Finding the perfect ring is not a simple task. You need to pick out the design you love, calculate your budget, and choose the right ring size. The shopping becomes even more challenging if you plan a surprise proposal.
Maybe you wonder how should a ring fit if you know that your fingers change during the day. Sometimes, even the rings you wear on the same finger differ in size. Luckily, I can give you some helpful guidelines on how to determine the size you need.
Ring Sizes
First, you need to know is that you can’t find a ring that will suit you perfectly all day long. Your fingers go through micro-changes during that period, depending on various factors, including the temperature and the amount of water and food you consume.
The finger circumference will change with seasons, as well. So, when you buy two rings, one during summer and another in winter months, they will probably vary in size.
Every woman feels that her rings become narrower or broader in some moments. Only the band you can wear comfortably during most of the day without tightening or slipping from your finger is the right choice.
The most common ring sizes
Jewelers in the USA use the numeric scale to define the ring sizes. It starts at a teen size 3 and goes up to 15, marked as a giant one. However, most women wear ring sizes anywhere between 5 and 8.
If you have a small hand, there is a big chance that you need a ring between 4,5 and 5,5. If your hand is an average size, search for a band in the range of 5,75 to 7. Values larger of 7 determine wide rings for large hands.
The numerical value assigned to a ring clarifies its inner perimeter in millimeters. The difference between the two adjacent values is approximately 2 to 3 mm.
Most jewelers use an extra millimeter to ensure a better fit because of a finger size changes during a day. For example, you can buy 4,5 or 4,75 ring size if the 4 and 5 sizes don’t fit correctly.
Plus, you can find tight or loose sizes now and then. They differ from the standard size by 1/8. The truth is that you can hardly see the difference between sizes 6 and tight 6 when you try on a ring, but it can make a difference.
Different Hand Types
As I have already mentioned, the primary challenge of choosing the right ring size is the fact that our fingers’ size varies throughout the day and over the year. That means your ring can snug in June and spin on your finger in January.
Plus, some women have more difficulties finding the right ring than others. The reason is the type of hand. To be precise, your knuckles size is crucial in determining the way how the ring fits.
If your finger base is much smaller than your knuckle, a band that hardly slides over the joint can be too wide when you put it to the finger end. On the other hand, it can be painful to force the ring over the knuckle to fit it right.
Therefore, you need a ring to slide over your knuckle effortlessly but narrow enough not to lose it. In most cases, the best option is to buy the one a half or a quarter size wider than your finger circumference.
If you have fingers with small knuckles, a ring can slip from them quickly. On the other hand, a too-tight band can leave indent marks, so it can be not comfortable taking it off.
Other Factors Affecting the Ring Standing
You should consider a few things that affect whether your ring will suit your finger appropriately.
Salt – Believe it or not, sometimes it is enough to eat a portion of salty popcorn and feel the ring tighten. The reason is swelling of fingers due to excess salt in the body.
Temperature changes – You can notice your ring is loose during the winter. The reason is the low temperature that causes the fingers to shrink. Contrary, hot summer weather causes finger swelling, and the ring will start tightening you.
Bodyweight – Drastic weight changes, whether you lose or gain pounds, also affect your fingers’ thickness. If you gain weight, the ring becomes too tight. On the other hand, the fingers will become thinner, and the ring loose with weight loss.
Pregnancy – It is common for a pregnant woman to stop wearing a wedding ring due to swollen fingers, especially in the third trimester. Excess water in the body and pre-eclampsia leads to swelling. Luckily, it is only a temporary inconvenience.
Age – Swollen and enlarged knuckles are one of the natural consequences of aging. In people with arthritis, this phenomenon is a regular occurrence. The only way to wear your precious rings all your life is to resize them.
Physical activity – One of the reasons trainers recommend taking off your ring while exercising is because your body sends more blood to your limbs during that time. Increased blood flow causes your fingers to swollen.
Ring style – Although many women wear an engagement ring and wedding band on the same finger, they often differ in size. If you have a solitaire ring with a big stone, you need to choose the one at least a quarter wider than the band.
Measure Your Ring Size
Nowadays, you can find plenty of printable charts for determining the ring size. Still, these measures are generally not precise enough, and the band can misfit. The same goes for the popular DIY method with ribbon.
The safest way is to try the ring in the jewelry store. Bring the band that fits you perfectly so that the jeweler can determine the size precisely. He or she will check to see if the ring slides over the knuckle comfortably and fits on the finger base properly.
Most jewelers use a Mandrel tool. With this metal gauge, they can determine the perfect ring size. There are also plastic gauges, but they are less precise. Typically, this service is free of charge.
The best time to schedule your appointment is between lunch and dinner time. Generally, that is the time your fingers are the most sizable.
Once you decide on the ring, check the paperwork to see if it defines resizing because it is possible your band won’t fit best in the future. You also need to understand that it is almost impossible to resize some ring types.
Indication That Your Ring Doesn’t Fit Properly
Your ring fits well if it doesn’t slip from the finger during everyday activities. When it is not an appropriate size, some common signs will show you that you need the one of different diameter, including:
- Indent mark –Â It is expected you get a slight discoloration or a tan line when you wear the ring for a long time. However, strong indent marks and redness after taking the band off is the definite sign you need a bigger one.
- The muffin top – If your finger looks like it has excess skin around the ring, you need to resize it up for a half size. The too-tight band creates a muffin top, a bulge of skin that is not only unaesthetic but can lead to skin problems.
- Spinning and turning –Â A too big ring can’t stay properly in place on your finger. It will spin and turn whenever you use your hand. So, you can lose it if it slips over the knuckle.
- The finger tingles and hurts – Wearing the ring should be comfy. Any pain, tingling, or swelling around your band are reasons to worry. Plus, the tight ring will cut off blood circulation, which may lead to serious health problems.
- It is impossible to get it off – You need to take off the ring from time to time for various reasons. However, applying hand cream, soap, or oil every time you do this is not the solution. If you can’t take off your ring without much effort, that means it is too small for you.
Tricks to Adjust the Ring by Yourself
Some ring types are too difficult or impossible to resize. These include the eternity ring and bands made of titanium, stainless steel, and tungsten. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make your favorite ring fit correctly:
- Use a ring guard
- Glue an elastic band or a band-aid inside the ring
- Coat the ring inside with a small amount of food-grade silicon
- Order invisible ring adjuster online
- Modify the band by putting a hinge on it
Summary
The way the ring fits your finger depends on whether you have chosen the model of the right size. Unfortunately, this is not always a simple task because finger size changes with weight variation, physical activity, and season. The good news is you can resize most rings to fit your finger perfectly.
