No pinching, no slipping: how to find the perfect ring size

Put on the ring and if it fits, it fits? You wish. There are a couple of slip-ups you might make when buying a ring – and no other accessory is quite as annoying as a poorly one (too-heavy earrings maybe come the closest). Fortunately, there are some simple tips and tricks that’ll keep your ring on your finger without any pinching or slipping.

The measurement method

Knowing your ring size is essential, especially for online shopping. There are, of course, specific tools to determine this – but seriously, who has anything like that at home? Not to worry. You can find out the circumference of your finger without the help of professional tools. If you already have a well-fitting ring, you can lay it on top of a ruler and measure its inside diameter. Once you have that, you can use a conversion chart to figure out your ring size. Alternatively, you can get printable ring templates online.

If you don’t have a ring at home, you can wrap a thin strip of paper round your finger, mark the circumference and then measure it with a ruler. What’s even easier is grabbing a thin tape measure and wrapping that around your finger.

The finger trap

The thickness of our fingers varies throughout the day. Your ring should go through these changes without starting to feel uncomfortable. This means that the time of day you take the measurement plays a crucial role. So, there are a number of factors that could obscure the result.

Hot or humid weather, for example, can cause your fingers to swell, as can physical exertion, alcohol and salty foods. Your digits also tend to be thicker right after waking up and in the evening. Cold weather, on the other hand, has a shrinking effect. That means you’ll get the cleanest measurement halfway through the day, at room temperature.

You should also be sure to measure the correct hand. The fingers on your dominant hand are usually wider. And don’t forget that the measurement should take your knuckles into account. If they’re very thick, you may need to go one size larger. The same goes for rings with wide bands: they tend to be tighter than daintier pieces and are more difficult to get over your knuckles.

The size test

Unsure if your ring is too loose or too tight? Go through this checklist.

Your ring is too tight when...

... it can only be taken off with great difficulty.

... you’re barely able to twist it around on your finger.

... it leaves an imprint on your finger.

... you’ve got finger muffin tops (like when your trousers are too tight and flab pokes out over the top).

Your ring is too big when...

...it twists or slips of its own accord when you move your hand.

... you don’t feel any resistance when taking it off.