The Size That Matters

While its not the end of the world if the ring you surprise your significant other (S.O.) with is too big or too small …… life is so much better for all involved if the size is right from the start – so here are a couple of helpful hits on how to get the sizing right while not blowing the surprise…… Pick a ring that your  S.O. currently wears on the third finger of their left-hand (or whatever finger you wish to fit). If the engagement gods (birthday gods, anniversary gods, etc) are with you then your s.o. takes this ring off from time to time, which gives you the chance you need. While we are not all secret agents or part-time ninja, you need to determine your level of stealth to pull off one of the following capers:

  1. Trace the inside diameter of the ring on a piece of paper. The jeweler will be able to use that outline to determine the accurate ring size of your S.O.

  2. For those of you who have play-dough or clay lying around your home in abundance, feel free to make an impression of the ring. Then take the clay impression to the jeweler to have the your S.O.’s ring size determined – be careful not to squish or stretch your impression before you make it to the jeweler.

  3. For the rest of us who rarely have play-dough or clay lying around, you can make a ring impression in any sort of soft bread – sliced white bread works very well.
  4. If you are super lucky, then the sample ring is left unattended for days at a time and you can just take the ring to the jeweler to have it measured.
  5. If your S.O. never takes the ring off, then at some point when you are hanging out just ask to take a closer look at the ring. Put the ring on one of your fingers (as far up as it will go) and then either remember or mark on your finger where the ring stopped (if possible – without seeming too conspicuous, mark your finger on either side of where the ring fits – it will help to get a more accurate measurement). When you go to the jeweler have them put the ring sizer on your finger to the same point that your S.O.’s ring fit. That should give you a fairly accurate size for the engagement ring.

Good Luck !

Ring Size Conversion Chart

U.S. & Canadian UK, Australian & Irish German Japanese Swiss Internal Diameter (mm)
3 F 14 4 4 13.90 – 14.10
3 ¼ F ½ 14 ½ 14.15 – 14.30
3 ½ G 14 ½ 5 5 ¼ 14.40 – 14.60
3 ¾ G ½ 14 ¾ 6 6 ½ 14.65 – 14.80
4 H – H ½ 15 7 14.85 – 15.05
4 ¼ I 7 ¾ 15.10 – 15.28
4 ½ I ½ 15 ¼ 8 15.30 – 15.48
4 ¾ J 9 15.50 – 15.66
5 J ½ 15 ¾ 9 15.68 – 15.75
5 ¼ K 10 15.80 – 15.95
5 ½ K ½ 16 10 16.10 – 16.20
5 ¾ L 11 11 ¾ 16.25 – 16.33
6 L ½ 16 ½ 12 12 ¾ 16.45 – 16.60
6 ¼ M 16 ¾ 16.70 – 16.80
6 ½ M ½ 17 13 14 16.90 – 17.00
6 ¾ N 17.10 – 17.20
7 N ½ – O 17 ¼ 14 15 ¼ 17.30 – 17.45
7 ¼ O ½ 17 ½ 17.50 – 17.65
7 ½ P 17 ¾ 15 16 ½ 17.70 – 17.80
7 ¾ P ½ 17.90 – 18.00
8 Q 18 16 17 ¾ 18.14 – 18.30
8 ¼ Q ½ 18 ¼ 18.33 – 18.45
8 ½ R 18 ½ 17 18.50 – 18.65
8 ¾ R ½ 18 ¾ 19 18.68 – 18.80
9 S 19 18 18.85 – 19.00
9 ¼ S ½ 19 ¼ 20 ¼ 19.15 – 19.28
9 ½ 19 ½ 19 19.30 – 19.45
9 ¾ T 19 ¾ 21 ½ 19.50 – 19.65
10 T ½ 20 20 19.75 – 19.90
10 ¼ U 20 ¼ 21 19.95 – 20.10
10 ½ U ½ 20 ½ 22 22 ¾ 20.15 – 20.25
10 ¾ V 20.30 – 20.48
11 V ½ 20 ¾ 23 20.60 – 20.73
11 ¼ W 25 20.80 – 20.90
11 ½ W ½ 21 24 20.95 – 21.10
11 ¾ X – X ½ 21.15 – 21.30
12 Y 21 ¼ 25 27 ½ 21.40 – 21.55