If you’re looking for a ring, either for a special occasion, such as a wedding or engagement, a gift for a friend or loved one, or to treat yourself, you’ll need to know what size you are before you buy, so you can ensure it fits perfectly.
Read on for a handy guide to getting the right ring fit!
Like many other accessories, rings vary considerably in size and you need to know the correct size for your finger in order to get one that fits well, will stay on and isn’t too tight.
Getting the size right depends on two factors – the finger in question and the size and style of ring involved (a wider ring, for example, may need to be a slightly bigger size to fit a finger than a narrower ring).
If you’ve got no idea of what your ring size might be, and especially if you’ve not even got a current ring with which to compare it, the best way of finding your ring size is to go to a jeweller and get measured.
This is by far the most reliable method and will provide an accurate indication of your ring size.
Getting Your Size Measured
All good jewellers will be equipped with a special set of metal ring size gauges. The reading gauge normally comes in the form of one big metal ring or strip that has a number of differently sized metal rings attached to it.
These other metal rings range in size from very small to very large and are used to represent different finger and ring sizes.
The jeweller will place the metal rings over the finger that you want a ring for and help you decide which rings feels the best.
Ring sizes in the UK have been around for some time and even have a British Standard assigned to them – BS6820:1987 (the old standard, which is no longer used, is BS1283:1945).
The current standard was released in 1987 and uses millimetres as the primary form of measurement.
Both the inside diameter and inside circumference of rings play a part in the ring size and, to make it easier for people to know an exact ring size rather than some tricky measurements, they’re all assigned to a size system.
The size system runs from A, with half sizes, through to Z+2. For example:
- Ring size A has an inside diameter of 11.94mm and an inside circumference of 37.50mm.
- Ring size C½ has an inside diameter of 12.93mm and an inside circumference of 40.625mm.
- Ring size K½ has an inside diameter of 16.11mm and an inside circumference of 50.625mm.
- Ring size Z½ has an inside diameter of 22.08mm and an inside circumference of 71.25mm.
- Ring size Z+2 has an inside diameter of 22.68 and an inside circumference of 71.25.
As ever, different countries use a variety of different ring size measuring systems, so if you’re looking for a ring in a country other than the UK, these sizes won’t apply.
In the US, for example, their sizes run from ½ to 13½ and various different systems are in action in other parts of Europe.
You can sometimes download free ring sizing charts on the Internet, which can be a useful guide in the first instance.
But in order to get a ring that fits perfectly, it’s definitely much better to go and be professionally measured for free.
See Also
