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Choosing Ring Size on Wide Band

Zappy

Zappy

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
200
Hello! I am in the process of deciding the final details of my anniversary band. It will be approximately 10.5mm wide, and I'm not sure which size to order. With a standard 2mm or 3mm band, a size 3.5 works for me. It is a bit wiggly when I'm very cold, but it seems to barely fit when I'm hot or when I wake up in the morning. I think a size 4 would be best in a wide band, but I'm worried it's going to spin a lot in the winter. I also considered going with a 3.75 comfort fit but I'm worried it'll be bulky.

Does anyone else with a wide band fluctuate like this? Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
I prefer wide bands
i find my fingers need a bigger size with a wider band as they get ready tight as the day goes on
 
I have 2 sets of metal ring sizers, one for narrow bands, and one for wider wedding bands, and I find the ring size for my chubby fleshy LH middle finger can differ as much as 1.5 US size!

I found this out the hard way when I had a very wide bombé ring made with a 9mm Amethyst, and it would not fit based on my narrow ring size!

DK :))
 
I tell consumers to use a narrow band ring sizing tool and tell the seller what finger size the narrow one is and ask them to pick the correct larger size for the specific band you are ordering. A good bench jeweler will take the narrow sizing ring and push it onto their own finger and then select the wide ring which feels like it is the right size. There is really only guesswork otherwise. The exact size number is not really the issue on the ring you are ordering, but how it that particular ring happens to fit on the finger. If you buy such a ring in person, the sales people might make that judgement, but not all have enough real experience.

You need an experienced bench person to give you proper assistance with the right ring on the spot. Most plain wedding bands can be stretched and shrunk some to fit better. Not all of them can be adjusted, so you doing this shopping is best in person, or on the phone with someone who understands how to make this size choice on your behalf. Your band size of 3.5 is tiny for such a very wide ring. You may be beyond the limit on width for getting a comfortable fitting ring with your small finger size.
 
Zappy said:
Hello! I am in the process of deciding the final details of my anniversary band. It will be approximately 10.5mm wide, and I'm not sure which size to order. With a standard 2mm or 3mm band, a size 3.5 works for me. It is a bit wiggly when I'm very cold, but it seems to barely fit when I'm hot or when I wake up in the morning. I think a size 4 would be best in a wide band, but I'm worried it's going to spin a lot in the winter. I also considered going with a 3.75 comfort fit but I'm worried it'll be bulky.

Does anyone else with a wide band fluctuate like this? Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Are your fingers more fleshy? Or is the knuckle the largest part?

My knuckles are larger than the fleshy part of my finger where a ring sits, so for me, I'm fine going just a half size up for wide bands. If the fleshy portion was the size limiter I'd probably go 3/4-1 full size up, for such a wide band.
 
yssie said:
Are your fingers more fleshy? Or is the knuckle the largest part?

My knuckles are larger than the fleshy part of my finger where a ring sits, so for me, I'm fine going just a half size up for wide bands. If the fleshy portion was the size limiter I'd probably go 3/4-1 full size up, for such a wide band.
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for the advice! Yssie, I think my fingers might look a bit like yours.

20201110_064517.jpg
 
That's just how mine look, yes!
I'd go with a size 4 comfort fit, personally. The comfort fit adds a little bit of bulk but the buttery fit is so worth it IMO ::)
 
Not sure of the design or vendor of your wide band project but I would ask if a wax model could be sent to you so you could try it on?
 
yssie said:
That's just how mine look, yes!
I'd go with a size 4 comfort fit, personally. The comfort fit adds a little bit of bulk but the buttery fit is so worth it IMO ::)
Click to expand...

Awesome! Do you have a wide band in comfort fit by any chance? If so, do you have any pictures of it? I have no idea how much bulk I expect it would add. Also would it normally be comfort fit all the way around the band or just on the bottom half without diamonds?
 
marymm said:
Not sure of the design or vendor of your wide band project but I would ask if a wax model could be sent to you so you could try it on?
Click to expand...

Sorry, some background would be helpful! I'm looking at a 3 row band half eternity. Here, the sales person at idj stacked some rings.

www.pricescope.com

.15 vs .20 - by Zappy

Hello all! I am planning on getting a 3 row anniversary band, but I'm torn between 15 and 20 point stones. I wear a size 4 and have a 10mm stack I wear now, so I like the width. This band will take the place of my original set on my left hand. I had IDJ show me 3 bands stacked to show the size...
www.pricescope.com
 
I don't anymore, but I used to. It was 8mm - smaller than yours.
"Comfort fit" means rounding out the interior of the band - this is independent of what's going on with the exterior of the band (ie. It should be "comfort fit" all the way around the interior!).
I'll see if I can find some photos... How much depth the comfort fit will add depends on how the vendor does it, so def ask IDJ about this if it's of concern to you! I will say that with three-row pave using fifteen or twenty point stones, you're already dealing with significant height off the finger - the fraction of a mm that a comfort fit will add is probably drops in the ocean :))
 
yssie said:
I don't anymore, but I used to. It was 8mm - smaller than yours.
"Comfort fit" means rounding out the interior of the band - this is independent of what's going on with the exterior of the band (ie. It should be "comfort fit" all the way around the interior!).
I'll see if I can find some photos... How much depth the comfort fit will add depends on how the vendor does it, so def ask IDJ about this if it's of concern to you! I will say that with three-row pave using fifteen or twenty point stones, you're already dealing with significant height off the finger - the fraction of a mm that a comfort fit will add is probably drops in the ocean :))
Click to expand...

