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Jewelry size guide: ring size chart, EU to US conversion and lengths
Almost everything we sell was made in Europe, so it arrives in European sizes. This guide translates those into the numbers you use at home: US ring sizes next to the EU circumference in millimetres, necklace lengths in inches and centimetres, wrist measurements, and what the closure on an antique earring actually means for wearing it. When a measurement is specific to one piece, you will find it on that product page, taken from the piece itself.
Rings
Ring size chart: US, EU, UK and inner diameter
A European ring size is simply the inner circumference of the band in millimetres, so EU 54 is a 54 mm circumference, which lands on roughly a US 7. The two systems do not align exactly, so we round to the nearest half size the way a jeweler at the bench would.
Ring size converter
Convert a size you already know
Enter a size in the system you know and we will show you the same ring in the other three.
- US
- 7
- EU
- 54.5
- UK
- O
- Diameter
- 17.3 mm
Inner circumference 54.5 mm, inner diameter 0.68". Sizes fall between systems, so we round to the nearest half size the way a jeweler would.
Full EU to US ring size conversion table
US sizes 3 to 13 with the European circumference, the UK letter and the inner diameter in both millimetres and inches.
| US | EU | UK | Diameter | Circumference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 44 | F | 14.1 mm / 0.56" | 44.0 mm |
| 3½ | 45.5 | G | 14.5 mm / 0.57" | 45.5 mm |
| 4 | 47 | H | 14.9 mm / 0.59" | 47.0 mm |
| 4½ | 48 | I | 15.3 mm / 0.60" | 48.0 mm |
| 5 | 49.5 | J½ | 15.7 mm / 0.62" | 49.5 mm |
| 5½ | 50.5 | L | 16.1 mm / 0.63" | 50.5 mm |
| 6 | 52 | M | 16.5 mm / 0.65" | 52.0 mm |
| 6½ | 53 | N | 16.9 mm / 0.67" | 53.0 mm |
| 7 | 54.5 | O | 17.3 mm / 0.68" | 54.5 mm |
| 7½ | 56 | P | 17.7 mm / 0.70" | 56.0 mm |
| 8 | 57 | Q | 18.1 mm / 0.71" | 57.0 mm |
| 8½ | 58.5 | Q½ | 18.5 mm / 0.73" | 58.5 mm |
| 9 | 59.5 | R½ | 18.9 mm / 0.74" | 59.5 mm |
| 9½ | 61 | S½ | 19.4 mm / 0.76" | 61.0 mm |
| 10 | 62 | T½ | 19.8 mm / 0.78" | 62.0 mm |
| 10½ | 63.5 | U½ | 20.2 mm / 0.80" | 63.5 mm |
| 11 | 64.5 | V½ | 20.6 mm / 0.81" | 64.5 mm |
| 11½ | 66 | W½ | 21.0 mm / 0.83" | 66.0 mm |
| 12 | 67 | Y | 21.4 mm / 0.84" | 67.0 mm |
| 12½ | 68.5 | Z | 21.8 mm / 0.86" | 68.5 mm |
| 13 | 70 | Z+1 | 22.2 mm / 0.87" | 70.0 mm |
How to
How to measure your ring size at home
Three methods, in the order we trust them. Measure at the end of the day, when your hands are at their largest, and never when your hands are cold.
Method one
Measure a ring you already own
Take a ring that fits the same finger. Lay it flat and measure the inside edge to inside edge across the widest point in millimetres. That is the inner diameter. Enter it in the converter above and you have your US size. This is the most reliable method and the one we ask for when a customer is unsure.
Method two
The paper strip method
Cut a strip of paper about 4 mm wide, wrap it snugly around the base of the finger, mark where it overlaps and measure the length in millimetres. That length is the circumference, which is the European size. Pull it over the knuckle before you mark it: the ring has to pass that point.
