Ring sizes in Thailand

[rsn 135]

I'm in the process of buying a ring for my fiancee before we start the K1 process. I asked her to get me her ring size, so she went to a jeweler in Thailand and her answer to my question was "48". She's not sure if that is 48 mm or some number that is part of a proprietary sizing scheme used in Thailand or the region, or perhaps something else? I'm trying to translate this into an American ring size. Can anyone help with this? I definitely don't want to screw this up.

Edited November 25, 2008 by rsn

[CraigCam 0]

I was in the same situation and this what we did. My fiancee, Hieu, found a very inexpensive ring, just a small loop, that fit her finger just right. It could be metal or plastic even. Then she mailed it to me. Next, I went online and found an internet jewelry site. I think the name was Diamond.com. They had a very helpful 'ringsizer'. It was basically a small ruler that you print out. Then you cut it out and wrap it into a loop like a paper ring. The point at which the end comes to the other side is what size you need. So, I looped the ringsizer small enough to fit inside the ring she had sent me. The end came to the line for a size 4! In the US ring sizes don't go by standard measurements, just like shoe sizes.

Size 4, for the record, is tiny. Most jewelers don't carry a size 4. As a general rule all ring settings are manufactured in an average size and then cut down to smaller sizes, but size 4 is too much of an adjustment. So, I had to have a white gold setting custom forged for her. It was worth every penny.

[rsn 135]

I was in the same situation and this what we did. My fiancee, Hieu, found a very inexpensive ring, just a small loop, that fit her finger just right. It could be metal or plastic even. Then she mailed it to me. Next, I went online and found an internet jewelry site. I think the name was Diamond.com. They had a very helpful 'ringsizer'. It was basically a small ruler that you print out. Then you cut it out and wrap it into a loop like a paper ring. The point at which the end comes to the other side is what size you need. So, I looped the ringsizer small enough to fit inside the ring she had sent me. The end came to the line for a size 4! In the US ring sizes don't go by standard measurements, just like shoe sizes.

Size 4, for the record, is tiny. Most jewelers don't carry a size 4. As a general rule all ring settings are manufactured in an average size and then cut down to smaller sizes, but size 4 is too much of an adjustment. So, I had to have a white gold setting custom forged for her. It was worth every penny.

Thanks for your reply. I considered doing something similar to what you mentioned, but I'd like to give her the ring during my next planned visit, which is at the end of December, and I don't think there is enough time left to rely on international mail. I also considered the paper ring sizers I have seen online, but I'm not sure if I should trust them or not. If the ring-sizer image is not printed exactly to scale, then we could wind up with a false measurement. As a last resort, I might have her print one of these out and measure for herself, but I figure there must be some what to figure out what this 48 means. I have seen many international conversion charts, but I'm not sure what 48 is in this case. If I knew that for certain I could probably rely on one of those to figure out the American equivalent.

Thanks for talking about small sizes too - I figure my fiancee might be in the same boat, and I wasn't aware that this is something I should be aware of as well. Nothing can be easy, can it ;-). Glad to hear everything worked out for you, and I wish you and your (fiancee or now wife possibly) continued success.

[wowswift 3]

48 is mm which is between a 5 and a 4.5 so maybe 4.3/4 is right. here (about halfway down) is a chart http://www.crucible.org/ring_sizes.htm and depending on your ring, they can switch the setting out to one that's smaller. somehow i have the smaller size problem too, which is weird cuz im not tiny at all but they will usually find something for you that will work. people are nice to help when you're spending money there lol

[rsn 135]

48 is mm which is between a 5 and a 4.5 so maybe 4.3/4 is right. here (about halfway down) is a chart http://www.crucible.org/ring_sizes.htm and depending on your ring, they can switch the setting out to one that's smaller. somehow i have the smaller size problem too, which is weird cuz im not tiny at all but they will usually find something for you that will work. people are nice to help when you're spending money there lol

I suspected it might be 48 mm, but I needed at least one other non-Thai person to reach the same conclusion. Thanks a bunch!

[Brian&Mel 0]

My husband asked my sister to get my ring size as he wanted to suprise me. My sister printed the "ring-sizer" and made up a story. Then he mailed my size to my husband and the ring he got me was perfect size!