How to Measure Ring Size

To begin, let’s talk about what a proper-fitting ring looks and feels like. And here’s a video that demonstrates proper ring fit.

Unlike your house slippers or pajamas, a proper ring size is first and foremost about security, as opposed to comfort. Most ring losses are due to improper sizing. This isn’t to say the ring should be uncomfortable once it’s past your knuckle…but it should require some noticeable effort to remove the ring. Most often, that effort comes in the form of rocking the ring back and forth off the knuckle, but other folks prefer to twist a ring off.

For those who have a far bigger knuckle than finger past the knuckle, the recommendation is to get a ring as tight as tolerable over the knuckle (pro tip: use Windex!), in order to minimize the amount of “spin” once the ring is past the knuckle.

Afraid of Getting It Wrong? Don’t Make the Mistake So Many Others Make!

We love to educate and help! And that includes assisting you in finding your personal “Cinderella” size for a ring from our gallery or our studio.

What Happens If My Ring Size Is Too Big?

Without the level of close fit that we recommend, the slightest bit of moisture, cold, or other fluctuation towards a smaller finger size can wreak havoc, with the utmost negative effect being ring loss.

Some folks just can’t tolerate a ring being the size that we at Alara consider to be ideal…it simply feels too tight, “suffocating,” etc. Obviously, we defer to folks on that, and warn them that the onus is on them to be extra careful, and to invest in jewelry insurance.

Understanding the Significance of Accurate Ring Sizing

Knowing the correct ring size as part of selecting a new ring or sizing an existing one is vitally important. Unfortunately, there’s not as much true standardization to ring sizers and ring mandrils (the long tapered wand you see jewelers use to determine the size of an existing ring) as would be ideal.

In fact, a manufacturing jeweler (such as Alara) invests quite a bit in professional-quality, matched sets of ring sizers and mandrils, because we need them in our gallery when we help customers and we need the exact same ones in our atelier, where the rings are created and/or sized. If we didn’t have matching equipment within our own organization, it would be chaos for us and disappointment for you. Likewise, the sizing rings and mandrils vary from one jeweler to another. Therefore, it is ideal to be sized (which is an active process, not just “handing you sizers”) by a professional at the place where you are getting your ring. Your correct ring size will actually be different based on the internal shape, width, and construction of your ring. For example, a wide ring fits tighter than a narrow one, but the degree of difference varies from person to person. A ring that is “hollowed” out can sometimes be sized smaller than a solid interior ring. To do these calculations, interaction with an experienced professional is necessary. Some rings are sizable, and others are not. Guessing ring size on your own might work out ok, if it turns out the ring style in question can be readily resized by the necessary amount. But, you might regret trying to measure your ring size at home if the ring style is essentially unsizable or only sizable to a small degree.

The Right and Wrong Ways to Measure Ring Size at Home

Ill-advised and Unacceptable Ways to Measure Ring Size at Home

Quantity of Info, Even When Frequently Repeated, Does Not Make It Right or True

How to Measure Your Finger for Ring Size

The Best Way to Measure Ring Size at Home

Are Fingers on Different Hands the Same Size?

Changing the Size of a Ring Multiple Times Isn’t Great for the Ring

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