to visit your jewelerand have the professional measure your ring finger with the proper tools.
Peter Suchy Jewelers is located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut and along with being experts at vintage and estate jewelry, we enjoy bringing you tips—such as how to measure your ring size. We also have many antique, vintage and estate rings at unbelievable prices in our eBay store!
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