Method three
String, then check twice
Non-stretch string or dental floss works the same way as a paper strip, but it can tighten as you pull. Measure three times and take the largest reading. Treat this as a rough guide rather than a final answer, especially for an antique ring that cannot be resized.
If you are between sizes
Wide bands wear about a half size smaller than narrow ones, and a large knuckle usually means going up and having the ring gently tightened later. When a piece is one of a kind and cannot be resized, do not guess. Book a private video viewing and we will measure the ring on camera with you.
Honest limits
Which vintage and antique rings can be resized
Not every ring can be taken up or down, and anyone who promises otherwise is guessing. Whether a ring can move depends on the shank, the setting and what is set into it, so our goldsmith assesses it per piece.
Usually resizable, within limits
- Plain or lightly engraved gold and platinum bands with a solid shank.
- Solitaires where the stones sit only at the top of the ring.
- Rings with enough metal in the shank to be cut and rejoined cleanly.
Rarely or never resizable
- Full eternity rings, where stones run the whole way around.
- Rings with enamel, niello or intricate engraving that heat would destroy.
- Carved, hollow or tube-set antique shanks that would collapse or thin out.
- Signed pieces where cutting the shank would damage the maker’s mark.
What you will see on the product page
- Current size
- The size the ring is now, taken from the piece and shown in US, EU and UK.
- Possible resizing
- The range our goldsmith has confirmed the ring can safely be taken to. When no range is listed, we have not verified one and we will not invent it.
- Ask about resizing
- A direct line to a jeweler who will look at the shank and tell you honestly what is possible, before you buy.
Sizing beads, an inner sleeve or a small spring insert can often solve a fit that resizing cannot. Ask us about the piece you have in mind.
Necklaces
Necklace length guide: collar to rope
Necklace lengths are measured end to end with the clasp closed. The classic trade names below tell you where a chain will sit, which matters more than the number itself when you are choosing a pendant.
| Name | Inches | Centimetres | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collar | 12–13" | 30–33 cm | High on the neck |
| Choker | 14–16" | 35–41 cm | At the base of the neck |
| Princess | 17–19" | 43–48 cm | On the collarbone |
| Matinee | 20–24" | 50–61 cm | Just above the bust |
| Opera | 28–36" | 71–91 cm | At or below the bust |
| Rope | 36"+ | 91 cm+ | Below the bust, to the waist |
Where each length falls
Collar 12–13"
Sits snug against the throat. Victorian dog-collar styles and short Georgian rivières fall here.
Choker 14–16"
The most common length for antique pearl strands and short chains. Flattering with an open neckline.
Princess 17–19"
The default for pendants. If a vintage chain lists no length, this is the range it most often lands in.
Matinee 20–24"
Good for longer Art Deco pendants and lavalieres, and for layering over a sweater or blouse.
Opera 28–36"
Long guard chains, sautoirs and pearl ropes. Can often be doubled into a two-strand choker.
Rope 36"+
Flapper-era sautoirs. Wear long, knotted, or doubled and tripled.
The line runs from the base of the neck on the left to the waist on the right.
Bracelets
Bracelet and bangle sizing
Wrap a strip of paper or a soft tape around your wrist just below the wrist bone, snug but not tight, and measure it. Add half an inch for a close fit and a full inch for a bracelet that moves. Antique bracelets often run small, because wrists were measured differently a century ago.
| Size | Wrist (in) | Wrist (cm) | Bracelet length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra small | 5.5–6" | 14–15 cm | 6.25–6.75" | Many Victorian and Edwardian bracelets were made for this wrist, which is why antique pieces often run small. |
| Small | 6–6.5" | 15–16.5 cm | 6.75–7.25" | The most common size we sell in the United States. |
| Medium | 6.5–7" | 16.5–18 cm | 7.25–7.75" | A standard modern fit. Link bracelets can usually be lengthened or shortened here. |
| Large | 7–7.5" | 18–19 cm | 7.75–8.25" | Ask us before you buy a rigid bangle in this range: the opening is fixed. |
| Extra large | 7.5–8" | 19–20.5 cm | 8.25–8.75" | Often needs added links. We will tell you honestly whether a piece can take them. |
Rigid bangles are measured differently
A bangle has no clasp to adjust, so what matters is the inner diameter and whether your hand passes through it. Press your thumb into your palm, measure across the widest part of your hand, and compare that to the inner diameter below. A hinged bangle opens, so it is sized to the wrist instead.
