11 Things You Need to Know about Engagement Ring Sizing

2/10/2016

Ring sizing has its own chapter in the book of advice on buying an engagement ring. So as part of your ring education, check out this definitive guide on how engagement ring sizing works.

1. Understanding Ring Sizing By Numbers

Here in the US the ring sizes are based on a numerical scale. These numbers are based on the circumference of the inside of a band, expressed in millimeters. Sizes start at about a 3 (teensy) and go up to about a 15 (giant). The difference from one whole ring size to the next a matter of 2-3mm in the circumference of the inner part of the band, where it touches your finger. The difference between a comfortable ring size and one that either falls off or causes you to panic it’s so tight could be the matter of a 1mm difference in the inner ring circumference. You’ll see half sizes (size 5.5), quarter sizes (7.25) and even “loose” and “tight” sizes, which are basically like an ⅛ size increment. For example a “tight 6” is basically a 5 ⅞. The vast majority of people have a ring size somewhere between 4 and 12. For those of you abroad, we cover European ring sizing later in this post.

2. Basic Ring Finger Knowledge

Engagement rings and wedding bands are generally worn on the left ring finger, which is usually smaller than the right ring finger, as most people are right-handed. If she’s left-handed, that finger will be a tad larger than her right hand’s ring finger. Why? Usually, the dominant hand’s ring finger is ½ a size larger than the non-dominant hand. This is important, as most women don’t know what their left hand ring finger size is but many know what their right hand ring finger size is. Catch our drift?

3. What is Her Ring Size?

The average woman’s ring finger is a size 6, for a ring that is about 2-3mm wide. When you go to a jewelry store, most women’s rings in the case are either 6 or 6.5, and the bands are all about 2-3mm wide with a few exceptions. The vast majority of engagement rings will be in the range of 5.5 - 6.5. Of course it’s not uncommon to be smaller than a 5.5 or larger than a 6.5, but almost all engagement ring orders in the US fall in this tight range. These size differences vary by very small amounts. For example, the difference between a 5.75 and 6 ring size is so so so so slight. Just eating too much salted popcorn can cause your fingers to swell more than a 1/4 size the next day. So don't get stuck in the weeds on sizing. If you know she's somewhere between a 4 and a 4.5, stay with the larger end and you'll be ok. Making adjustments after the fact is totally normal.
That said, if a ring were a basic t-shirt:
Small hands: 4.5-5.5
Medium hands: 5.75-6.5
Large hands: 6.75-7.5

4. Consider the Width of the Ring

The wider the ring (or rings), the tighter it will fit on a finger. PAY ATTENTION, there will be a test. If you love a ring that is on the wider side ( 5mm and up) consider going up about a ½ size for every millimeter past 4mm. Keep in mind that adding a wedding band to stack next to an engagement ring will increase the width.

engagement ring sizing guide for wide rings

5. Strategies for Figuring Out Her Ring Size

Ok, it’s time to get your MacGyver on. Somehow you misplaced that piece of paper with your girlfriend’s professionally measured perfect ring size. DAMMIT. Don’t worry, we have ways:

Ring Size Measurement Methods that DO work:

Send us a picture of your girlfriend where we can see her hands - we’ll be able to give you a pretty solid size based on a picture. Sounds weird? It is. We are weirdly good at this. (See image to the left, likely a size 5.5)

Pick a ring that she can resize, and let the jeweler know that you’ll likely need to do that.
Ask her close friend or family member.
Try swiping a ring that fits her and pressing it down over a tapered candle. Then bring that to a local jeweler and try to match it to one of their official “ring sizing bands” or measure the circumference of the indent in millimeters and use this chart

Ring Size Measurement Methods that DON’T work:

Don’t try to tie a string or wrap a piece of paper around her finger in her sleep. Just don’t. This is a futile mission. Ring sizes vary by such small degrees that you’re just not going to get it right.
If she’s in on the secret then don’t use a free plastic ring sizer or a free ring size guide that you printed out online. They can be misleading. Have her go into a store and be professionally sized using a metal ring sizing set.
Don’t use the same ring size you got from the giant cocktail ring she wears on her middle finger.

6. How to Pick a Ring Size for an Eternity Ring

,,Eternity rings feature diamond accents that go all the way around the band of the ring. If you’ve got your eye on a sassy channel set diamond eternity ring style keep in mind that these rings cannot be resized. Don’t order one unless you know her size for sure, or you have a jeweler who will guarantee to remake the ring for you in the correct size if you need to. If she's between sizes, go with the bigger size.

