Letting Him Know Your Finger Size
You’ve found “the one.” Perhaps you’ve spoken about starting your life together as a married couple, or maybe you’ve already begun the search for the perfect engagement ring together. Either way, you know you’re headed down the aisle at some point in the near future, and it’s likely that your partner will be purchasing a ring soon.
Over our 100-plus years in the fine jewelry business, Kwiat has helped generations of couples demystify the diamond ring-buying process. As experts in this field, we’d like to impart a few tips and hints to eliminate any bumps on your path to engagement.
Most importantly, it is useful to learn your finger size now, before your partner invests in a diamond engagement ring that you’ll wear for the rest of your life.
The most accurate way to find your ring size is to have a precise measurement taken at a fine jewelry store. It is perfectly acceptable to ask a salesperson to size your finger even if you do not intend to buy anything that day. A finger gauge, the tool used to determine finger size, has many metal bands of varying diameters attached to it. To find your correct size, you will simply try bands on the ring finger of your left hand until you find the one that fits you best.
If you happen to do this while shopping alone, make a note of your ring size to pass along later. Perhaps even better would be to request a sizing while you’re casually browsing at a fine jewelry store with your partner. Then he can hear, see, and make a mental note of your ring size and hold on to this information until he’s ready to use it.
Perhaps even better would be to request a sizing while you’re casually browsing at a fine jewelry store together. This way, your partner can hear, see, and make a mental note of your ring size, then hold on to this information until he’s ready to use it.
If you are unable or prefer not to accompany your partner to the jewelry store, here’s another way to determine your ring size. Search through your jewelry box and find a ring that comfortably fits the ring finger of your left hand. A jewelry professional can measure the size of your ring instead of measuring the size of your finger. To find the right size, the jeweler will use a long, cone-shaped rod called a mandrel and slide the ring down it until it stops—the markings on the side of the mandrel will indicate its size. Please note that when measuring your ring size in this manner, it’s imperative that the ring is round and undented.
Once you’ve located a ring that comfortably fits the ring finger of your left hand, a jewelry professional can measure the size of your ring instead of measuring the size of your finger. This method is useful if you are unable or prefer not to accompany your partner to the jewelry store. To find the right size, the salesperson will use a long, cone-shaped rod called a mandrel and slide the ring down it until it stops—the markings on the side of the mandrel where the ring stops will indicate its size. Please note that when getting your ring sized in this manner, it’s imperative that the ring is round and undented. Bent, misshapen rings indicate that it is too large for your finger and should not be used to determine an accurate size.
There is also a method that we never recommend: tracing a ring on a piece of paper. A traced circle on paper is of very limited use to your partner and the jeweler who will ultimately create your engagement ring. While it may be better than nothing at all, the chances of articulating your exact size with this method are very low.
Once you know your ring size, you’ll want to pass it along in a subtle but effective way to your partner. We advise telling this information to a trusted confidant such as your mother, your sister, or your best friend—someone who speaks to you often and who knows your taste well. Your significant other will most likely consult this person about your taste in engagement rings, so informing them of your size, too, will make the process seamless. But do not worry even if nothing goes as planned—most rings can be resized after they are made.
