Ring Size Woes: Get a Wedding Band that Fits

One of the best ways to save money on wedding bands is by shopping around, from both brick and mortar jewelers and online shops. The problem is, how do you know whether a wedding ring will fit you if you buy it online? This can make it very tempting to spend a little more to just go to a regular jeweler, but there are many ways that you can find a wedding band that fits while shopping online.

When you shop at a traditional jewelry store, they will size you for a ring by slipping a series of metal bands of different sizes around your finger until they find one that fits. This really is the best way to get fitted for a ring. If you can, during the course of shopping, go to at least one brick and mortar jewelry store and let the jeweler fit you for a ring. Don't be embarrassed if you then walk out of the store without buying anything; they somewhat expect you to do that. Jewelers are so glad to see you walk in the door that they would be glad to fit you, clean all your jewelry, and let you try on anything in the store.

If, for some reason, you can't go to a traditional jewelry store, you can still get a pretty accurate measurement for your wedding band. Most online jewelry retailers will send you a plastic sizer, or provide a printable one, that you can use to get an approximate size. These have a number of notches or marks that indicate each possible size. All you need to do is slip it over your finger and see which size fits. These aren't quite as accurate as metal ring sizers, but they'll do in a pinch.

If you don't have any sizer applicable, you can do some quick and dirty applications to calculate your ring size. Wrap a paper or cloth measuring tape around your finger, and compare the measurement to sizing charts provided by the company from whom you want to buy the wedding ring. If your knuckle is significantly bigger than the rest of your finger, you may want to go a half size to a full size up so that the ring can slip on and off of your finger. If you are doing this, always make sure that you are aware of the store's return policy and that you order the ring well enough in advance that you can return it if it doesn't fit.