An engagement ring is often something that requires a lengthy period of thought, a considerable spend, and a large diamond, but how should it fit once purchased?
Ideally, an engagement ring shouldn’t be either too loose or too tight – it should fit just right. If you can remove it without resistance, it’s too big, but if you struggle to take it off, it’s far too tight. As a rule of thumb, the ring should be easier to slip on than it is to remove.
Read on to learn more about engagement rings, where the tradition originated, and how they should be worn.
The Origins Of The Ring
The exchanging of rings has long been a symbolic tradition among the human species for thousands of years. It’s a practice that can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such as the Romans, who exchanged rings at a wedding to symbolize partnership and a legal bond.
However, the modern engagement ring is a slightly newer concept, having first been introduced to the world in the mid-fifteenth century. It has long been thought that it was Archduke Maximillian of Austria who had the first-ever diamond engagement ring made, way back in 1477.
In those days, members of royalty and the aristocracy were essentially celebrities, boasting the latest fashions and finest jewelry. They’d set trends just as today’s elite do, and the Archduke’s engagement ring kicked off a trend that reverberated around Europe.
Over time, engagement rings became more ornate and extravagant, featuring bigger and better gemstones, more complex cuts, and higher-quality metals. In the last one hundred years, diamond engagement rings have become increasingly synonymous with love, partnership, and marriage.
It’s a relatively modern tradition to purchase a luxurious and expensive diamond ring when you’re proposing. In most cases, the diamond featured will be cut into the ‘round brilliant’ style, which features fifty-eight facets, reflecting light in an extremely beautiful way.
Today, you can purchase diamond rings that feature a round brilliant, emerald, oval, or princess cut – it’s ultimately down to your personal preference which you choose. The most popular engagement rings are made from white gold, with the more expensive platinum coming in just behind.
Picking The Perfect Ring
Once you’ve determined the gemstone, precious metal, and style of ring, you’ll need to identify the size requirements. This can be done at any jeweler – particularly the one you’re buying the ring at – and it takes just seconds to accomplish.
Unfortunately, there isn’t really such as thing as a perfect fit, as our fingers quite literally change throughout the day, every day. They can be affected by temperature, how we use our hands, what we eat, and of course, changes in our weight.
It’s such an important process that you’re advised to get a second opinion on your sizing. After all, this might be a ring that you wear all day, every day – or at least until you get married and switch it out for a wedding ring.
Ideally, you should be able to slip the ring on and off with relative ease when needed. If you’re struggling, then it’s too tight; if you find that you need to put in extra effort or introduce soap as a lubricant, then the ring must be bigger.
An engagement ring should be harder to remove than it is to put on in the first place. However, once it is on, it should fit without bulging or squashing the skin, and it shouldn’t leave an indent around your finger when you do remove it.
Ultimately, it all comes down to the individual, as not everybody’s fingers are the same. If you have slim fingers, you’ll need a tighter-fitting ring, but if you have larger knuckles, the ring will need to have a looser fit at the base of your finger.
It’s a diverse landscape, and everyone will have a different fit when it comes to engagement rings. However, you should bear in mind that if the ring doesn’t fit, or if the size of your finger changes over time, you can have the ring resized.
Almost every ring, with the exception of a few, can be resized with ease, whether that be bigger or smaller. It’s a relatively simple process for an experienced jeweler, and it can involve stretching the band, or removing a section and resealing it to make it smaller.
However, resizing a ring can cause considerable damage, so try to make sure you have the right size from the moment you purchase it.