7. How Does a Jeweler Resize a Ring?

Resizing a ring means that a tiny little surgery needs to occur on the part of the ring under the finger. They will heat it up, split the band at the back, and either add a bit of metal to increase the ring size or subtract a little bit to decrease the ring size. Resizing can be more complicated, but this pretty much covers the basic procedure.

8. Read the Fine Print

MAKE SURE that you have a ring sizing policy and/or a return or exchange policy in writing. Larger jewelers offer ring resizing policies that include eternity rings. To you it’s a resize, to them it’s an exchange because they need to make a new one. Here’s an analogy: if you buy a fancy Al Capone hat that doesn't fit, sometimes they can stretch it to fit you and other times you need to straight up exchange that piece of flair for a bigger one that will fit your noggin. All those brains you’ve got up there… use them to figure out whether or not your have a solid ring sizing and exchange/return policy in writing. ***Side note: custom designed rings often don’t come with an exchange or return policy, but a simple free resize within 1 size up or down should always be offered.

9. How to Plan for Ring Sizing in your Future

It’s a long a winding road and there are many situations in a person's life that may call for a size adjustment - usually up. Adding a wedding band to the situation increases width, and what do we know about increased width…? Increased with makes rings fit tighter. Maybe your engagement ring hurts going over the knuckle, ouch. And let’s face it, we aren’t getting any smaller as we age. Tissues and joints tend to expand over time and during pregnancies - fun times. How many times in a ring’s life can it be resized? Usually you can resize a ring twice in it’s lifetime. Sometimes more depending on how simple the band is. If there are no gemstone accents, you have a lot more leeway in terms of future resizes. If the band of your engagement ring is spangled in gems, resizes should be limited or avoided in some cases. There is strategy upon strategy with how to deal with this and sometimes things like sizing beads, sizing bars and euro shanks come into the picture. Don’t go cross-eyed, just drop us a line if you have questions about this. We will hook you up with answers.

10. European Ring Sizing

Yep, this question comes up for a number of reasons:

We have clients all over the world. Hey Dubai!
Maybe you are hunting down a super specific designer in another country or you’ve found an antique ring so one of a kind that you simply must ship it from Amsterdam to Wisconsin. Cool. I hear you. I’ve almost done it myself.
Or maybe, just maybe you’re in London and just really feeling yourself and you thought you knew her ring size was a 6, but how do you convert that over?

You can easily Google it or you can use this handy European ring sizing conversion chart. Note, the average UK ring size for a woman is M ½ (6.5)

11. Men’s Wedding Ring Size Pro Tips

The average ring size for men is 8, and that’s for a ring that is about 4-6mm wide. When you go to a jewelry store, most men's rings in the case range from a size 8 to a 9. Men tend to wear just a single wedding band. There are MANY different styles, and NO you don’t have to match your ring to your partner’s. Wear what you want boys! Check out some of our favorite men’s wedding bands.

Little Bird is all about offering engagement ring buying tips. The best way to buy an engagement ring is with our help, so feel free to drop us a line and we will be happy to spend some time on ring size advice.

80 Comments

Shane Lear

9/25/2016 02:25:41 pm

Is it possible to downsize an eternity band from a 12 to a 9 by adding metal? Is there such a thing as a ring guard, if not?

LITTLE BIRD link

9/30/2016 09:55:52 am

Hi Shane! It's going to be difficult to actually size an eternity band at all. A drop down 3 sizes will be tough and the likely fixes may render the ring uncomfortable to wear. You could have the ring rebuilt, or you could try a combination of more metal and possibly a rubber ring guard (easy to find on Amazon). Good luck!

Val

10/2/2016 12:31:47 pm

Can a size 7 ring be resized to an 11 ??

LITTLE BIRD

10/2/2016 02:29:20 pm

Hi Val,

This is a big size jump, but it is still possible with some rings. Is it a simple, plain band? Are there gemstones set into the band?

Ashley

10/9/2016 07:04:56 pm

My ring size is a 3, would I have to have an engagement ring made for me or can my guy get a ring and have it sized down?

10/9/2016 07:07:49 pm

Hi Ashley! Most engagement rings are made to order because every body has a slightly different ring size, metal choice, and all central stones are ultimately unique. So you can order a ring in your size, or you can possibly size a ring after receiving it - just depends on the ring style, whether or not there are lots of diamond accents and how big of a size jump you need to make. Hope this helps!

Danny

10/25/2016 07:17:28 am

Hi Little Bird. I'm about to buy an engagement ring, my girlfriends ring she regularly wears on her middle finger is 16.00mm in diameter. What size in US should I get her for her engagement finger?

