How many sizes too small would you say this ring is?

aardvarkappeal · 2026-02-22T18:26:25+00:00

Me and DP recently traveled to Birmingham and had a custom engagement ring made and it arrived on Saturday but it’s too small! It feels to me like it’s not just one size ‘wrong’ as I can only get it to just below my knuckle, but I have no idea what the difference between sizes is? We emailed immediately (they offer free resizing) and they said to keep trying it over the next few days but I’ve tried it on a few times and there is just no way it is going to magically fit! We aren’t close to Birmingham so are going to have to post it back but I’m really stressed about how they will know how much to resize by? I Imagine they normally just go a size smaller / bigger but if I need more than one size bigger (which is how it feels) then what? Obviously we can ask these questions tomorrow once they are open but in the meantime thought I would garner some opinions of whether people just think this is one size out or not? thanks

Tel12 · 22/02/2026 18:27

Buy a ring sizer?

mynameiscalypso · 22/02/2026 18:27

You can buy cheap ring sizers from Amazon and then you try on the different sizes to work out what you need. Congratulations on your engagement, it’s a lovely ring.

Petrine · 22/02/2026 18:29

I’d go to a local jewellery store and have your finger measured accurately. It looks to be more than one size smaller than you need. When you bought the ring why didn’t the jeweller measure your finger while you were at the shop?

Original poster

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 18:31

I did wonder about buying a ring sizer off Amazon but wasn’t sure how accurate they are! Also I guess if that suggests the same size as what they measured in the shop it doesn’t really help, the problem must be the actual ring not the size if that makes sense?

OP posts:

curious79 · 22/02/2026 18:33

looks at least 2 sizes too small
go into a local jeweller and get them to measure your finger and the ring - they'll do it for free

Luckyforsome23 · 22/02/2026 18:33

Buy a ring sizer, find the size that fits you and then draw that size on paper and send it back with the ring?

Petrine · 22/02/2026 18:35

But the fit of any ring, no matter the design, is totally dependant on being sized correctly. The sizes are standard - it can’t be down to your choice of ring.

Original poster

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 18:39

Petrine · 22/02/2026 18:29

I’d go to a local jewellery store and have your finger measured accurately. It looks to be more than one size smaller than you need. When you bought the ring why didn’t the jeweller measure your finger while you were at the shop?

Edited

They did! They used a ring sizer then which is why I’m not sure buying one will help as it should just confirm I am size M like in the shop?

OP posts:

KidsDoBetter · 22/02/2026 18:42

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 18:31

I did wonder about buying a ring sizer off Amazon but wasn’t sure how accurate they are! Also I guess if that suggests the same size as what they measured in the shop it doesn’t really help, the problem must be the actual ring not the size if that makes sense?

More accurate than getting people to guess off the internet how many sizes too small it is …

WonderingWanda · 22/02/2026 18:43

My fingers changed size depending on the time of day and how cold it is. On a cold day my rings are almost falling off. Late at night and if it is very hot I can barely remove them. I had no idea they did this until I wore my engagement ring and woke up due to it being too tight at night. Now I take them off at night.

Original poster

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 18:45

WonderingWanda · 22/02/2026 18:43

My fingers changed size depending on the time of day and how cold it is. On a cold day my rings are almost falling off. Late at night and if it is very hot I can barely remove them. I had no idea they did this until I wore my engagement ring and woke up due to it being too tight at night. Now I take them off at night.

Yes this is why their first response is to keep trying it but even after having my finger under the cold tap for a minute it wouldn’t go much further down

OP posts:

Petrine · 22/02/2026 18:47

Do you have a jewellers near to you? I’d take the ring to them and have it measured along with your finger. The ring is nowhere near a good fit for you - they must have made an error.

GoodVibesHere · 22/02/2026 18:48

It looks just one size too small to me.

Zivvy · 22/02/2026 18:55

I don't want to be insensitive OP, but I don't think you are a size M. I am a size M, and my fingers are quite slim and bony. I will add a photo.
I think they've made a simple mistake with the size they've measured you.

How many sizes too small would you say this ring is?

CharlotteStreetW1 · 22/02/2026 18:56

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 18:45

Yes this is why their first response is to keep trying it but even after having my finger under the cold tap for a minute it wouldn’t go much further down

Show quote history

Ah, this reminds me of my lovely late MIL.

I had my engagement ring re-sized to an R (fat fingers!). It was collected on the day my Mum died. Emotions were high. I was at MIL's house and the ring was tiny and wouldn't even go as far my first knuckle.

MIL suggested I should stand outside in case the cold might shrink my finger. I'd have had to be in the Arctic because it turned out they'd mistakenly read a rather elaborate R as a K! 🥶🙄

Congratulations on your engagement, it's a lovely ring.

I would go to a local jeweller and have your finger properly sized. I'm sure they won't mind. They can also tell you what size the ring actually is.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 22/02/2026 18:59

Zivvy · 22/02/2026 18:55

I don't want to be insensitive OP, but I don't think you are a size M. I am a size M, and my fingers are quite slim and bony. I will add a photo.
I think they've made a simple mistake with the size they've measured you.

I'm not sure it can be judged from a picture. DH and I both have the same size ring fingers. Our hands obviously look totally different.

Original poster

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 19:04

CharlotteStreetW1 · 22/02/2026 18:56

Ah, this reminds me of my lovely late MIL.

