Ring size

For the "ring gauge" used for cigars (1/64 inch), see Cigar.

There are several systems for denoting the sizes of jewellery rings in use around the world[1]:

Generally, sizes in US quarters and halves will not relate conventionally to anything on any known ruler. Also, on one finger alone a person may vary more than a whole ring size, depending on time of day, work performed, and other swelling-inducing activities/conditions. Therefore, in most cases quarter-sizes are meaningless unless one needs precise accuracy with a particular ring.

Contents

Conversion chart for ring sizes

Inside diameter Inside circumference Sizes
(in) (mm) (in) (mm) United States
and Canada		 United Kingdom,
Ireland,
Australia and
New Zealand		 India,
China,
Japan,
South America		 Italy,
Spain,
Netherlands,
Switzerland
0.458 11.63 1.44 36.5 0
0.466 11.84 1.46 37.2 ¼
0.474 12.04 1.49 37.8 ½ A
0.482 12.24 1.51 38.5 ¾ A½
0.49 12.45 1.54 39.1 1 B 1
0.498 12.65 1.56 39.7 1¼ B½
0.506 12.85 1.59 40.4 1½ C 0.5
0.514 13.06 1.61 41 1¾ C½ 1
0.522 13.26 1.64 41.7 2 D 2 1.75
0.53 13.46 1.67 42.3 2¼ D½ 2.25
0.538 13.67 1.69 42.9 2½ E 3 3
0.546 13.87 1.72 43.6 2¾ E½ 3.5
0.554 14.07 1.74 44.2 3 F 4 4.25
0.562 14.27 1.77 44.8 3¼ F½ 5 4.75
0.57 14.48 1.79 45.5 3½ G 5.5
0.578 14.68 1.82 46.1 3¾ G½ 6 6
0.586 14.88 1.84 46.8 4 H 7 6.75
0.594 15.09 1.87 47.4 4¼ H½ 7.5
0.602 15.29 1.89 48 4½ I 8 8
0.61 15.49 1.92 48.7 4¾ J 8.75
0.618 15.7 1.94 49.3 5 J½ 9 9.25
0.626 15.9 1.97 50 5¼ K 10
0.634 16.1 1.99 50.6 5½ K½ 10 10.5
0.642 16.31 2.02 51.2 5¾ L 11.25
0.65 16.51 2.04 51.9 6 L½ 11 11.75
0.658 16.71 2.07 52.5 6¼ M 12 12.5
0.666 16.92 2.09 53.1 6½ M½ 13 13.25
0.674 17.12 2.12 53.8 6¾ N 13.75
0.682 17.32 2.14 54.4 7 N½ 14 14.5
0.69 17.53 2.17 55.1 7¼ O 15
0.698 17.73 2.19 55.7 7½ O½ 15 15.75
0.706 17.93 2.22 56.3 7¾ P 16.25
0.714 18.14 2.24 57 8 P½ 16 17
0.722 18.34 2.27 57.6 8¼ Q 17.5
0.73 18.54 2.29 58.3 8½ Q½ 17 18.25
0.738 18.75 2.32 58.9 8¾ R 19
0.746 18.95 2.34 59.5 9 R½ 18 19.5
0.754 19.15 2.37 60.2 9¼ S 20.25
0.762 19.35 2.39 60.8 9½ S½ 19 20.75
0.77 19.56 2.42 61.4 9¾ T 21.5
0.778 19.76 2.44 62.1 10 T½ 20 22
0.786 19.96 2.47 62.7 10¼ U 21 22.75
0.794 20.17 2.49 63.4 10½ U½ 22 23.25
0.802 20.37 2.52 64 10¾ V 24
0.81 20.57 2.54 64.6 11 V½ 23 24.75
0.818 20.78 2.57 65.3 11¼ W 25.25
0.826 20.98 2.59 65.9 11½ W½ 24 26
0.834 21.18 2.62 66.6 11¾ X 26.5
0.842 21.39 2.65 67.2 12 X½ 25 27.25
0.85 21.59 2.67 67.8 12¼ Y 27.75
0.858 21.79 2.7 68.5 12½ Z 26 28.5
0.866 22 2.72 69.1 12¾ Z½ 29
0.874 22.2 2.75 69.7 13 27 29.75
0.882 22.4 2.77 70.4 13¼ Z1 30.5
0.89 22.61 2.8 71 13½ 31
0.898 22.81 2.82 71.7 13¾ Z2 31.75
0.906 23.01 2.85 72.3 14 Z3 32.25
0.914 23.22 2.87 72.9 14¼ 33
0.922 23.42 2.9 73.6 14½ Z4 33.5
0.93 23.62 2.92 74.2 14¾ 34.25
0.938 23.83 2.95 74.8 15 34.75
0.946 24.03 2.97 75.5 15¼ 35.5
0.954 24.23 3 76.1 15½ 36.25
0.962 24.43 3.02 76.8 15¾ 36.75
0.97 24.64 3.05 77.4 16 37.5

