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Menprovement asks, Little Bird answers. What should every man consider before buying an engagement ring?

2/24/2016

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In an extended podcast, Sean from Menprovement and Little Bird discuss engagements, diamonds, strategies, and culture. When should a man propose? Is two month's salary still an appropriate starting point for the ring budget? Should you always get a GIA report with your diamond? Listen to the podcast here.  
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The podcast also comes with a fantastic article on other commonly asked questions, as well as a guide to getting optimal value on a diamond. There's an excerpt from the article below.... You can read the entire article here, 
Question 8) Are diamonds really that common?
Lot’s of folks wonder whether diamonds prices are high because the supply is controlled. Here’s the deal: diamonds the size of grains of sand are common. Big, facetable, clear, pretty diamonds are quite rare and you have to move literally tons of dirt to dig them up–that is expensive. The price is controlled so that supplies will stay relatively constant. This is good news for you. It would feel really unfair if you had to pay 50 percent more than your buddy did last year for the same diamond just because a random mine in Australia didn’t find any good stuff for a few months. Right?
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11 Things You Need to Know about Engagement Ring Sizing

2/10/2016

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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?
engagement ring sizing guide

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
Strategies for Figuring Out Her Ring Size

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) NOTE: we are no longer able to extend this service to folks for free who are not engaged in a client relationship with LITTLE BIRD. If you would like to connect with us for help, contact us here. 
  • 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.

Read More
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    the LITTLE BIRD blog, by Danielle Mainas

    Ever wonder how to figure out her ring size? Select the perfect center stone? Pick the ideal jeweler? Read on, my friends. 

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