FIT AND COMFORT
Snug enough to stay put, loose enough to come off. How to tell if a ring fits, why fingers change, and what resizing actually involves.
A ring that fits should slide over the knuckle with a little resistance, sit comfortably at the base of the finger without spinning freely, and come off again with a gentle twist. When you take it off at the end of the day, it may leave a faint mark. That is normal.
If it slides off without effort, it is too big and could be lost. If you have to force it over the knuckle, or the finger looks pinched, it is too small.
Fingers are not a fixed size. They swell in heat, after exercise, on flights, late in the day and after salty food or a drink or two. They shrink in the cold and first thing in the morning. Pregnancy can change ring size for months.
So size at a moment that is typical for you: warm, relaxed, towards the end of the day. If your knuckles are larger than the base of your finger, the ring has to fit over the knuckle, and it may sit slightly loose below it. Small sizing beads inside the band can help a ring like that stay upright.
A wide band covers more of the finger and feels tighter than a narrow band of the same size. Wider rings often need to be a little larger. The profile matters too: a comfort-fit or court band, rounded inside, slips over the knuckle more easily than a flat one.
To make a ring smaller, a jeweller cuts out a small section of the band, closes the gap and solders it. To make it larger, the band is cut and a piece of matching metal is added, or a plain band is carefully stretched. Either way, the join is finished and polished until it disappears.
A plain band can usually move up or down a couple of sizes. Beyond that, the ring may need to be partly remade. White gold rings usually need re-plating after resizing, and the hallmark inside the band is kept clear of the work wherever possible.
Some designs resist resizing. Full eternity bands, set with stones all the way round, have no plain metal to work on. Bands with pavé or channel-set stones far down the shank, tension settings, and some intricately patterned bands are also difficult. For these, getting the size right at the start matters most, and sometimes the answer is to remake the band.
It happens, especially with a surprise proposal. Every Jabour ring includes a complimentary first resize within 12 months of delivery, so a guessed size is not a disaster. Our ring size guide covers every way to find a size, including how to do it secretly.
It should slide over the knuckle with slight resistance, sit comfortably without spinning freely, and come off with a gentle twist.
Snug rather than tight. If it slides off easily it could be lost; if you have to force it over the knuckle it is too small.
A plain band can usually move up or down a couple of sizes. Larger changes may mean partly remaking the ring.
A full eternity band usually cannot, because it has no plain metal to work on. A half eternity band can usually be resized through its plain underside.
Every Jabour ring includes a complimentary first resize within 12 months of delivery.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Bring the question to a private appointment in central London or a video call. Consultations are complimentary.