Finger sizing

Ring size is not the same as finger size. A professional jeweler can determine proper ring size using a set of steel gauge-rings. These "ring sizers" come in narrow and wide widths. Thin width ring sizers are for either men or women who plan to choose a narrower ring 7 millimeters or thinner. Wider ring sizers are best for either men or women who are selecting a ring with a shank 8 millimeters or wider. Fingers change over the course of the day due to diet or work affecting the results of gauge rings.

Other methods, such as measuring the finger with a strip of paper, or slipping the finger through pre-cut "measuring holes," are inaccurate. It has been recommended that fingers be measured at the end of the day, when they are at their largest diameters. Existing fitted rings can also be measured for increased accuracy. Other factors that can affect ring size include: the menstrual cycle, temperature, humidity, water retention, and exercise.

The best strategy for measurement is to purchase calipers that measure inside diameters. A tightly-calipered measurement should then be taken of various rings that fit; these should be noted and the corresponding size recorded. The mandrel, the tapered ring-measuring rod, should be regarded as only half-accurate. Different jewelers will employ the mandrel in different ways. For instance, one jeweler may use the mandrel and take an edge-of-the-ring reading; others will take the measure that corresponds to the largest finger the ring can fit. There is not a separate mandrel for men or women ring measurements.

It is best for the consumer to know and be firm about finger dimensions, because every jeweler or ring seller will think his or her method is the "best" ring-measuring method. It has often been suggested that the industry universally standardize on using inner diameter (the diameter of the finger) as the only size-number method of determination.

A wider band can be worn more loosely. Large knuckles/hands should wear a slightly loose ring, while slimmer knuckles/smaller hands will require a tighter ring. Some rings can be re-sized, but many cannot. Rings made of titanium or tungsten steel, stone-set rings with complicated or precise mountings, and extremely thin or wide rings cannot be re-sized.

A good way for a "rough-and-ready" measurement is to find a ring that is just smaller than the second knuckle of the finger. This way the fit is comfortable but will not slide off the finger. The method of trying on a ring and shaking the hand violently, to see if the ring comes off, is inadvisable and not very accurate.

Furthermore, every ring size chart will vary slightly in its standards. This always occurs unless one company has copied another company's size chart. Even the ISO, ringsmiths, and jewelers use different sizing standards, assigning different numbers to the same measurements. On one chart a diameter of 20.65mm may equal a size 103⁄4; on another chart, a similar number, such as 20.62mm, may read out as size 10. It is wise to keep all of the above firmly in mind when ring shopping.

If ordering from catalog or internet, always demand that the seller provide the inner diameter of a ring.

Online Ring Sizer

There are many ways to determine ring size online. Some have a ring-sizing chart to print out; others match a ring to a certain size on the user's display.. . Other methods require the user to print a sizer and measure his own finger, but this method does not guarantee good results at all. The user, by applying more tension alone, can get two or three sizes' difference, or more.

Ring sizing stick

References

  1. ^ "Ring Finger Sizes". http://www.18carat.co.uk/ringsizes.html. 
  2. ^ "Ringsize conversion". http://findmyringsize.com/Info/ConversionTable.aspx. 

External links