Ring size
Encyclopedia
There are several systems for denoting the sizes of jewellery
rings
in use around the world:
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.
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 10; 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.
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
rings
Ring (jewellery)
A finger ring is a circular band worn as a type of ornamental jewelry around a finger; it is the most common current meaning of the word ring. Other types of metal bands worn as ornaments are also called rings, such as arm rings and neck rings....
in use around the world:
- The ISOInternational Organization for StandardizationThe International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
standard for ring sizes is ISO 8653:1986, which defines standard ring sizes in terms of the inner circumferenceCircumferenceThe circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it....
of the ring measured in millimetres. - In the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, ring sizes are specified using a numerical scale, with quarter and half sizes. An increase of a full size is an increase of 0.032 inch (0.8128 mm) in diameter, or roughly 1/10 inch (more precisely, 0.1005 in or 2.55 mm) in inside circumference. - In IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, ring sizes are specified using an alphabetical scale, with half sizes. - In IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, ring sizes are specified using a numerical scale, that only has whole sizes, and does not have simple linearLinearIn mathematics, a linear map or function f is a function which satisfies the following two properties:* Additivity : f = f + f...
correlation with diameter or circumference. - In AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and ScandinaviaScandinaviaScandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, ring sizes are specified using actual internal circumference in mm (the same as the ISO standard). In some countries, half sizes may be used. - In ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, ring sizes are specified as the circumference minus 40mm. A 50 in Germany will be a 10 in Switzerland.
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.
Conversion chart for ring sizes
| Inside diameter Diameter In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle... |
Inside circumference Circumference The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it.... |
Sizes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... and Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... , Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... and New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... , China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
| 0.459 | 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 | ||
| 0.514 | 13.06 | 1.61 | 41.0 | 1¾ | C½ | ||
| 0.522 | 13.26 | 1.64 | 41.7 | 2 | D | 2 | 1.5 |
| 0.53 | 13.46 | 1.67 | 42.3 | 2¼ | D½ | ||
| 0.538 | 13.67 | 1.69 | 42.9 | 2½ | E | 3 | 2.75 |
| 0.546 | 13.87 | 1.72 | 43.6 | 2¾ | E½ | ||
| 0.554 | 14.07 | 1.74 | 44.2 | 3 | F | 4 | 4 |
| 0.562 | 14.27 | 1.77 | 44.8 | 3¼ | F½ | 5 | 5.25 |
| 0.57 | 14.48 | 1.79 | 45.5 | 3½ | G | ||
| 0.578 | 14.68 | 1.82 | 46.1 | 3¾ | G½ | 6 | 6.5 |
| 0.586 | 14.88 | 1.84 | 46.8 | 4 | H | 7 | |
| 0.594 | 15.09 | 1.87 | 47.4 | 4¼ | H½ | 7.75 | |
| 0.602 | 15.29 | 1.89 | 48.0 | 4½ | I | 8 | |
| 0.61 | 15.49 | 1.92 | 48.7 | 4¾ | J | 9 | |
| 0.618 | 15.70 | 1.94 | 49.3 | 5 | J½ | 9 | |
| 0.626 | 15.90 | 1.97 | 50.0 | 5¼ | K | 10 | |
| 0.634 | 16.10 | 1.99 | 50.6 | 5½ | K½ | 10 | |
| 0.642 | 16.31 | 2.02 | 51.2 | 5¾ | L | 11.75 | |
| 0.65 | 16.51 | 2.04 | 51.9 | 6 | L½ | 11 | 12.75 |
| 0.658 | 16.71 | 2.07 | 52.5 | 6¼ | M | 12 | |
| 0.666 | 16.92 | 2.09 | 53.1 | 6½ | M½ | 13 | 14 |
| 0.674 | 17.12 | 2.12 | 53.8 | 6¾ | N | ||
| 0.682 | 17.32 | 2.14 | 54.4 | 7 | N½ | 14 | 15.25 |
| 0.69 | 17.53 | 2.17 | 55.1 | 7¼ | O | ||
| 0.698 | 17.73 | 2.19 | 55.7 | 7½ | O½ | 15 | 16.5 |
| 0.706 | 17.93 | 2.22 | 56.3 | 7¾ | P | ||
| 0.714 | 18.14 | 2.24 | 57.0 | 8 | P½ | 16 | 17.75 |
| 0.722 | 18.34 | 2.27 | 57.6 | 8¼ | Q | ||
| 0.73 | 18.54 | 2.29 | 58.3 | 8½ | Q½ | 17 | |
| 0.738 | 18.75 | 2.32 | 58.9 | 8¾ | R | 19 | |
| 0.746 | 18.95 | 2.34 | 59.5 | 9 | R½ | 18 | |
| 0.754 | 19.15 | 2.37 | 60.2 | 9¼ | S | 20.25 | |
| 0.762 | 19.35 | 2.39 | 60.8 | 9½ | S½ | 19 | |
| 0.77 | 19.56 | 2.42 | 61.4 | 9¾ | T | 21.5 | |
| 0.778 | 19.76 | 2.44 | 62.1 | 10 | T½ | 20 | |
| 0.786 | 19.96 | 2.47 | 62.7 | 10¼ | U | 21 | |
| 0.794 | 20.17 | 2.49 | 63.4 | 10½ | U½ | 22 | 22.75 |
| 0.802 | 20.37 | 2.52 | 64.0 | 10¾ | V | ||
| 0.81 | 20.57 | 2.54 | 64.6 | 11 | V½ | 23 | |
| 0.818 | 20.78 | 2.57 | 65.3 | 11¼ | W | 25 | |
| 0.826 | 20.98 | 2.59 | 65.9 | 11½ | W½ | 24 | |
| 0.834 | 21.18 | 2.62 | 66.6 | 11¾ | X | ||
| 0.842 | 21.39 | 2.65 | 67.2 | 12 | X½ | 25 | 27.5 |
| 0.85 | 21.59 | 2.67 | 67.8 | 12¼ | Y | ||
| 0.858 | 21.79 | 2.70 | 68.5 | 12½ | Z | 26 | 28.75 |
| 0.866 | 22.00 | 2.72 | 69.1 | 12¾ | Z½ | ||
| 0.874 | 22.20 | 2.75 | 69.7 | 13 | 27 | ||
| 0.882 | 22.40 | 2.77 | 70.4 | 13¼ | Z1 | ||
| 0.89 | 22.61 | 2.80 | 71.0 | 13½ | |||
| 0.898 | 22.81 | 2.82 | 71.7 | 13¾ | Z2 | ||
| 0.906 | 23.01 | 2.85 | 72.3 | 14 | Z3 | ||
| 0.914 | 23.22 | 2.87 | 72.9 | 14¼ | |||
| 0.922 | 23.42 | 2.90 | 73.6 | 14½ | Z4 | ||
| 0.93 | 23.62 | 2.92 | 74.2 | 14¾ | |||
| 0.938 | 23.83 | 2.95 | 74.8 | 15 | |||
| 0.946 | 24.03 | 2.97 | 75.5 | 15¼ | |||
| 0.954 | 24.23 | 3.00 | 76.1 | 15½ | |||
| 0.962 | 24.43 | 3.02 | 76.8 | 15¾ | |||
| 0.97 | 24.64 | 3.05 | 77.4 | 16 | |||
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
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
or tungsten
Tungsten
Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...
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 10; 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.