Determining ring size can be a daunting experience when one wants to protect the element of surprise. This blog post will cover various ways in which one can determine ring size accurately, without eliminating the element of surprise, as well as, a few practical ways in which you can measure your own finger size accurately.
THE BEST WAY
The best and most accurate way to determine ring size, is to pop into a jewellery store with your loved one to determine her ring size. They will use a set of finger gauges, which is a metal hoop holding a series of metal rings in half size increments. The fit should feel secure and comfortable, taking into consideration the temperature, humidity and time of day as these can affect the size of your fingers. It needs to fit snugly on your finger in order not to fall off, but also loose enough to slide over your knuckle.
You can also order on of our free ring sizers. The sizer has measurements from which you can read the size of her ring finger.
ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
If you wanted to protect the element of surprise by determining your loved one’s ring finger size without her knowledge, there are a few ways in which you can do it quite accurately.
If your loved one is a heavy sleeper, you can slip the free ring sizer (coming soon) onto her ring finger and read the size from it. The fit should be snug, but you must be able to slide it over the knuckle comfortably.
Ask one of her girlfriends or a family member. Girls share their every detail with their close girlfriends and their mums. They will most likely know the size of her ring finger.
NB: For all of the following options you will need a ring that she already wears on her left or right ring finger, or one you know fits one of her ring fingers:
‘Steal’ one of her rings that she already wears on her ring finger and to have it sized at a jeweller. If it is one that she wears on her right ring finger and she is right handed, her left ring finger will be a half size to a size smaller; the opposite applies to left-handed individuals (their left ring finger will be bigger). Do not use a ring that she wears on any of her other eight fingers, as these are completely different sizes to one’s ring finger size. If the ring is destined for another finger, use a ring she already wears on that finger.
If you can’t ‘steal’ her ring for long enough to take it to a jeweller, would be to use a bar of soap. Create an impression of the ring in a bar of soap, by pressing the ring down into the soap bar with some force. A jeweller will be able to determine the size of the ring from the impression of the ring. You can also measure the diameter in mm and compare it to a ring sizing chart.
Trace the inside of the ring’s circumference with a sharp pencil on a piece of paper. When doing this it is important to hold the ring very still, and to trace as close to the ring as possible in order to get an accurate measurement. The ring should preferably be as unadorned and plain as possible. You can determine the size of the ring by measuring the diameter of the traced circle in mm, then comparing it to a ring sizing chart. Here one should always rather go half a size up as the traced circle will always be slightly smaller than the actual ring’s diameter.
Jam it onto one of your fingers carefully noting its position, then visit a jeweller to determine the size with a ring gauge. This one could be a little risking in terms of accuracy.
PRO TIP: rather always go a size larger. Rather have it be too big than too small when popping the question. You can always have the ring resized afterwards.
DON’T: use a string or a strip of paper. This is a very inaccurate method as these materials are not rigid or stiff enough to keep the shape that a ring would.
GOOD LUCK!
