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How to Choose the Perfect Ring for Men and Women

A ring is the hardest piece of jewellery to buy and the easiest to get wrong, because it is the only one that has to fit. Everything else forgives a centimetre. A ring half a size out is either uncomfortable or on the floor. This is how to get the size right, and how to choose a ring that survives actually being worn. Measuring at home Method one: the paper strip Cut a strip of paper about 5 mm wide, or use a length of non-stretch thread. Not elastic, and not string that gives. Wrap it around the base of the finger, snug but not tight. You should be able to slide it slightly. Check it will pass over the knuckle. On many hands the knuckle is wider than the base of the finger, and the knuckle is what decides the size. Mark the overlap, lay the strip flat against a ruler and read the length in millimetres. That is your finger circumference. Method two: an existing ring If there is a ring that already fits the right finger, this is the more accurate route. Lay it flat and measure the inner diameter in millimetres, inside edge to inside edge, across the widest point of the opening. Measure twice and take the larger reading, because it is easy to cut a corner off the circle by eye. Circumference is diameter multiplied by 3.14 if you need to convert between the two. Match either figure against the chart on the size guide rather than guessing at a size number, because size numbering differs between Indian, US and UK systems while the millimetre figure does not. When to measure Fingers change through the day. Measure in the evening, when they are at their largest. Do not measure cold hands, after a cold shower, off a flight, or in a heavily air-conditioned room, because a finger measured cold can read a full size small and the ring will be uncomfortable by afternoon. Do not measure straight after exercise or a salty meal either; those go the other way. If your reading falls between sizes, go up. A slightly loose ring is wearable. A tight one is not, and it is harder to put right. Band width changes the fit This catches people out. A wide band fits tighter than a narrow band at the same nominal size, because it covers more of the finger and leaves less room for skin to move. As a working rule, if the band is 6 mm or wider, go up half a size from what you measured. Width also changes how the ring reads. A narrow band, 2 to 3 mm, is quiet and layers well with other rings. A mid-width band, 4 to 6 mm, is the most versatile single ring. Anything above 8 mm is a statement piece and needs a hand that can carry it. Choosing a finish Sterling takes several finishes, and they wear differently. Polished is bright and reflective. It shows fine scratches soonest, but it also re-polishes easily, so it stays recoverable. Matte or brushed hides scratches by having a texture already. Over years the high points gradually gloss up on their own. Oxidised darkens the recesses of a design and suits carved or textured bands. The darkening wears off the raised areas first, which usually improves the piece. Rhodium-finished sterling is brighter and harder-surfaced, and it resists tarnish. It is still a plated layer, so on a ring, which takes more abrasion than anything else you own, expect it to thin at the underside of the band over time. It can be re-finished. Stone settings and daily wear How a stone is held decides whether a ring can be worn every day or should be kept for occasions. Setting How it holds the stone Daily wear Solitaire, prong-set Three to six metal claws grip the stone and lift it clear of the band Catches on fabric; prongs loosen and want checking once a year Bezel A continuous rim of metal wraps the edge of the stone The most secure setting there is, with nothing to snag. Best choice for every day Pave Many small stones set close together in tiny shared beads of metal Fine detail, but individual stones can work loose under knocks Channel Stones sit in a groove between two walls of metal Sturdy and flush; a good middle ground between pave and a plain band Plain band No stone Effectively indestructible in normal use If the ring is going onto a hand that types, cooks, drives and carries things, choose a bezel, a channel setting or a plain band. Keep prong-set solitaires and pave for the days they are meant for. Matching the ring to the hand Proportion does more work here than design does. Short or broad fingers look longer with narrow bands, vertical detail, and stones set lengthways along the finger rather than across it. Very wide bands shorten the visual line. Long, slim fingers carry almost anything, and are the one case where a wide statement band or a large stone genuinely works. Broader hands need some weight to look balanced. A delicate 2 mm band can look like it went missing. Prominent knuckles are best served by a band with a rounded inner edge, often sold as comfort fit. It passes the knuckle more easily and then sits without spinning. Spinning is usually a sizing problem rather than a design one. A ring that spins is too large for the base of the finger, even though it needed that size to clear the knuckle. A rounded inner profile helps, and so does a slightly wider band. Adjustable rings, and gifting without a size An adjustable ring, an open band with overlapping ends, has a real advantage as a gift. It fits a range rather than a single point, it can be moved to a different finger, and it removes the one variable you cannot check without giving away the surprise. It is the sensible default when you are not certain. If you want a fixed size anyway, the reliable routes are these. Borrow a ring she already wears, on the finger you are buying for, and measure the inner diameter. A ring from a different finger will mislead you. Press one into soap or clay for an impression if you cannot keep it long enough to measure properly. Ask someone. A sister or a close friend usually knows, and asking is less awkward than a ring that does not fit. Default to the index or middle finger if you are guessing. A fashion ring is worn there more often than on the ring finger, and those sizes vary less between people. One honest caveat about gifting. Exchanges at Ruaab run for 15 days from delivery, so a gift bought long in advance of an occasion can fall outside that window before it is opened. Buy close to the date, or buy adjustable. Before you buy Measure in the evening. Go up if you are between sizes. Add half a size for a wide band. Choose a bezel if the ring is for every day. Then choose the one you actually like. The ring collection is sterling throughout, stamped 925, and finished to be lived in rather than locked away. Care instructions are on the care page, and shipping and exchange terms are in the FAQ.