How to Find Your Partner's Ring Size

One of the most common questions we hear from people shopping for an engagement ring is: how do I find my partner's ring size without them knowing?

We've put together a thorough guide to help you get as close to the right size as possible - discreetly. We've also included a few of the more creative tactics we've encountered over the years, for those who need them.

Start with observation

The first step is to pay attention to your partner's jewellery habits, which will also give you a useful insight into their style and preferences. If they already wear rings regularly, the simplest approach is to have one of them sized.

Choose a ring they wear often, as it's likely to be a comfortable fit. The best candidates are rings worn on the middle finger of the left hand, or the ring finger of the right as these tend to be closest in size to the left ring finger, where an engagement and wedding ring is traditionally worn.

Using our ring sizing chart

Once you've identified the right ring, print out our ring sizing chart. This allows you to check the size quickly and discreetly, without the ring being missing for long.

To use it, simply place the ring over the circles on the chart until you find one where the inner edge of the ring sits flush with the circle's border. Alternatively, cut the sizing strip from the bottom of the chart, wrap it around the inside of the ring, and secure it with tape and then match it to the corresponding circle.

If your partner doesn't wear rings

If your partner doesn't wear rings, you'll need to get a little more creative and that's where some of our more inventive suggestions come in.

Sizing their finger while they sleep

Cut the sizing strip from our ring sizing chart. When your partner is asleep, wrap it as gently and discreetly as possible around their ring finger. You can either mark the overlap point with a pen, or pre-tape it to your closest estimate.

If taping it into a circle isn't practical, simply mark both ends with a pen, then measure the length against a ruler to calculate the inner circumference.

A note on fit: a well-fitting ring should slide on with a little resistance at the knuckle, so if you're testing a taped loop, aim for that slight resistance rather than a loose fit. This method may take a couple of attempts, and there is, of course, a small risk of waking them - so patience is your friend here.

Enlisting friends or family

This approach carries a little less risk than the sleeping method, and can be surprisingly effective. A trusted friend could invite your partner out to browse jewellery, and casually encourage them to try on rings, with the real purpose of getting an accurate size.

Family can work equally well. A natural way to approach this is to have one family member announce they're getting sized for something, and turn it into a group activity by making a game of it with a strip of paper or a piece of string works well and rarely raises suspicion.

If the string or paper can't be held in a circle, measure its length and use our ring sizing chart to find the corresponding circumference.

What if I get the size wrong?

This is more common than you might think, and there's absolutely no need to worry. For an engagement ring, we always aim to get as close to the right size as possible but if it turns out to be slightly off, it's an easy fix.

Once you've proposed, get in touch with us and we'll guide you through the resizing process using our Ring Sizing Kit. The advantage at this stage, of course, is that the secret is out - so your partner can be properly measured without any subterfuge required.

As a general rule, it's better for a ring to be slightly too large than too small. A ring that's a little loose can be worn at the proposal with a temporary ring size adjuster to keep it in place, while the resizing is arranged at your leisure.