Engagement Ring - Size

Pollycat

The subject of buying an engagement ring as a surprise has been discussed many times on here.

I'm another who would not want a ring chosen for me.
If I'm going to wear it every day for the rest of my life, it would have to be something that I had input to.

Hutchch0920 wrote: »

Apparently the UK average is M which could offer a good starting point. You could also buy from a jeweler that offers free re-sizing.

Malthusian wrote: »

1) Unless she has freakishly skeletal or chubby fingers, the size it comes in will do the job for the proposal. After she's accepted you can take her down to the jeweller's and they will re-size it.

My fingers don't look freakishly skeletal but my engagement ring is H-and-a-half, which is way below the M 'average'.
It's just because my fingers are short that they look chubby.

Buying a ring that then has to be resized may not be a viable option depending on the design.

Enterprise_1701C

Please please please wait, let her choose. Rings are a very personal thing and, whilst I am sure she would love any ring you gave her, she would almost certainly love one you chose together even more.

Just one other thing - Ukraine is not yet part of the EU, have you given thought to where you will live after you are married? Just a friend of mine married a foreign girl (admittedly from South Korea) and has had a mare of a time getting permission for her to live in the UK. They needed proof of income, proof they had a place to live and an awful lot more on top, I hope you have looked into the technicalities of all this, she cant just come and live here. Of course, I have no idea how you would go about living in Ukraine.

Gloomendoom

Pollycat wrote: »

Buying a ring that then has to be resized may not be a viable option depending on the design.

Or the material. Platinum is difficult to resize.

I did the surprise ring thing and got the size right first time despite my wife having small fingers. I can't for the life of me remember what devious method I used though. My wife said that she didn't suspect a thing.

StaffieTerrier

I'm another who thinks it's better if you choose the ring together. If my other half had chosen my ring he'd have bought a brand new solitaire diamond with a white gold or platinum band. The ring I actually chose is a second hand ruby with diamonds on a yellow gold band.

Choosing together also removes the problem of ring sizing. Even I didn't know my ring size for that finger prior to buying my engagement ring. The type of band can also make a difference to the sizing.

If you want to propose first I'd go with the suggestion of buying a cheap costume ring or something novelty such as Haribo.

bugslet

maman wrote: »

I really would recommend you go together to choose a ring. You're hoping she's going to wear it for the rest of her life and (please don't take offence;)) you do seem a bit clueless about what to buy. As others have said a plain gold band or an eternity ring really aren't suitable.


I'd suggest you have a fun ring like something from a cracker or Haribo or a piece of twisted grass for your actual proposal. She'll probably keep that forever too but won't be wearing it every day.


Hope it all goes well.:)

Much as I loved Mr Bugs, never would I have let him choose jewellery on his own.:eek:

Another vote for the novelty route or if you want something a bit 'posher', tripled's idea of a small necklace sounds good.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Just a note that in Poland people wear engagement and wedding rings on their right hand; this confused me when I first lived there. I'm not sure what the tradition is in the Ukraine; might be the same as Poland in the formerly Polish western area.

I think it's nice to choose together, and don't assume it has to be a diamond solitaire, the same as pretty much everyone else.

gingercordial

Hutchch0920 wrote: »

Apparently the UK average is M which could offer a good starting point.

M, really? I'm a J on my left hand ring finger and am not exactly thin (dress size 16-ish). I'd only take an M on my right hand middle.

Ex-husband used one of my existing rings when buying me a surprise ring, but I still had to have it sized down as it was one I wore on my right rather than left hand. The jeweller did that for free. However OP needs to consider the material (how easy it is to work with, eg titanium can't be adjusted) and the style (anything tension set or with the stone embedded in the band is going to be a problem).

Ring width makes a big difference to size too, as for a wider band you generally need a slightly bigger size.

MallyGirl

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

Another one who suggests waiting to buy a ring- particularly if you are going to buy a ring with a stone.

They can only be resized easily by one, or two sizes and then sometimes not successfully.

I echo this. We bought a ring for me at a duty free shop at Oman airport but when I tried to get it resized I struggled. In the end I got it reduced as much as possible and have had to wear it on a different finger to the one I would like - and I have added some of the gel ring reducer stuff to make it slightly smaller. I wear a J on my ring fingers.

elephantrosie

buy the ring with her presence.

also it should be at least ONE carat diamond.

Pollycat

elephantrosie wrote: »

buy the ring with her presence.

also it should be at least ONE carat diamond.

Really? :rotfl: