How to measure her ring size, even in secret

First: which finger?

Always measure the finger the ring is for. A stacking ring she wears on her middle finger won't automatically fit her ring finger. Left and right differ too: fingers on the hand she writes with are often slightly thicker.

Planning a proposal? In the Netherlands and Germany, an engagement ring is usually worn on the left hand, so look for a ring she wears on the left, or measure that finger.

6 ways to find her ring size in secret

1. Borrow a ring from her jewellery box

The best way. Take a ring she wears on the right finger and that fits comfortably. Lay it flat and measure the inside from edge to edge, in millimetres. A calliper is most precise, a ruler works too. Put it back before she misses it.

2. Press it into soap or clay

Ring can't leave the house? Press it halfway into a bar of soap or a piece of clay. Take the imprint with you and measure it later: the inner edge of the imprint is the inside size.

3. Trace it on paper

Lay the ring on a sheet of paper and trace the inside with a sharp pencil. Then measure the circle. Less precise than measuring the ring itself, but good enough to choose between two sizes.

4. Slide it onto your own finger

Slide her ring onto one of your fingers as far as it goes and draw a little line where it stops. Later, wrap a narrow strip of paper around that spot, mark where the ends meet and measure the length. That's the circumference: look it up in the chart below.

5. Ask her best friend, sister or mum

Chances are someone knows. If not, they can find out without raising questions: "Shall we try on rings, just for fun?" works more often than you'd think.

6. Measure while she sleeps. If you dare.

A narrow strip of paper around her finger, a mark where it closes, and out you go. The least precise plan and by far the most exciting. Don't use string: it stretches and gives a size that's too big.

From millimetres to ring size

At TOV, the ring size is the inside circumference in millimetres. Measured the inside of a ring (the diameter)? Look in the first column.

Rather have it calculated? Do it right below, or on our ring size page you enter the millimetres and see your size straight away.

Between two sizes?

Choose the larger one. Fingers are a little thicker in the evening and in warm weather than in the morning or in the cold, and a ring with a touch of room is one you'll wear all day without thinking about it.

A wide ring, like the Triple Band or a dome ring, sits tighter than a slim ring in the same size. Many customers go one size up there. The same goes when you stack rings on one finger.

No idea at all and nothing to measure? At TOV, 54 is the size chosen most often. A starting point, not a guarantee: measuring always wins.

From this story

Cubic Zirconia Trilogy Ring £299.00 Triple Band Ring £364.00 3 mm Curve Band Ring £319.00

And if it doesn't fit?

No drama. Within the EU, you can exchange a ring for another size free of charge within 30 days. Exchange it with us rather than having a jeweller adjust it: not every ring can be made bigger or smaller afterwards.

Gold Rings Real 14 or 18 karat gold, in sizes 48 to 62. Shop Gold Rings