How Should a Ring Fit?
It seems like such a simple thing, but fitting a ring isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Whether it’s a wedding ring, an engagement ring, or just something you like to wear for style, the truth is, most rings are an investment.
If a ring is not properly fitted, you run the risk of either accidentally losing it because it’s too big or being forced to tuck it away in a drawer somewhere, because it’s too small. Of course, you can always try resizing the ring later, but not all rings are a candidate for resizing. It is better to make sure your ring fits properly before you shell out a single penny on it. Since buying an engagement ring or wedding ring is expensive, it is recommended to choose a jeweler you trust to have them fitted so that you get it right the first time and avoid getting it resized.
No Perfect Fit
The first thing you should understand about ring fitting is that, although you may have found your perfect ring, there is no perfect fit for any ring. Even if it does fit perfectly, it, without a doubt, won’t stay that way for long. Weight fluctuations, diet changes, weather, activities, and environment all play a role in how well your ring fits your finger at any given moment. Sometimes your fingers swell, causing your ring to fit more snug than usual.
If you’re pregnant, a ring can have a comfortable fit one day and be super tight the next. If you suffer from arthritis, you can experience the same problem with size fluctuations. Basically, if someone says they’ve found a ring that fits well, that translates into they’ve found a ring that fits well “most” of the time. It’s just not possible for a ring to fit perfectly all of the time, there are too many variables that impact it.
The “Almost” Perfect Fit
So how should an engagement ring fit to acquire an “almost” perfect fit? Good question. For one thing, when you consider your engagement ring size, it shouldn’t feel so loose that you’re afraid it’s going to fall off your finger. That’s a big no-no. It also shouldn’t be so tight it’s squeezing your finger and creating what some call a “muffin top” in your skin surrounding the ring.
Make sure you can turn the ring on your finger without discomfort, slide it on and off without having to tug too forcefully, and that it doesn’t tilt off-center while sitting on your finger. It should sit straight, it shouldn’t cause you any pain or tingling, and you should only see faint compression marks in your skin when you remove the ring. Also, if your ring is so tight that your finger is turning blue, Houston, that’s a problem.
How Should a Wedding Ring Fit?
Your wedding ring shouldn’t fit differently than any other ring. Again, it’s vital it fits well, because more than any other ring you wear, a wedding band is an investment for a lifetime and will be worn all of the time. You don’t want to lose it two weeks after your wedding day because it was too big and fell off while you were on your honeymoon somewhere in Tahiti. Not only is the sentimental value of a wedding ring irreplaceable, but losing it can also mean you take a hefty financial hit.
Men’s wedding bands are often wider than women’s wedding bands, which means they need to be larger to fit properly because they take up more space on the ring finger. Slimmer wedding bands require less space and therefore might need to be smaller in size in order to fit well. Finger shape can factor into ring size and how well a ring fits too.
If you have fingers that are wide at the base but narrow and taper down to the tip, you will have to go with a tighter fit lest the ring works its way down your finger and slides off. However, if you have smaller fingers with larger knuckles, you’ll have to go with a slightly larger ring size to fit it over the knuckle comfortably. The downside is that the ring may spin a bit once it’s over your knuckle and on your finger, which can be maddening. Depending on the shape of your ring finger, you can try sizing beads to help anchor it in place and stop the madness.
Ultimately, figuring out how a ring should fit is less of exact science and more personal comfort. If the ring feels like a comfortable and good fit to you, if it doesn’t cause any pain by being too tight and if you’re not afraid you’re going to lose it because it’s too loose, you may very well have achieved that elusive “almost” perfect fit.