Any help would be much appreciated.
Kind regards

10/25/2016 08:45:25 am

Hi Danny! Congrats on your ring hunt! I hope it's going well. As far as the ring size goes, her middle finger ring is about a size 5.5. Usually your ring finger is quite a bit smaller. This ranges for everyone but .75-1.5 sizes is usually the leap from middle to ring finger. This means that she is likely a 4-4.75 on her ring finger. It also depends on which hand of hers is dominant, right or left. If she's right handed, her ring finger will be .25-.50 sizes larger than her left hand (most people wear an engagement ring on the left). So there's some figuring to do. I hope this helps! Feel free to reach out for further detail and support at contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com

all the best!
Danielle

10/25/2016 09:00:06 am

Thanks Danielle, that's really helpful, I'll be able to figure it out from your advice.

I do have one final doubt before I make my purchase. I really like thin bands but some people advise that 1mm bands are not strong enough. I dont want to make the thickness too big because I like the appearance of a thin band but what do you recommend is safe to make sure it lasts longer?

Kind regards
Danny

10/25/2016 09:09:16 am

Hi Danny,

Yep, 1mm is way too small for an engagement ring. Without seeing the whole ring design your envisioning, it's tough for me to give the most specific advice. However, 1.5mm is really the thinnest we would recommend from a structural standpoint. Again, feel free to email images to contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com if that would be helpful!

D

Aishah

11/20/2016 03:58:47 pm

Hi Shane!

I was wondering if you could help me out with the width translation, just a little confusing. My partner wears a size 6.5 and width of the ring is 8mm. According to the formula I should get a size 8 but I know that would be huge! Help please!

Little Bird

11/20/2016 07:58:53 pm

Hi Aishah - Happy to help! This depends a bit on the shape of your partners fingers. A 7.5 might work as well, but you'll definitely want to size up a bit from a 6.5. Is the ring you are interested in getting resizable?

Jeff Gear link

11/27/2016 11:52:40 pm

This is an excellent post about engagement ring sizing. It is really informative. I am based in Europe so am really appreciative of the European size conversion chart you have linked to!
I think your tip about reading the fine print on sizing and getting it in writing from your jeweler is great. I am a jeweler myself and I always want my customers to come away knowing that if there is any issue with sizing it can be resolved once it is all clear from the beginning.
Jeff

11/28/2016 08:21:27 am

Thank you for the note, Jeff! Since you're a jeweler, and we often have clients in Europe, I thought you might want to check this out:
http://www.littlebirdtoldyou.com/little-bird-preferred-vendors.html

With care,
Danielle, LITTLE BIRD

Connor Bertoch link

11/30/2016 07:35:57 am

Thanks for the article on sizing engagement rings. I am getting everything ready to propose to my girlfriend, and I want everything to be perfect. She is left handed, so it is really good that you mentioned to add a half a size to her right hand ring finger size. If I didn't know that, the ring I bought might not have fit her!

11/30/2016 09:08:51 am

Connor! Thank you for the note! Congratulations, you must be super excited. I hope you'll let us know how it goes. Fingers crossed that the fitting is perfection ;)

with care,
Danielle, LITTLE BIRD

Holley Lauren

12/1/2016 10:15:06 am

I'm wondering how big a difference there is between a 5 and 5.25. My wedding band is a 5 and jewelers tell me it fits well, but I really fee like it is just a smidge too tight. I'm afraid in warmer months it will really bug me. Will going up .25 make it too big? It will still be under my engagement ring, so I don't think I have to worry about it being too loose. Maybe it will spin a little, but I don't think I would rather have that than feeling finger claustrophobia.
Thanks!

12/1/2016 10:40:56 am

Hi Holley,

Sounds like sizing up .25 is the way to go. Our fingers can fluctuate .25-.5 just throughout the day, so a .25 jump will not make it too loose if it's feeling restricted. Go for it!

Dawn

12/9/2016 09:39:48 am

Thanks for this post! I have a bit of a sizing conundrum. My half eternity engagement ring is a 5.75 and fits well, a bit loose sometimes, tight but I can still get it off when my hands swell (which is very rare). It's 1.5mm wide.
I ordered two wedding bands, one is totally plain rose gold, the other is an eternity band. They are both 2mm wide. They were also made size 5.75 since me e-ring fits well. But they are a total STRUGGLE to take off. As in my finger is bruised, I had to get oils involved etc. And I planned to sometimes stack all three, but even just one of the bands is hard to get on and an epic fight to get off. I'm having them sized up next week - I was thinking of going for size 6 but will .25 make enough of a difference? Should I go for 6.25?
(my engagement ring was originally a 6.5, way too big. Spun constantly and came off easily which is why we sized down to 5.75). Any advice would be appreciated!

