If you’re planning to propose or to treat your loved one to a special piece of jewellery, you probably want to know your partner’s ring size. But where can you find this out?
Finding The One is just the first step. Finding out their ring size is often the trickier part of a marriage proposal. If you want to present your beloved with a ring when you pop the question, you will want to make sure it’s the right size before you get down on one knee.
Or you may be planning to mark a wedding anniversary or a milestone occasion with a signature ring and be unsure what size to choose.
Your partner’s jewellery box is your first port of call and is likely to be the easiest way to get it right. Select a ring they won’t miss for a day or two and take it to your local jeweller, who can then tell you the size.
If taking jewellery away is not an option, try on one of your partner’s rings and mark where it sits on your finger with a pen line. A jeweller should be able to get an idea of size, based on where your partner’s ring sits on your finger. Of course, this will only work if your other half’s hand is smaller than yours.
Here is a sneaky way to find out that all-important measurement. You will need:
Wait for the opportunity to borrow your partner’s ring, then lather up your soap bar. Imprint the ring on the bar and make it stick. Put the soap into the plastic bag. Clean the ring with the napkin or towel.
Now, take the soap to the jeweller, who will be able to see and measure the indentation.
Pretend you’re buying a ring as a gift for someone else. Ask your partner to go with you and get her to try on the ring you’re thinking about buying your mum, sister or granny. See how it measures up on her finger as a point of reference.
Send a photograph of your significant other (where their hands are clearly visible) to a jeweller. This visual reference could help them to gauge a ring size range.
It might be that your partner has a friend who is recently engaged. Ask them to encourage your partner to try on their engagement ring for a laugh. The friend can then let you know what size their ring is and whether it was too large, small, or just right for your partner.
Gather up some string, paper and a ruler and get crafty. You’ll have to think of a suitable time and place to cut a piece of non-stretchy string (or a strip of paper) and wrap it around the base of your partner’s left finger. Make a pen mark where the end meets the string. Lay it flat and then measure it in millimetres. You could say it’s part of an ongoing research project into finger sizes of family and friends (recruit a couple of them to take part). Your other half will never suspect a thing…
You can always take a chance and be prepared to get the ring re-sized afterwards. If you choose this option, it’s best to buy bigger rather than smaller. According to most jewellers, it’s easier to resize a ring down to fit a smaller finger than to expand a too-tight ring.
And, if all else fails, come clean. It’s wise to get the right fit and the only way to do that is to get the right measurement. Besides, your other half might prefer to pick out the ring they’ve always wanted, but were too afraid to ask for.
Once you’ve chosen the perfect ring (in what is hopefully the correct size), make sure you protect it. Engagement ring insurance from TH March provides worldwide accidental damage, loss and theft cover.