If you can measure directly
Use a ring she already wears. Take one from the correct finger, place it on a printed size chart, and match the inside edge.
Or measure the finger. Wrap a strip of paper around the base of the finger, mark where it overlaps, measure that length in millimetres, and compare against a circumference chart.
If it's a surprise
Borrow a ring. The most reliable method by far. Take one she wears on the right finger, trace the inside circle onto paper or press it into a bar of soap, and send me the photo. Return it before she notices it's gone.
Ask someone. Her mother, her sister, her closest friend. They usually know, and they usually enjoy being asked.
Ask me. Send a clear photo of her hand holding something for scale. I have guessed accurately more often than you would expect.
Or don't worry about it. Your first resize with me is complimentary. Getting the proposal right matters considerably more than getting the size right on the first attempt.
Getting an accurate measurement
- Measure at the end of the day — fingers swell as the day goes on
- Avoid measuring when very cold or very warm
- The ring should slide on with light resistance and need a small tug to come back over the knuckle
- Wide bands fit tighter. Go up a half size on anything over 6mm
- Most women fall between a 5 and a 7. Most men between a 9 and an 11
A note on resizing
Every piece I make comes with a complimentary first resize. Some settings — full eternity bands, certain pavé designs — cannot be resized once made, and I will always tell you that before we go ahead rather than after.