I had my engagement ring re-sized to an R (fat fingers!). It was collected on the day my Mum died. Emotions were high. I was at MIL's house and the ring was tiny and wouldn't even go as far my first knuckle.

MIL suggested I should stand outside in case the cold might shrink my finger. I'd have had to be in the Arctic because it turned out they'd mistakenly read a rather elaborate R as a K! 🥶🙄

Congratulations on your engagement, it's a lovely ring.

I would go to a local jeweller and have your finger properly sized. I'm sure they won't mind. They can also tell you what size the ring actually is.

Show quote history

Haha brilliant! Yep I understand why they suggest to keep trying it but there is no budging with this…

Thank you luckily I adore the ring (that was my only worry with ordering a custom made ring haha) it’s just the size that is wrong

I did wonder about going to a local jewellers but worried it would be cheeky when I am not getting them to resize it but this is probably the best way to go

OP posts:

Original poster

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 19:06

Zivvy · 22/02/2026 18:55

I don't want to be insensitive OP, but I don't think you are a size M. I am a size M, and my fingers are quite slim and bony. I will add a photo.
I think they've made a simple mistake with the size they've measured you.

Not insensitive at all I appreciate any reply thank you

OP posts:

MoiraPlunkett · 22/02/2026 19:10

I would say, at least two sizes too small. The size of your fingers can vary due to water retention, knuckles swelling in the cold etc. but there's no way that ring is ever going to fit judging by the picture.

It is possible to enlarge rings but how it's done depends on the ring. If it has a reasonably thick band and nothing on the shank, it's possible to stretch them by about two sizes. I had one enlarged from I to K.5 by a local jeweller, by stretching, and it cost £80 (but your jeweller should 100% be doing it for free as it was supposed to be custom-made). If stretching isn't possible, they would have to add a piece to the shank, which is obviously more complicated and expensive if you are paying.

It would be worth getting your finger measured at another jeweller to find out what size you are; or you can order ring sizers online from most jewellers for a nominal cost.

Have you sent them that picture? To be blunt, they have cocked this one up and the longer you leave it, the easier it will be for them to try to wiggle out of it by claiming you've gained weight or something.

MoiraPlunkett · 22/02/2026 19:12

CharlotteStreetW1 · 22/02/2026 18:59

I'm not sure it can be judged from a picture. DH and I both have the same size ring fingers. Our hands obviously look totally different.

Show quote history

Yes, it's hard to judge from a picture because it obviously depends how long your fingers are as to how thin and bony they look at any given ring size!

Original poster

aardvarkappeal · 22/02/2026 19:15

MoiraPlunkett · 22/02/2026 19:10

I would say, at least two sizes too small. The size of your fingers can vary due to water retention, knuckles swelling in the cold etc. but there's no way that ring is ever going to fit judging by the picture.

It is possible to enlarge rings but how it's done depends on the ring. If it has a reasonably thick band and nothing on the shank, it's possible to stretch them by about two sizes. I had one enlarged from I to K.5 by a local jeweller, by stretching, and it cost £80 (but your jeweller should 100% be doing it for free as it was supposed to be custom-made). If stretching isn't possible, they would have to add a piece to the shank, which is obviously more complicated and expensive if you are paying.

It would be worth getting your finger measured at another jeweller to find out what size you are; or you can order ring sizers online from most jewellers for a nominal cost.

Have you sent them that picture? To be blunt, they have cocked this one up and the longer you leave it, the easier it will be for them to try to wiggle out of it by claiming you've gained weight or something.

They resize for free within 30 days which is why we contacted them straight away (with the photo attached, she did agree it looked considerably too small) she said to give it a few days but we are going to email back tomorrow as there is just no way it will fit.

OP posts:

BeMintFatball · 22/02/2026 19:23

Take your ring to a local jeweller and have the actual ring measured. It might have been made smaller than what you asked for.

Also have your finger measured. You have a very beautiful youthful hand. Whereas mine now has boney joints and wrinkly skin. My finger measures an N but looks better at N and a half. I am having a new ring commissioned for a significant birthday and getting the right right size worries me too.

PersephonePomegranate · 22/02/2026 19:32

Zivvy · 22/02/2026 18:55

I don't want to be insensitive OP, but I don't think you are a size M. I am a size M, and my fingers are quite slim and bony. I will add a photo.
I think they've made a simple mistake with the size they've measured you.

This was my first thought too. I have similar hands to this photo and am an N - I have fleshy knuckles.

As soon as I saw your photo, OP, I guessed around an O.

BreakingBroken · 22/02/2026 19:49

It doesn’t look too small, yes you need to use some force to wiggle over the boney knuckle but after the joint the soft tissue squishes and that’s where the ring will sit. Can you get it fully on off with the help of lotion?

MoiraPlunkett · 22/02/2026 19:53

BreakingBroken · 22/02/2026 19:49

It doesn’t look too small, yes you need to use some force to wiggle over the boney knuckle but after the joint the soft tissue squishes and that’s where the ring will sit. Can you get it fully on off with the help of lotion?

Looking at OP's hand, I am guessing she is young enough (or well preserved enough) not to have bony knuckles yet! What you say is bang on if you have fingers where the knuckle is wider than the finger below, but I don't think that's true of the OP. She might be able to push it down with lotion but then she'd have flesh bulging around the ring which wouldn't look right at all.