how standard are ring sizes from vendor to vendor?

[slg47]

There has been a lot of discussion recently regarding rings that were ordered and are not the right size. If I ordered a size 5 ring from one vendor should it fit? Obviously if I ordered a size 6 pants and they didn't fit, no one would tell me that the vendor is at fault (but there are obviously many different aspects of the fit of pants other than just waistband...but even if the waistband was measurably smaller than another vendor's size 6 no one would blame the vendor).

I am just wondering...

How standard is ring sizing from vendor to vendor? I have read posts where people have been sized differently at different jewelers, and it seems common that finger size varies with time of day/temperature/etc.

How should people order rings from online vendors to guarantee fit? Is it necessary for everyone to buy a cheap ring that fits them and send this to the vendor?

 

[Dreamer_D]

I don't think it is very standard, I mean not wildly different, but at least a half size variation in my experience with multiple vendors. Actually, the pants metaphor is a good one in my opinion! The size 6 at the GAP is not the same as the size 6 at Banana republic, is not the same as the fit at another store... no?

 

[ponder]

I am not commenting on recent threads, but in my experience ring sizers are like pants (to use your analogy). I have found that plastic fit different than metal and if the sizer is not pulled off the whole ring of sizers it also feels different. Then of course how wide is the set of sizers being used.

Then there are swelling issues and overall fit preferences (looser, tighter, large knuckes). The concept seems straight forward, but in practice I think it is a little more complex.

 

[bright ice]

I wonder the same. I am trying to decide what my correct size is. Went to 2 different jewelers today with different outcome at each.

I don't want to send one of my rings that fit because of the insurance and cost to ship. I worry that it won't fit when I get it, then have to send for resizing.

 

[bright ice]

slg47

I know that you had to send you ring back to BGD for resizing. Did you have to go up or down and by how much from original size?

 

[slg47]

I had to go down around 1/2 size? I get my ring back tomorrow...and I can't wait!!!

 

[calibali]

I wonder the same. I am trying to decide what my correct size is. Went to 2 different jewelers today with different outcome at each.

I don't want to send one of my rings that fit because of the insurance and cost to ship. I worry that it won't fit when I get it, then have to send for resizing.

I had the exact same problem and someone on PS gave me great advice. Instead of shipping a ring that fit, I bought a digital caliper, measured the inner diameter of my perfectly fitting ring, and compared the measurement to the sizing guide of the vendor creating my ring. By using that measurement, I was able to determine what my particular vendor thought my size was, and I ended up with a ring that is the perfect size for me!

Oh, and a digital caliper is around $20 at Lowe's, so definitely worth it.

 

[slg47]

calibali great idea!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Another good suggestion I have seen here on PS is to find a cheapo silver or other metal ring that does fit just right, and send that to the vendor. I am sure you can find these types of rings at a local store. Or order a few off etsy for very cheap in a couple sizes and the right thickness, and send it along! You could even ask for it to be returned and use it as you "sizing ring" all the time. Would be handy.

I see the issue of sizing as well as issues of maintenance to be simply part of the downside of buying online. If it was your local jeweler, you would not worry about the size because they would size you, or if they were wrong, it would be resized immediately. But with the online vendor, this becomes an issue that is not so simple to resolve.

I think this is one reason why it is important to have a local jeweler whom you trust for routine things like resizing, rhodium plating, prong tightening, perhaps even replacing lost melee. These are *all* common issues with rings no matter where they are bought from, and so it is good to have a plan for how to fix them when they come up.

I think I have had to resize most of my rings after they were initially made. From two different online vendors the rings did not fit as I hoped, and I sent them back for resizing. From my B&M jeweler, though he sized me himself, the ring was too big for my liking once the warm weather passed. With another ring from that vendor, it was too tight when summer came!

 

[beezygal]

Slg, hurray for picking up the ring tomorrow. Mine probably won't be here until next week.

Actually, I don't have any problem about getting different sizes from different store. My finger is 4.5 from 3 different stores. However, my ring turned out too small because I listened to the jeweler about getting my ring a 1/4 size smaller to avoid spinning. I regret listening to him.

 

[slg47]

yep, Dreamer, I ordered some rings from amazon that were like $5 or so to see if I wanted comfort fit and if I wanted 2 or 3 mm band...they ended up fitting pretty well so I sent one to BGD...unfortunately I didn't send it the first time!

 

[antelope1]

I like the idea of the cheap ring as a sizer, but I would probably need 2-3 of them depending on the season...I think my ring finger shrank a whole size between last month to this month.

p.s. -- I'm the same weight. If only I had shrank too!

 

[beezygal]

slg, you get your ring back today, right? How is it? I'm excited for you!

 

[rosetta]

i would stick to a slightly larger size, easier to size a ring down than up.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I like the idea of the cheap ring as a sizer, but I would probably need 2-3 of them depending on the season...I think my ring finger shrank a whole size between last month to this month.

p.s. -- I'm the same weight. If only I had shrank too!

My finger size varies a lot with the weather and my salt intake, too. I like my rings to fit a tad tight in summer and a tad loose in winter.