12/9/2016 10:15:06 am

Hi Dawn! I hear you. This can be tough. When you stack multiple rings, they become tighter for sure. The good news: your rings don't all need to be the same size. And you can resize your rose gold band more than once down the line should it ever be too tight. However, you can't easily resize an eternity band down the line. Is your jeweler going to remake it for you this time as part of a free resize policy? If that's the case, then I would size up for the long haul. We aren't getting any smaller over time - so to ensure that you can always wear that eternity band, I would take it up a bit more than you need right now. Maybe a 6.25? That's your call. You can always wear that one toward the base of your finger so it doesn't fall off. And because there's no center gem on that ring, you won't have a spinning rock situation. Does that make sense? As for the rose gold, since you can adjust it later if you ever need to, I would take it up to just a size 6. That way all your rings should fit comfortably. Happy to give you more advice should you need. Feel free to contact me directly: contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com

Linda

12/11/2016 01:04:35 pm

Can a size 6.5 size ring be sized to fit a 7.25 finger

12/11/2016 09:20:18 pm

Hi Linda!

This is certainly not a big ring size jump for most rings. So it's likely that this will be easy. However, it does depend on the ring and it will have to be looked at by a jeweler to verify. You're welcome to send an image of the ring to contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com and we will be happy to give you our opinion.

Liza

12/13/2016 12:53:10 pm

Hi little bird! I have my eye an antique ring that's currently size 5.5. I'd need to size it up to 9.5. It's a simple, plain thin shank on a double prong ring with 2 small single cuts on the shoulders on each side of the center diamond. Do you think this is resizable?!?! I can send you the pictures I have from the seller if helpful.

12/13/2016 03:42:59 pm

Hi Liza!

This could be possible, but I would be able to give a more solid opinion if I could see an image. Feel free to send it to contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com and we'll take a look!

12/14/2016 05:23:33 pm

Thank you - you guys are the best!! Will let you know what I end up choosing to do.

Hope

12/26/2016 08:20:09 am

Hello! I just got engaged and my ring is a size 5. It feels a little loose. It doesn't fall off, but it is fairly easy to slide over my knuckle with little resistance. The thing is, I'm nervous to get it resized to a 4.5--- especially after reading about how adding another ring (wedding band) can make it feel/be tighter. What should I do?

12/27/2016 12:42:09 pm

Hi Hope! Congratulations on your engagement. SO much fun :)

You can try a couple of things. I recommend finding another ring, or a couple thinner rings to stack with your engagement ring to see if increased width does in fact make the fit better.

If you then decide to resize, know that you can always do a 1/4 size adjustment instead of a full 1/2 size.

Without seeing the ring, I don't know how well the piece will take a resize (or multiple resizes over a lifetime), but I recommend asking your jeweler if they think it's ok to take it to a 4.5 or 4.75 now and if it will still be sizeable upwards in the future. We aren't getting any smaller ;)

I hope this helps!

with care,
Danielle, LITTLE BIRD

Marie

12/30/2016 06:29:28 pm

My guy bought me a beautiful slim engagement ring, it's a size 5.25, it still feels a tad loose? But a size 5 is too tight.what should I do.lisa

1/2/2017 05:18:58 pm

Hi Marie,

If you already have the ring in hand, the best thing to do is to visit a local jeweler for specific advice. There is such a thing as an 1/8 size adjustment. OR, you can try to wear the ring stacked with a few thinner bands. The increased width will make it feel tighter and more secure. If you plan to wear another ring with it down the line, such as a wedding band, this is a great way to find out how the increased width aids the fit of the band. I hope this helps!

Cara link

1/3/2017 08:39:35 pm

I am a female & fell in love with a ring that is for a man. I want to wear the ring on my middle finger which is a women's size 8. Would a size 8 in a mans size fit me? If not ,what would the be the size I should get ? I wear a size 8 in a women's ring. Thank you so much for your help. Cara

1/3/2017 08:45:52 pm

Hi Cara! Happy to help. Men's and women's ring sizes are the same. So unlike shoes, you can trust the sizing will remain consistent. Sounds like a size 8 should do the trick. I hope this helps!

