Wedding rings symbolize you and your partner’s life-long vow to be with each other — for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Because this emblem of love is something you must almost always wear, you must learn how to size a wedding ring.
How Should My Wedding Ring Fit?
For rings to be worn safely and comfortably, they should have the proper fit. Too loose, and you can lose the ring. Too tight will be hard to remove, which can lead to serious issues (like blocking off blood circulation).
If you’re wondering, “How should my wedding ring fit?” it really depends on the size of the wearer’s finger and knuckle.
Take note that ring fit can change from day to day. And this can be affected by numerous factors, including bloating, humidity, temperature, and time of day (blood flow is significantly lower in the morning).
In the long run, your weight gain or loss can also impact ring fit. If you develop diseases like arthritis or get pregnant (where your body will hold more fluid than usual), you may want to have the ring altered because its fit in your finger will also change.
Wedding Ring Sizing Basic
Ring sizes range from 3 to 15. Makers and shops determine it by measuring the accessory’s inner circumference in millimeters. The inner circumference is the part that comes in contact with your finger and knuckle.
Typically, average women wear a size 5 to 8. Men, on the other hand, wear 8 to 14. To help you find the right wedding band size, refer to this chart:
- Ring size 3: An inner circumference measurement of 44.2 mm
- Ring size 4: 46.6 mm
- Ring size 5: 49.3 mm
- Ring size 6: 51.8 mm
- Ring size 7: 54.4 mm
- Ring size 8: 56.9 mm
- Ring size 9: 59.5 mm
- Ring size 10: 62.1 mm
- Ring size 11: 64.6 mm
- Ring size 12: 67.2 mm
- Ring size 13: 69.7 mm
- Ring size 14: 72.3 mm
- Ring size 15: 75.4 mm
Ring sizes are also available in .25, .50, or .75 increments (e.g., 3.25, 3.50, 3.75, and so on).
The general rule of thumb is to get a size with a wiggle room worth .25 or .50 mm. If the actual circumference of your ring finger measures about 49.3 mm, opt for a ring size 5.25 or 5.5 instead of a flat 5.
If your finger circumference falls between the tiers mentioned above, it’s better to size up than down. For instance, if it measures 50 mm, choose a ring size 6.
7 Practical Ways How To Size A Wedding Ring
Want to learn how to measure a wedding ring size? Check out these seven practical ways we’ve enumerated below.
1. Use A Measuring Tape To Know The Circumference Of The Finger
A thin measuring tape is an ideal instrument for determining the circumference of the base of the ring finger. It’s practical and offers accurate results.
When measuring the finger, make sure to give enough space to accommodate the knuckle. In some people, their knuckle is wider than the base of their finger.
Also, take into account if the wearer is left- or right-handed. Their dominant hand will have slightly larger fingers.
2. Use An Alternative Like A String Or A Paper Strip
If you don’t have a measuring tape, you can use a piece of string or a strip of paper and a printable ring size chart (look for a chart complete with ruler-like measurements).
- Print the chart to its actual size.
- Get a string or make a paper strip and wrap it around the base of your finger (similar to how you’ll use a measuring tape).
- Again, give enough room for the knuckle.
- Cut the string or paper strip where their ends overlap.
- Line up the string or paper strip with the printed chart to determine the corresponding ring size. Make sure that the string or strip is straightened.
- If the string or strip falls between two sizes, choose the larger one.
3. Take The Measurement At The End Of The Day
During the day, the size of your finger can fluctuate depending on humidity and temperature. Therefore, experts recommend measuring at the end of the day – when the fingers are warm.
4. Measure More Than Once
To ensure the accuracy of the wedding ring size, don’t just be content with the first number you obtained. Measure about three to four times.
As stated above, the size varies based on factors like temperature. Your finger will be more swollen if you’re in a warmer environment. Meanwhile, if the temperature is colder, it will be smaller.
5. Use An Existing Ring As A Basis
If you already have an existing ring that has a comfortable fit, you can easily use that as a basis when buying your wedding ring.
6. Get Help From Family And Friends If You Need To Measure Discreetly
Want to be more discreet when buying your fiancé or fiancé-to-be (if you’re just proposing) a ring? Or perhaps want to surprise your would-be-bride with a fantastic wedding band? It’s best to enlist help from their close family members and friends.
These people can give you great advice. They can even convince the wearer to go ring-shopping so that a professional jeweler can accurately get their current ring size.
7. Shop With The Guidance Of A Professional Jeweler
These experts have the tool and the experience to take the ring size of people from different walks of life. You need their professional guidance so you won’t make the mistake of buying a ring with the wrong size.
What Should You Do If Your Ring Doesn’t Fit?
If a ring doesn’t give you a proper fit, you should consult with a specialist who knows how to size a wedding ring.
Ring sizing is a process that allows your ring to go up or down in size. Keep in mind that a jeweler can only adjust a ring to be two or three sizes larger or smaller.
They can upgrade the size of your ring by cutting the shank (the bottom of your ring) open. They will pull it apart and fill the opening with a metal bridge. Next, they will solder (heat) the ends of the shank to the newly added metal. They will also do some smoothing and polishing to protect the jewelry’s quality.
To make it smaller, the jeweler will remove a certain amount of metal (instead of adding a metal bridge).
However, note that not all wedding bands and rings can be resized.
For a jeweler to be able to resize a wedding band or ring, the metal shouldn’t be made of ceramic, titanium, tungsten, or rose gold. The first three are too hard, while the last one can crack if subjected to extreme stress.
If there are gemstones or any other feature set around the band, resizing the accessory won’t be possible.
Now, time to decide whether it will be a diamond ring, silicone wedding bands, or perhaps a wedding ring tattoo?
