If it's your first time buying a ring, it's normal to wonder how our engagement ring should fit. Usually, we use a ring sizer (the preffered method, although I have a guide all about finding your ring size here) to figure out our size.

The first time I used a ring sizer on myself, I asked the young person behind the counter in the jewelry shop how it was supposed to fit. Sadly, they weren't all that helpful and left me to my own devices.

How should a ring fit your finger?

After making close to 4,000 rings, here's what I wished they would have told me:

1. Make sure the ring gets over the widest knuckle. If it can't, you're not going to be wearing it.
2. Figure out if your widest knuckle on the desired finger is going to be what keeps the ring on your finger. Everyone's hands are different.
• Some people get what's called a ring muffin top, where the meaty part of the finger muffin tops over the band and this is what keeps the ring on your finger. This doesn't have that much to do with a person's body fat percentage. It's more the hand you were dealt. There's nothing wrong with this so long as it doesn't cut off circulation.
• Others (like me), have slender fingers. Our knuckle is wider than the bone of our finger. This means our knuckle is actually what stops the ring from sliding off, not the snug muffin top. Our downside is that our rings tend to spin on us a bit.
3. Make sure it isn't cutting off circulation. If your finger turns red or purple or looks all kinds of angry it's too tight. This balance is a little delicate, which is why resizing should always be an option when you're ordering a ring. Please makes sure you can do this either with the company selling the piece, or at your LJS (local jewlery store).

Note: Be sure to measure your ring size a few times and at different times of the day. Temperature, time of day, or anything that causes you to retain or ditch water (i.e. salt intake) results in our fingers swelling/ shrinking.

 

Below, you'll find a few specific questions people ask.

How should a ring fit a man?

See point 2 above. Fits are the same for men and women. It's dependent on your finger type (thick vs. thin), not your sex.

Is my ring too loose?

How do you tell if your ring is too loose?

If it's falling off your finger, it's too loose.

Should a ring spin on your finger? Should a ring move on your finger?

This depends on your finger type. If a ring isn't adjustable and you have fingers where the bony part is thinner than your knuckles, then you are likely to get some spin, and some movement on the finger. Keep in mind that even though I have thinner fingers with wider knuckles, I still wear rings with an outward facing gem. They just need to be made to a narrow size window. 1/4 sizes are useful for this (i.e. a 9 might spin and move too much where as a 9.25 fits just right).

How loose/ tight should a ring be?

Loose enough where it doesn't cut off blood flow; tight enough where it doesn't fall off your finger or spin too much. You don't want your ring to come flying off when waving goodbye to your friend.

Is wearing a tight ring dangerous?

Yes. It can be. If it's so tight that it's cutting off circulation then you need to get that piece off as soon as possible. As an athletic trainer once told me for ankle wraps: Discoloration = bad. You need to make sure blood is getting to the extremity.

Does your ring size change?

Yes. Temperature, time of day, and water retention are all factors that can make your ring's fit feel perfect in the morning and tight at night (or viceversa).

Buying a first ring can be nerve-wracking and filled with uncertainty. Hopefully, this was able to help answer some of the questions you have as a prospective ring buyer, as well as give you a little more confidence moving forward.

If you have any questions, and if there's anything I missed, please let me know in the comments below.