1/9/2017 08:10:37 am

Hi :) hoping you can help me. I got a new Vera Wang engagement/wedding set this Christmas after 26 yrs of marriage. I have been wanting to upgrade to white gold for quite a few years. My ring was sized to a 5.5 which is my current ring size, however I felt it a tiny tad too big, although it did stop at the knuckle. Is this normal for a new ring set to feel larger?? I am trying to decide if I should send it out again to be resized to a 5.25 or if I should just keep it a 5.5?? I am having a anniversary band added to the other side which should add some width to it, so perhaps keeping it the 5.5 makes most sense? any insight would be so helpful!

1/9/2017 02:34:00 pm

Hi Marie! Congratulations! 26 years :) Awesome!

It's not normal for a new set to feel larger or smaller, but it's possible that this ring is a different width on your finger and therefore feels looser. It's also WINTER. Never underestimate how the weather can affect the feel of your rings. I would wait till you have more width on the ring to resize them. When will you have the other anniversary ring? Perhaps you'll want to buy a silver ring in a size 5.5 that will be a similar width in the meantime, so that you'll know how the set plays on your hand?

1/9/2017 06:20:48 pm

Hi! Thanks for your reply. I've decided to keep my rings at 5.5 for a few months to see how the summer affects my hands. I am having the anniversary band sized to add onto the set now as we purchased it on Friday. Hoping the width it adds helps to make it feel right ☺
Marie

Mark

1/18/2017 08:09:32 am

Hello. :)
So after 10 years I am finally going to ask my lady to Marry me. I want it to be a surprise and could use some help figuring out her ring size. (Hey that rhymes! Hehe.) Anyways her "Pinky" finger on her left hand is a size 6. Would you suggest getting a size 7 or 7.5 for her ring finger?

Thanks,

Mark

1/18/2017 09:54:40 am

Congrats, Mark! So glad you reached out! Looks like you have a lot to look forward to this 2017. I'm happy to help you figure out her ring size. In order to get you a solid estimate, we need a few bits of info. Go ahead and email your answers to contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com :

1. What is your partner's approximate height and shoe size?

2. Do you have a couple more pictures we can check out?

3. Right or left handed?

4. Do you have an image of the general ring style you are considering? Doesn't have to be the exact one. Just so we can get an idea of the shape and width of the ring you are envisioning for your partner.

We will take a look at your answers and provide you a sizing breakdown!

Jordan

1/24/2017 03:16:20 pm

Hi there! I was hoping you could help me out. My engagement ring is size 5 1/4. It it very hard to get past my knuckle even in cold weather when my hands aren't swollen (they swell a lot in the heat) -- but the ring itself is loose once it's past my knuckle. It feels secure and great. It is pretty much impossible to get it off in the heat of summer. I've been wearing it for a year, and I wear it all the time, and it doesn't hurt from being too tight. I just got my finger sized, and it is a 5 below the knuckle and 5 1/2 at the knuckle. So the question is -- what size wedding band do I go with? The ring I have picked out is a size 7 vintage ring, gold with a row of diamonds on the front. I am totally open to wearing it on top of the engagement ring instead of below if the base of your finger is the smallest (I assume). Should I get the ring sized down to a 5.5, a 5.75, a 6? I have a size 6 ring that fits perfectly on my right hand, and when I am trying them on together on the left it feels find in either stacking order -- maybe a tad too loose on the 6, but it's winter. I'm thinking 5.75? I can't try it on before deciding, unfortunately. Help!

1/24/2017 04:09:26 pm

Oh dear, Jordan! The situation you've described is real! I'm more than happy to get you some specific advice. Shoot me an email to danielle@littlebirdtoldyou.com so we can go a bit deeper and have the ability to attach images. I'll help you strategize this!

1/24/2017 04:49:03 pm

Thank you SO much Danielle!! You're a lifesaver! (Well, a ringsaver...) :D

Dusty

2/21/2017 06:04:09 pm

Hi! I'm looking at purchasing a wedding set from Costco. They offer size 5,6, and 7. My future bride is a size 6.5. I'm wondering if it would be better to purchase the size 7 and resize down or buy the 6 and resize up? Also, should I buy both the engagement ring and the wedding band in the same size? I thought that would be obvious, but after reading that multiple rings can make a set feel tighter, I feel like it is worth asking. Thanks in advance!

2/21/2017 10:29:31 pm

Hi Dusty!

Glad you reached out! Do you have a link to the specific setting? Some rings are easier to size up than down, and vice versa.

I generally recommend waiting to buy the wedding band with your partner, so that you can get yours at that time as well. It all depends on your schedule for getting engaged and then married, however. Also, she might prefer a different wedding band other than the exact match. You never know!

