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Guide
Ring size is affected by more than finger circumference alone: band width, the shape of the knuckle, and even the time of day all play a part. This guide covers how to measure, when to trust the result, and which settings can be resized later.
The two common at home methods are wrapping a strip of paper or string around the base of the finger and comparing the circumference to a printed size chart, or using a plastic ring sizing gauge with a set of preset sizes to try on directly. A gauge tends to be more reliable than string or paper, since it is rigid and mimics an actual ring band rather than a flexible loop that can be pulled tighter or looser than intended.
Measure the finger you intend to wear the ring on, at the end of the day when fingers tend to be at their largest, and measure more than once to check for a consistent result.
US ring sizes most commonly ordered for an adult sit in a range from about size 5 to size 9, with size 6 and size 7 among the most frequently ordered for a women’s ring and size 9 through 11 for a men’s band. These are typical ranges rather than a rule: a comfortable size depends entirely on your own measurement, not on what is common.
Band width. A wider band contacts more of the finger and generally needs to be slightly larger than a narrow band would for the same finger, because a wide band has less give as it passes over the knuckle.
Knuckle size. If your knuckle is noticeably larger than the base of your finger, a ring sized to slide easily over the knuckle may feel loose once it settles at the base, and a ring sized snugly at the base may be difficult to get over the knuckle at all. This is worth mentioning when you order or when you visit for a professional sizing.
Temperature. Fingers swell in heat and humidity and shrink in cold, which can shift a measurement by half a size or more depending on conditions.
Time of day. Fingers are typically smallest in the morning and largest later in the day, particularly after exercise, salty food, or in hot weather.
Given how much band width, knuckle shape, temperature and time of day can each shift the result, an at home measurement should be treated as a starting estimate rather than a final answer. A professional sizing, done in person with a proper ring sizer against the actual band width you plan to order, is the most reliable way to confirm a size before a piece is made.
To help bridge the gap for online orders, we offer a sizing kit so you can check a size at home with a physical tool rather than a paper printout, and we cover the first resizing on eligible pieces if the size needs adjusting once the ring arrives. Contact client care to request a sizing kit or to arrange a resizing.
Most single band rings and many solitaire and halo settings can be resized up or down within a modest range by a jeweler, either by cutting and rejoining the band or by stretching or compressing it slightly.
Some settings resist resizing or cannot be resized at all without significant remaking of the piece. A full eternity band, where stones run all the way around the circumference, cannot be made smaller without removing stones and cannot easily be made larger without adding them, because there is no plain metal left to work with. Settings with a pattern, engraving or stones that continue around the shank can be similarly limited. If a piece you are considering falls into one of these categories, we will say so before you order, and a professional sizing before purchase is worth the extra step.