- Small
- 2.25" / 57 mmSlips over a narrow hand.
- Medium
- 2.5" / 63 mmThe usual antique bangle size.
- Large
- 2.75" / 70 mmCheck the hand measurement first.
Earrings
Earring closures and what they mean for fit
Earrings are not sized, but the fitting decides whether you can wear them at all. Here is what we mean by each closure, and what we would say across the counter about wearing it.
- Post and butterfly (stud)
- A straight post through the lobe with a friction back. The most common modern fitting, and often what an older earring is converted to.Needs a pierced ear. Backs are easy to replace if one is missing.
- Shepherd hook (French wire)
- An open wire that curves through the lobe. Common on Victorian and Edwardian drops.Light and quick to wear, but the earring hangs free. Add a plastic stopper for security on heavier drops.
- Leverback
- A hinged wire that clicks into a hook behind the lobe.The safest everyday fitting for a valuable drop earring. We recommend it for anything with old-cut diamonds.
- Kidney wire
- A long wire that loops back into a hook, forming a closed kidney shape.Secure and adjustable, frequently found on mid-century pieces.
- Screw back
- A post with a threaded end and a screw-on nut, typical of early twentieth-century pieces.Very secure. Slower to put on, and the thread should be checked before daily wear.
- Clip and screw fitting (non-pierced)
- A hinged clip or an adjustable screw plate that grips the lobe.No piercing required. Many antique earrings started life this way; some can be converted to posts, some cannot.
- Huggie and hoop
- A small hoop with a hinged or snap closure that sits close to the lobe.Sized by outer diameter. We list that measurement on the product page in both mm and inches.
Sizing questions we are asked most
- How do I convert a European ring size to a US size?
- European sizes are the inner circumference of the ring in millimetres, so EU 54 means a 54 mm circumference, which is roughly a US 7. Because the two systems do not line up exactly, we round to the nearest half size the way a jeweler would. Use the converter at the top of this page for any size between US 3 and US 13.
- What is the most common ring size?
- In the United States, US 6 to US 7 for women and US 9 to US 10 for men are the most requested. That is a starting point, not a substitute for measuring: knuckle shape matters as much as finger width.
- Can every vintage or antique ring be resized?
- No. Whether a ring can be resized depends on the shank, the setting and the stones, so we record it per piece. Each product page shows the current size and, where our goldsmith has verified it, the range the ring can safely be taken to. When no range is listed, ask us and we will look at the piece before promising anything.
- What necklace length should I choose?
- Princess length, 17 to 19 inches, sits on the collarbone and suits most pendants. Choker length, 14 to 16 inches, sits at the base of the neck. Matinee and opera lengths, 20 inches and longer, are made to be seen over clothing.
- How do I measure my wrist for a bracelet?
- Wrap a strip of paper or a tape measure snugly around your wrist just below the wrist bone, mark where it meets and measure the length. Add half an inch for a close fit and a full inch for a comfortable, moving fit.
- What if I am still not sure about the size?
- Book a private video viewing. One of our jewelers will hold the piece up to a ruler on camera, show you the inside of the shank and talk you through the options before you buy. Every order also comes with 30 days to return, with free insured return shipping.
Now find the piece
Shop by category
Still not sure?
Book a private video viewing or contact us and we will help you find the right fit. One of our jewelers will measure the piece on camera, show you the inside of the shank or the clasp, and tell you honestly what can and cannot be adjusted.