Let us know if you can shoot an link to the style you are considering! You can also email it directly to danielle@littlebirdtoldyou.com

with care,
Danielle

Star

2/23/2017 09:19:48 am

It's my 10 year anniversary. My husband ring has been way too big all these years.He been wraping bandaids, tape, wte he cn thick around it. I want to surprise him finally . I went to jewler it was 10 1/4 size. I got it 9 1/4 cuz jewler said 1/4 s and halfs didn't make much of a difference. Did I jump to far out my tree? Should I gotten half size? I know its easier gettn smaller than to enlarge. Please help. I'm so worried it might be too small

2/23/2017 11:01:17 am

Hi Star! I'm happy to help you think through this. First of all, the ring can likely be resized again. So worst case scenario is that it gets readjusted. Fingers crossed I'm correct in that assumption, as most men's wedding rings can be resized pretty easily by a jeweler. A whole size just is definitely a big change. However, the difference between the original size and the new size is about a 2.5mm adjustment in the inner circumference of the ring. I would imagine that if he can wrap a bandaid around the base of the ring, that this might actually call for a whole size change. So, take a deep breath :) and know that it's likely going to fit! If not, you can always adjust it up a .25-.50 size. I hope this helps ease your worries. Please let me know how it goes! I think there's a chance you nailed it!

Danielle

Emily

3/13/2017 01:43:49 pm

Hi Little Bird,

I found a perfect ring, but it is a size 7 and I wear a 4.5. It is a platinum wedding set combo with diamonds running a little more than halfway down the side. Would sizing down this ring from a sz 7 to a 4.5 going to damage the ring? I have heard that some diamonds may fall out during the process, but are they also likely to fall out after the resizing is complete?

What other risks should I know about?

Thanks,

Emily

4/3/2017 04:06:45 pm

Hi Emily,

Just following up here! I hope you received my email. Let me know if you need any help with this!

with care,
Danielle - LITTLE BIRD

Scott

5/7/2017 07:51:48 pm

Hi Little Bird - I have the same question... almost exactly the same question. I just proposed recently, I could only get a size 7, my fiancee is a 4.5 or about that. The info for the ring says it can be safely sized to a 6, but can it feasibly be sized to a 4.5 or 4.75? Description of the ring is the same, except it's gold. Diamonds about half way down the ring, and it's a bridal set.

Alternately, is there some kind of ring that can fit inside the bridal set to effectively size it down to a 4.5 without actually resizing it?

Thanks!

Simone

4/1/2017 08:34:26 am

Hi Little Bird,

Thank you so much for the info, I've found it so useful. My question is regarding my engagement ring. According to 2 different jewellers my ring size is 4.5 and my engagement ring is 4.5. My ring has a thin pavé band which is pretty snug over my knuckle. I have to use some force, but on my actual finger is it pretty loose. It twists and slides freely. I was wondering for my actual wedding band should we order a size 4? Or do you think the addition of a 4.5 pavé wedding will help with the "loose-ness"?

4/3/2017 04:08:55 pm

Hi Simone!

Great question! I would recommend getting your wedding band in the same size, 4.5. Will it be an eternity style ring with diamonds going all the way around? Regardless, the increased width will help with the spinning. From there, if the e-ring still shifts because of the center stone weight then you can elect to add sizing beads to lessen that spinning effect. I hope this helps!

4/4/2017 10:59:21 am

Thank you so much for your response! I feel much better about what size to order now. Oh and sorry about not clarifying, the wedding band is not an eternity band. The diamonds extend only half way around the finger, the rest of the band will be solely platinum.

Thanks again!

4/4/2017 01:56:56 pm

My pleasure, Simone! xoxo

Bridal Engagement Rings link

4/20/2017 05:19:18 am

It's definitely worth stopping by, thanks for sharing this great article!

5/10/2017 05:14:03 pm

So glad you came by! xoxo THE BIRDS

Lily

5/10/2017 03:24:52 pm

Hi Little Bird,

I just recently got engaged with a ring purchased online. It's way too large and I went to two stores that said I was a "true 5". However, the band is pretty thin at 1.9mm. It fits pretty snugly on my middle finger (maybe a tad too tight) and still a bit loose on my dominant right hand.

I am unsure if I should resize to a 5 and add beads if it spins or size to a 4.75. I don't like it too floppy but I also don't want it too tight!

Thanks for your help!

5/10/2017 05:13:39 pm

Hi Lily!

Glad you reached out! Can you email me an image of the ring? contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com - also, just confirming that you did order it in a size 5 and it's "way" too large" It sounds like you might be more like a 4.25 if the ring is a size 5. The beads will depend on the type of ring, so I'll check out an image once you send it over. If you are to resize, taking it to a 4.75 likely won't be enough. Is it the issue of getting it over your knuckle? If so, then you might size to a 4.75 AND add beads. Once you add a wedding band, it will stop the spinning as well. It's just what happens if your fingers are quite dainty ;)

5/10/2017 06:02:08 pm

Thanks for your response!

