A Home Guide to Measuring Jewelry Sizes: Rings, Bracelets and Necklaces

Shopping for jewelry online always comes with one familiar worry: size. A ring that is too tight is uncomfortable, a bracelet that is too loose keeps turning around your wrist, and a necklace of the wrong length does not sit well on the outfit you love. The good news is that you don't have to go anywhere to find your right size; with a piece of string, a ruler and two minutes, you can measure everything at home. This guide shows you how, step by step.

Find your ring size at home

You have two simple and accurate options:

• The string or paper strip method: Wrap a narrow strip of paper or a piece of string around the base of the finger you want to wear the ring on, mark the point where it meets, and read its length in millimeters with a ruler. This number is your finger circumference; your ring size is determined from it.
• The existing ring method: Take a ring that already fits you well and measure the inner diameter of the band with a ruler (from inner edge to inner edge). This diameter converts directly to a standard size.

A few tips that make your size more accurate:

• Measure your finger at the end of the day, because in the morning it is slightly slimmer.
• A wide band feels a little tighter; if you want a wide ring, go up by half a size.
• In the cold your fingers contract and in the heat they swell slightly; use the average as your guide.

Bracelets and bangles

Measure your wrist with a string or a tape measure, just below the wrist bone. Then, depending on the feel you want, add a little room:

• For a comfortable, loose fit, add about 1.5 to 2 cm to your wrist measurement.
• For a snugger fit, about 1 cm is enough.
• A bangle is different from a chain bracelet: since it does not open and close, it must pass over the widest part of your hand (the knuckle of your thumb when tucked in); if you are unsure, going one size up is safer.

Necklace and chain length

The length of a necklace depends more than anything on your neckline and the feel you want. These are the common lengths:

• About 40 cm (choker): Close to the neck, modern and bold.
• About 45 cm: The most common length, just below the throat; it suits most necklines.
• About 50 to 55 cm: Resting on the breastbone, suited to a pendant or a charm.
• About 60 cm and longer: Long and stylish, perfect for layering.

If you are not sure, hold a piece of string at the lengths above around your neck and look in the mirror to see which sits best on the clothes you wear most.

Earrings and piercings

For earrings, size matters less than for the others, but keep two things in mind: the drop length (how far down it hangs) and the weight (an earring that is too heavy becomes tiring to wear for long). For piercings, the length and thickness of the post must suit your piercing; if you don't know the number, ask a specialist and write it down.

A few golden tips

• Always measure in millimeters, not by estimate; a difference of one or two millimeters changes the size.
• If you are buying jewelry as a gift and don't know the size, choose free-size or adjustable options for peace of mind.
• Your dominant hand (usually the right) is slightly larger; take the measurement for the hand you will wear the jewelry on.

If you are between two sizes

The simple rule is this: for a ring, choose the larger size (being too tight is more bothersome than being a little loose), and for a bracelet too, the larger size is usually more comfortable. For a necklace, a longer length gives your style more flexibility because you can layer it.

Once you have measured, shopping online carries no risk. And if you open our website, you can try on jewelry virtually before buying, so you can be sure of both the size and the final feel.