Sizing Guide

Determining your ring size is one of the most important parts of ordering a custom ring. Most custom rings cannot be resized, especially those with an inlay. So if you order the wrong size, this can cause headache and inconvenience for everyone involved, so let’s get this right the first time! Follow the steps below to ensure that you get the correct size, before you order your final ring.

The best fitting ring is the one you don’t know is there unless you see it. Here are some useful guidelines for determining a proper fitting ring.

When it comes to rings there’s no such thing as a perfect fit. For many, a good fit means comfortable most of the time. There are days when rings are too tight, and days when they’re a little loose. Your fingers fluctuate in size during the day due to temperature, diet, activities, etc. Please note that the time of year can also contribute to the ring not fitting comfortably. You may notice it feeling tighter in warmer months and looser in winter months. In the winter, try and keep your hands warm while sizing to ensure it will fit in the summer. If your hands stay cold while sizing, then your ring might be tighter in the summer. So how do you know when you have a good fit? A good rule of thumb is that when a ring fits easily over your knuckle, you should be able to get it on without struggle and then have a slight pull at the knuckle when removing it. You may need to twist the ring 1-2 times to get it off. Proper sizing is more of a personal preference than a perfect science.

Finger shape also plays a large role in determining the right fit of a ring. Some fingers are largest at the base and gradually taper without a prominent knuckle. On this type of finger, the ring should fit snugly at the base of the finger without causing bulges or a permanent indent. You should be able to push the ring up from the underside of your finger, and see a small space between the ring and the top of the finger, this gives your finger some breathing room.

Sizing fingers that are largest at the knuckle can be a bit trickier. The key here is to size the ring so it fits comfortably over the knuckle without being too large for the base of the finger. If there is a large size difference between the knuckle and base of the finger, the ring tends to spin and turn on the hand– especially in engagement rings which tend to be top heavy. A simple fix for this is to add sizing beads to the inside of the ring. They prevent some of the spinning while still maintaining a comfortable fit over the knuckle. See how much goes into making a ring fit and sit right? All this information may seem intimidating but what it comes down to is that comfort is key.

As stated before, rings with inlays cannot be resized. This is because the inlays go all around the ring with no joints. The inlays are handmade and cut out of solid pieces (Ex. Wood, Dinosaur Bone, Meteorite, Deer Antler) before they are inlaid on a metal (Ex. Titanium, Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel, Gold). All the more reason to make sure you get the correct ring size, the first time around.

You may need to visit more than two, but the goal is to find two jewelers who both agree on your size. Ask them to use a “caliper” or “micrometer” to measure. Probably the most accurate measurement to provide to your custom jeweler is the inside diameter of the ring in millimeters. If you have an existing ring in the same width and fit you are planning to buy, ask the jewelers to measure the inside diameter of this ring. That way you will know exactly what size to order your new ring in.

Keep in mind: All rings here at Jewelry by Johan have a Custom Comfort Fit (there are rare exceptions and those will be noted on the product listing). If you plan to order a ring from us, be sure to ask your local jewelers to measure your size in a Comfort Fit.

Something to consider when getting your ring size taken is the width of the ring you want to order. Get sized in the particular width you are ordering because wider rings fit more snug than dainty rings. The wider the ring, the tighter you’ll feel it on your finger – so that’s why the size should go up alongside the width in some cases. Most plastic ring sizers have a total width of 3.5mm. If you purchase a ring with a total width of 8mm, your ring size will probably increase by a quarter size from the ring sizer that fit you best.

All of our rings are made with a Comfort Fit unless you request otherwise. Comfort Fit rings are made with a slight curve on the interior sleeve of the ring, as opposed to a flat interior on the inside of a Standard Fit ring (illustrated in the picture below). Comfort Fit rings tend to go over the knuckle more easily and fit at the base of your finger better. Overall, they are simply more comfortable, especially for someone that is not used to wearing a ring every day. The interior curve of Comfort Fit rings is not noticeable to anyone looking at the ring on your hand, so if you’re worried that this type of fit will change the look of your ring, have no fear! It’s only on the inside – and it’s very subtle.

Because of the slight rounded interior, a comfort fit band will fit slightly larger than the same size in a standard fit. This is because the size is taken from the peak of the rounded interior (the size read from the middle of the band on a mandrel) and not from one side to the other (read on the mandrel from the bottom of the ring). This is how confusion arises when getting your ring size measured at many jewelers. Ensure the jeweler knows that you want a ring with a comfort fit.

A few jewelers (like us!) offer the option to purchase custom ring sizers. These plastic sizers are made in the exact width & fit of the ring that you’re ordering and are only $10 each. Using this method allows you to actually feel and see how the ring will look on you before ordering the real thing.

See below for our International Ring Sizing Chart. This will help you determine your size if ordering from another country.

The size of a ring is measured using several different systems. If you know your your ring size in a scale other than the US system, you can use the chart below to convert your measurement to the sizing terms used by Jewelry by Johan.