I am sorry I did not mention that the ring I have is a 5.5 (I can shake it off my finger) and the jewelers sized me at a true 5.

Oops sorry for the confusion!

What kind of views of the ring should I send? Happy to do so!

Thank you!!!

5/10/2017 06:04:41 pm

Ah, 5.5. Got it! The top and side view are fine. Thanks!

Brittany Poss

5/22/2017 12:57:41 pm

I am trying to purchase another band for my current ring which is sized at 6.5. The custom order is sized to a 7 and would be an additional charge to resize it to 6.5. Is this too big of a difference in sizing and therefore won't match up correctly?

Thank you in advance!

Jacob

5/22/2017 09:55:30 pm

Hey little bird!!! I was just wondering, my fiancé and myself got a titanium ring for me! It's a size 10 and I'm a 9.5. I wear the ring and it stays on, not really worried that it will fall off, however if my finger gets wet it might come off easily. I'm only 22 so my fingers might get bigger overtime, but I've heard titanium is difficult to resize. How risky is it to stick with this ring? What would you advise? Return it and get a smaller one?

5/23/2017 01:43:14 pm

Thanks for the email, Jacob! I responded there :)

Beverly

5/25/2017 07:27:00 pm

Hi!

I stumbled on this article shortly after my fiance and I found a ring I loved. We found it online and he's understandibly worried about sizing. I've never worn rings, so I haven't the slightest clue where to begin. I know looking at my hand (my dominant I'd my right) that I'm more than likely a bigger size because my fingers are on the cunkier side.

I know the practical thing would be to go to a jewelers and get sized, but my daily life plus some personal anxiety leave little to no time to go see one. Could you please help me?

5/27/2017 09:21:09 pm

Hi Beverly,

So glad you reached out! Please email me directly at danielle@littlebirdtoldyou.com and I will help you get as close as possible. It would be great if you could include a link to the ring in your email and then we can take it from there.

Tasha

6/24/2017 10:44:43 am

Hi little bird,

My fiancé gave me his great grandmother's engagement ring when he proposed. It fit fine when I tried it on several years ago and he forgot that, so he went and got it sized up from a 7 to an 8. It's huge now and it's also an antique. When the band was stretched the jeweler didn't engrave the new portion of the metal and now it looks unfinished. Also, I noticed that there is now a small crack in the top of the ring on the metal work (it's an art deco ring), that is most likely from resizing it. I wanted to know if sizing it back down to the original size will damage it further or if I should just wear it on a chain and leave it alone. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

6/26/2017 11:13:04 am

Hi Tasha!

I'm so glad you reached out. What an interesting situation! Yes, it does sound like the ring is suffering a bit from the sizing and resizing again might be problematic. It would be ideal to work with someone to specializes in antiques. Ideally we can get this ring back on your finger! Where are you located? Feel free to email me directly at danielle@littlebirdtoldyou.com

with care,
Danielle

Sali

7/24/2017 11:46:12 am

Hi. I just had an heirloom platinum ring sized down. (I'm not sure the original size, but it used to fit my middle finger and now fits my ring finger.) The jeweler did not give me my cut out back. I meant to ask about it, but forgot. Is it worth calling to ask for it back? Would they even still have it? It is a very thin band, and I'm sure there wasnt much metal taken out, but I still expected to get it back?

7/24/2017 01:21:13 pm

HI Sali!

This sounds like it was about a 1-1.5 size change. The amount of metal they took was likely 1.5mm by 2-3mm. This is suuuuuper small and most jewelers do not provide the scrap metal from an adjustment like this. It's likely the jeweler does have the metal in scrap pile. They use scrap for repairs, etc but it doesn't have much value. So it's not abnormal that you didn't receive it. If it had a lot of sentimental value, then I would say you might reach out about it. They might be able to tell you which little piece of metal it is. However, rest assured that it has very low value beyond that. The resizing process is high heat and it's possible for metal to melt away during that process, and you didn't have very much to start with.

I hope this helps!

with care,
Danielle

Colby

8/10/2017 10:06:15 am

So my fiancé's engagement ring is two large but the wedding band fits. I went to have the engagement ring adjusted to match the size of the wedding band, but it turns out the wedding band is about half a size larger. I'm seriously scratching my head on this one especially cause the engagement ring is a bit wider, an thus should be larger. Any thoughts?

