a jeweler sizing a ring

How Should an Engagement Ring Fit?

Source: Pavel_Kostenko/Shutterstock.com

An engagement ring should fit snugly on the left ring finger. It should not cause the surrounding skin to bulge or leave any visible indentations. When you put it on, the ring should easily slide over the knuckle but not feel loose at all.

The engagement ring is the most-worn item in your jewelry box, so the way it feels on your finger is of utmost importance. An ill-fitting engagement ring is not only at risk of slipping off, but it’s also annoying and uncomfortable to wear all day. Whether you’re shopping for engagement rings or looking to resize one you already own, it’s crucial that you understand a few key things about sizing and fit so your ring stays with you for a lifetime.

The Ideal Engagement Ring Fit

How, exactly, is an engagement ring supposed to feel on the finger? Ideally, it should be snug on the finger without causing the skin around the ring to bulge out. It shouldn’t leave any deep indentations or discoloration on the finger when removed. When putting the ring onto the finger, it should slide over the knuckle with ease. You should not have to apply any excessive force to get it over the knuckle. With that said, the ring should not be so loose that it slides or moves on the finger when you point your hand downward.

Discover Stunning Engagement Rings

Finger Sizes Fluctuate

The problem is that virtually everybody’s fingers fluctuate. The weather, season, sweat, body weight and certain activities can cause your finger to swell or shrink. You might notice that your ring fits a bit looser in the winter than it does in the summer. That’s because, in order to keep vital organs warm in the winter, the body constricts blood vessels and reduces the flow of blood to the skin (vasoconstriction). This causes your fingers to shrink when it’s cold out and expand when it’s warm out.

So what does that mean for ring fit? In general, most people’s fingers don’t vary so wildly that their rings become excessively tight or loose as the conditions or environments change. If you notice that these normal fluctuations are causing your ring to slide off or feel so tight it leaves behind a dark-colored ring, you might have the wrong ring size and you may want to consider sizing up or down.

a man putting a wedding ring on a womans finger

Source: fizkes/Shutterstock.com

Why Fit Matters

A properly fitting ring can mean the difference between one that’s in your collection for a lifetime and one that you find yourself replacing several times. If your ring is too tight, you risk pain, discomfort and that awful feeling that you can’t get it off your finger. What’s more, wearing a ring that’s too tight may even be dangerous because it can cut off blood circulation to the tip of your finger. 

A ring that’s too loose comes with its own set of risks and issues. The most obvious, of course, is that it could slip off your finger and get lost forever. Not only are engagement rings expensive to replace, but they’re also special keepsakes, and therefore irreplicable in some respects. A loose-fitting ring can also be dangerous if you work in certain environments where the ring could get stuck on a machine or get in your way, causing accidents.

Explore Our Semi-Mount Ring Settings

Getting the Perfect Fit

So how do you make sure you get the perfect fit no matter what? Your best bet is to go to your local Verragio retail partner and have them size your finger. Jewelers are experts in fit and will be able to size your ring so it feels right regardless of normal fluctuations. You may want to wear your ring around for a couple of days to a week to see how it feels. If it causes you any discomfort or worry, simply take it back to the jeweler for a resize.

We know ring sizing and fit are huge pain points for buyers, especially those who want to surprise their partners with one of our gorgeous semi-mount ring settings. That’s why we created the Verragio Fit-Right Solution. This brilliant innovation allows you to easily resize any ring without cutting, altering or reshaping. Interested in sizing our rings? Verragio engagement rings are designed to adjust to a wide variety of finger sizes for the perfect fit.