Oh my goodness, thanks for your advice. I feel better about it! I'll have to see if maybe a subtle comfort fit design can be done. But I know 10mm is a lot to try to get off and I'll definitely get claustrophobic in the summer when it gets stuck. So even if the comfort fit lists the band off the finger by one or two mm on each side, that'll help.
 
Zappy said:
Sorry, some background would be helpful! I'm looking at a 3 row band half eternity. Here, the sales person at idj stacked some rings.

www.pricescope.com

.15 vs .20 - by Zappy

Hello all! I am planning on getting a 3 row anniversary band, but I'm torn between 15 and 20 point stones. I wear a size 4 and have a 10mm stack I wear now, so I like the width. This band will take the place of my original set on my left hand. I had IDJ show me 3 bands stacked to show the size...
www.pricescope.com
Click to expand...

FYI I was told that wax models aren't a good indicator of size...when cast, the size shrinks...I was hoping to use a wax for sizing too! Boo!
 
There are ring sizers specifically for wider bands.
 
yssie said:
That's just how mine look, yes!
I'd go with a size 4 comfort fit, personally. The comfort fit adds a little bit of bulk but the buttery fit is so worth it IMO ::)
Click to expand...

Comfort fits are definitely so much more of a "pleasure" to put on and take off!
 
For getting the size right on an expensive ring, I would be tempted to buy some cheap wide bands in a few sizes from eg eBay, so I could wear them around all day. I have titanium and silver bands for work that were the equivalent of 5 dollars each, so it would be easy to get 10mm bands in size 4 and 4.5 (or whatever) well worth the investment IMO.

ETA - I am size 3.75 but have a pathological fear of tight rings, so it is a fine balancing act of getting them as loose as possible without actually flying off :)
 
MillieLou said:
For getting the size right on an expensive ring, I would be tempted to buy some cheap wide bands in a few sizes from eg eBay, so I could wear them around all day. I have titanium and silver bands for work that were the equivalent of 5 dollars each, so it would be easy to get 10mm bands in size 4 and 4.5 (or whatever) well worth the investment IMO.

ETA - I am size 3.75 but have a pathological fear of tight rings, so it is a fine balancing act of getting them as loose as possible without actually flying off :)
Click to expand...

Yes, I freak out when it's hot and my 3.5 rings can barely be removed. What size works for you in wide bands? I like your suggestion. Do you find that the cheap rings are accurate in size?
 
I have short fingers so I don't find anything more than 4mm total comfortable, so I'm not much help, but I do size 4.0 for 2mm and 4.25 for 4mm. Yes, I have found the cheap rings to be accurate but the key thing is that there are different forms of measurement (leading edge v centre, or something) and the inside profile really makes a difference ie comfort fit stays on a lot better. So I would recommend getting a few, wearing them and determining best fit, and then actually sending that out to the person making your ring so they can do it exactly the same in size and profile.

I am SO sensitive to this though, so it's worth it to me. I have only had projects done with local jewellers so just take a ring that fits me well and they measure it on whichever mandrel they use in-house.
 
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Sizing can be tricky. I liked this 7.5 mm wide ring that was comfort fit (solid metal on the inside). it only came in half sizes. I was worried the 4 was snug and the 4.5 was too loose. I normally wear a 4. I had the ring custom made in a 4.25, but the inside has open azure. somehow it’s loose and I had one and then a second sizing bar added. The weight of the wider ring causes me more worry it will fall off my finger, versus a lighter narrow band that seems to stay put better.

the jeweler offered to make 3 blanks to try. I declined as I had tried the ‘original’ on myself and bought cheap rings for size to gauge as well. I think anything you can to get the benches expertise would be ideal.
 
With wide bands, there are ring sizes for them.
so, play with a brick snd mortar store...that is what I did.

“I am considering a wide band snd just exploring options of what to get snd how it feels like”
Ya gotta play along with their sales pitch.

But definitely at that width, I would think 1/2 size bigger is better to accomodate for summer times, and end of day feels. so go at the end of the day to size it.
 
Thank you all for your helpful advice. It seems like comfort fit is something to consider. I am also thinking about having the shank slightly taper. I originally wanted no tapering but with this sizing issue, I want to make sure the ring doesn't get stuck on all the time.
 
A three row pave band that's got diamonds going all the way around (full eternity) isn't a piece you're going to want to wear all the time anyway. Even the sturdiest make will be damaged quickly by #AllDayEveryday wear. IMO just take it off before you go rock climbing, or tour the Mojave, or do dishes in steaming water, or hit the beach - no need to tie yourself into aesthetically-unpleasing knots with compromises to always-wearable-ize something that's so intrinsically not-always-wearable.

And if it's not a full eternity - IMO just go with your current best guess and size it if needed :))
 
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It's going to be half eternity. I decided on no tapering, size 4, and comfort fit. I'll definitely take it off before doing something active, but I just wanted to be smart about the fit due to daily and seasonal finger size changes. :)
 
Zappy said:
It's going to be half eternity. I decided on no tapering, size 4, and comfort fit. I'll definitely take it off before doing something active, but I just wanted to be smart about the fit due to daily and seasonal finger size changes. :)
Click to expand...
I can't wait to see it!! It will be a statement piece!
 
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