The time has finally come for you to purchase a beautiful engagement ring for your special someone. You've done all of the research and know exactly what your partner is looking for in their dream ring. There's only one small aspect that's holding you back from buying the engagement ring of her dreams—you don't know her ring size!
Keeping the proposal a secret has its own set of challenges but trying to figure out her ring size while holding onto this news can be even trickier. Luckily for you, we've put together some helpful tips to get the exact answers you're looking for.
Tips to Find Her Ring Size
Unfortunately, asking any soon-to-be fiance about their ring size is a surefire way to ruin an engagement surprise. Discovering the precise circumference of her finger takes stealth and imagination to accomplish. An engagement ring that's too small won't glide past the knuckle, but too much room might cause it to slip right off her finger.
Neither scenario makes for flattering engagement ring selfies, which can put a damper on what's supposed to be one of the most exciting days of your life. To prevent this from happening, try out some of our tips below.
Ask Her Friends/Mom
This seems like the most obvious solution to your secretive dilemma, but choosing the right person to ask can be tricky. You don't want to ask someone with loose lips or is known to be a bit of a gossip. It's probably in your best interest to pick someone that's going to stay loyal to you until you've popped down on one knee.
Additionally, you might want to consider going directly to your best resource—her own mother. It's likely she might know her daughter's ring size from previous purchases or in conversation if the topic ever came up. This might also be an opportunity to ask someone without it seeming like an out-of-place question if you don't want to tell anyone you're proposing.
Take One of Her Fashion Rings
This is most likely the simplest strategy, especially if you're already living together. First, you need to be 100% certain that she wears the particular ring you choose. Otherwise, you might be snatching a piece that no longer fits which would have the opposite effect of what you're trying to do.
It's also important to make sure she doesn't figure out the ring is missing. Therefore, try going for pieces that aren't as valuable as others or hold great emotional value to her. If she's a fashion maven and enjoys wearing pieces from her jewelry box daily, this might not be the best tactic for you to use—she might catch you red-handed.
Trace a Ring She Regularly Wears
While taking one of her rings might not be the option for you, tracing one of them could work a little more in your favor. The goal is to trace the inner circumference of the ring. However, you might want to take the tracing to a jeweler, rather than trying to guess on your own. Also, it's better to choose a ring that can lay flat, making it easier to trace an accurate size.
Rings that have a large crown or a lot of embellishments at the top are hard to trace. If you miss the measurement by even a millimeter or two, you might be getting a ring that's a size bigger or smaller. That being said, a ring that's slightly larger isn't usually a problem, but if it's smaller, she won't be able to slip it on.
Try to Plan Ahead
What if your significant other doesn't wear rings or a lot of jewelry in general? Consider taking her to a thrift store, open market, or jewelry store on the weekend to try on rings and get an idea of what her size would be.
As she browses through, find a ring you think she would like and ask for her opinion. If she's into the style she'll be willing to try it on and you will know exactly what her size is. The best part about this method is it allows you to kill two birds with one stone—you can figure out her perfect size and style at the same time.
Measure Her Finger While Sleeping
What you're probably thinking is this might be the trickiest strategy to use because there's always the risk of her waking up. If you have steady hands and she sleeps like a log, feel free to give it a try. The catch is to use a soft tape measure similar to the ones tailors use. Although pieces of string might be more convenient, they won't give you an accurate size.
Gently wrap the tape measure around her ring finger and make sure it's tightly placed. Hold the loose end of the tape measure between your thumb and index finger, and atop her ring finger. This way you minimize the chances of getting the wrong measurement.
With Her Ring Size Determined: Turn to Albert's Diamond Jewelers