8/10/2017 11:00:09 am

Hi Colby!

This is a bit odd! It might have to do with the shape of her fingers. She should visit the jeweler with both rings so that they can assess the situation in person and recommend the correct sizing for each. I hope this helps!

Sam

8/31/2017 05:36:38 am

my ring size went from a 5 to a 4 my fiance wants to get me a new ring before the wedding as we have had a 3 year engagement. I still wear the 5 it does not fall off I can just take it off a little easier when washing the dishes. I heard that fingers can change when family planning/ after kids like fingers can swell. would it be safer to stick with a size 5 or should I get the 4 or maybe a 4.5? looking into a band with little diamonds all the way around i know those cant be resized. Also can plain band or solitaire rings only be sized down or can they be sized up too?

8/31/2017 07:47:15 pm

Hi Sam!

I recommend visiting a jeweler to be professionally sized one more time! A whole size change is a big jump and it would likely make a larger difference in comfort. One really can't wear a ring that is a whole size too large for them. So my guess is that a 4.5 sounds good, but it's best to be professionally sized in person to be sure ;)

As for sizing, you can size up as well as down!

I hope this helps and congrats on your upcoming nuptials!

with care,
Danielle

Monica Woodmansee

9/13/2017 01:42:33 pm

My fiance and I were gifted with a very close friends started wedding set. The engagement and wedding band are already melded together. They are both printed with 10KP AM on the inside. They are size 6 but I need about 9.5 to 10. Is that feasible?

9/14/2017 09:48:51 am

Hi Monica!

Glad you reached out! It's hard to say without seeing images of the rings. Are you able to send them to me via email? contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com. Also, were you professionally sized?

Cynthia mays

9/17/2017 04:20:40 pm

If me and Me and my boyfriend wears a 9.5 they dont sell half sizes should I go with a 9 or a 10 on our ring fingers

9/18/2017 09:40:40 am

Hi Cynthia!

The best thing is usually to order the ring in the larger size and then have it professionally resized. You'll just want to make sure the rings can be resized. I recommend confirming this in writing with the company you are ordering from. I hope this helps!

Adrian

9/21/2017 05:28:29 pm

I bought my girl a size 7 Vera Wang engagement ring from a private party. Her ring size is 10.5. The ring has small diamonds down the sides. Can this ring make this big a jump?

9/21/2017 06:10:02 pm

Hi Adrian!

Happy to provide an opinion! Without seeing the ring, it's hard to give a firm opinion. However, I can tell you that sizing a ring up 3.5 sizes is a good sized leap and will likely make the diamond accents a bit compromised. I'm happy to give you a more detailed opinion if you would like to email me an image! danielle@littlebirdtoldyou.com :)

Sean

9/26/2017 10:20:09 am

Hi! I'm narrowing in on a size for my wife (unconventional wedding and ceremony - but still want to surprise with a beautiful ring). I took two rings to a jeweler for sizing - one is too big on her and the other is too small, they're both old family jewelry. One jeweler said they are size 4 and 6, the other said size 5.5 and 6.75. They both used the tapered measuring tool right in front of me. The former sounds small, but now I'm confused! Help!

9/26/2017 02:57:13 pm

Hi Sean! I'm happy to help. Ok, if you really want to make sure you're nailing it, here's what to do: can you send me images of both rings? Also, trace both of them on a piece of paper with a thin tipped pencil and find the internal circumference in millimeters. From there, I can help you figure out the right size to go with! danielle@littlebirdtoldyou.com

with care,
Danielle

sophia carol

10/1/2017 07:30:44 pm

Hi !
Just purchased a 14k , 1.9mm width ring. It is a size 6, but once it gets passed my knuckle it is a bit larger then I would like. It slides around. I was going to have it resized to a 5 3/4. Would you agree with this decision?

10/1/2017 10:03:47 pm

Hi Sophia!

Yes, that might be a good idea but it depends on a few other things... do you currently wear another ring along side yours? Like a wedding band? The increased width will make the ring feel 1/4 size tighter. So something to consider if you're going to eventually wear a band. The other option is that add sizing beads, which is worth considering if your ring is fragile to resize. Do you have a local jeweler who can help you with this?

Hope this is helpful :)
Danielle

Faith

10/20/2017 01:56:43 pm

Hello, I’m planning on buying my boyfriend a promise ring and I used my ring on my ring finger (size 7) as a reference to figure out the size. it was only about 1 size off but, my ring is fairly thin. The ring im trying to get is a 8mm comfort fit, how much bigger do you think I should go up in size?