About sizes
Unfortunately ring sizes are not measured the same way in every country of the world and there is no real mnemonic aide in order to remember each and every sizing chart.
As for bracelet sizes, they may vary from one brand, country, or retailer to another, considering they often apply their very own S/M/L standards. Many would just measure them in centimetres or inches by laying them flat (1 mm equals 0.04 inch). Necklaces vary by length and they are generally chosen to reflect a person's style or preference.
Here is a guide to ring, bracelet and necklace sizes for the broad use of both the professionnals and the private people struggling with buying a piece of jewelry in a foreign country!
Ring sizes
​Jewellers measure one's ring size with a finger gauge and rings themselves with a ring sizer. In addition to the use a gauge, the talented London jeweller Shaun Leane also gives the following very useful advice:
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"Measure your ring size at the end of the day when fingers are at their largest. Consider the width of the band, a particularly thick band will feel tighter than a thin band so you may want to buy a full size larger than your normal ring size. Ensure that your ring sizer fits comfortably, snug enough so that it will not fall off, but loose enough to slide over your knuckle."
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You should also consider the weather when trying on a ring or sizing your finger. Warm weather make the fingers swell and remember that if you a try a ring when you are pregnant, it might be little too large a few months later. Of course you may have it resized then.
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Many jewellers nowadays offer printable ring sizers on which one puts one's own ring the drawn size that fit best. One may also try to measure the inner size of the ring with a string and lay it flat on a ruler in order to get the size only to check it on the below chart, however I would recommend to have your finger measured by a professional just to be sure.
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Some rings have adjustable sizes and many techniques exists. Some rings are specifically designed for knuckles with arthritis, so that a health issue doesn't get in the way of wearing rings. Lastly keep in mind that sizing works slightly differently whether you are looking for a large ring or a thin band.
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Global Ring Sizing Systems
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There are several systems ring sizing in use around the world:
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In the United States, Canada and Mexico, ring sizes use a numerical measure, for whole and half sizes. An increase of a full ring size is an increase of 0.032 inch (0.8128 mm) in diametre, or roughly 1/10 inch in inside circumference.
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In the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland, the ring sizes are defined using letters in alphabetical order, for full and half ring sizes.
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In Japan, India, South America, Korea and China, ring sizes are specified using a numerical measure from 1 to 32. There are no half sizes and sizes are not linked to diameter or circumference.
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In Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and Switzerland, ring sizes are specified as the circumference minus 40mm. A 50 ISO was a 10 in Switzerland.
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In France and Germany each size corresponds to the inside circumference of a ring in millimeters. Size 52, an average classic female size, means the inside circumference is 52 mm.
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If you represent a workshop and you are starting to work for a foreign company, I strongly advise you to ask them to send you a finger gauge from the designated country. Use it as a safe guard and control the ring size prior to delivering the piece.
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Here is a very detailed size chart you may use for correspondance study between various countries:
Bracelet sizes
First of all, one has to bear in mind if the bracelet will be supple or rigid and if it will be wor, opened or closed.
Jewellers measure one's wrists with a bracelet gauge and the bracelet itself with a dedicated mandrel but a private person may use a sewing measure. Alternatively one may use a piece of string or ribbon to measure the size and then carefully lay it flat on a ruler.
The fit depends on the type of bracelet (cuff, bangle, chain bracelet, etc.) but also on the client's choice.. Oftentimes, high jewellery bracelet requires the help of a second person to attach it.
Bracelet sizes generally range from baby size to XXL, but in order to be perfectly sure, one should double it by taking the measure, or wrist circumference, properly in centimetres or inches. One may then choose a loose, fitted or tight wear.
Some particularities apply:
For a cuff bracelet, the fact it is open means you have to remember you can slide it directly on your wrist.
For a bangle bracelet with does not have a clasp, remember to measure the width of the hand as well (fingers pressed together and elongated).
Here is the basic size list showing the most common bracelet sizes, bearing in mind that they are not representative of all brands and country habits. Please double-check with the retailer or workshop you are about to buy from.
Necklace sizes
There is even less international equivalence for necklaces.
In France, we consider the standard neck size for a pendant chain to be 40 cm. Jewelers sometimes add 2 cm of chain, which means a 42 cm chain with a 40 cm ring. You would have to add a couple more centimeters in the US and Russia.
What is considered is rather the style. Let's consider a choker, a pendant and a long necklace. Their standards length may slightly vary from a maker to another and if you are fond of antiques, one era from another too.
Concerning the necklaces, we rather focus on the style conferred by the classic models:
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The collar necklace: from 30 to 35 cm (12-14 in.), very short necklace whose name simply specifies the length of the necklace, but does not predict its thickness.
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The choker: from 35 to 41 cm (14-16 in.), we find there the simple necklaces as rivers of diamonds.
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The bib necklace: necklaces often very decorative, it is worn wide on the chest, and often has a lot of color and can be quite heavy.
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The princess necklace: from 43 to 48 cm (16 to 18 in.), necklace of medium length that can be worn in almost any occasion. It is the typical classic necklace that is often worn in a rather formal way and in jewelry that presents more or less precious stones. It comes down just below the collarbone and can be considered a generic piece. We can classify there the necklaces called "lavaliere" or a chain hangs a pendant or several connected together. They recall the Liberty, Edwardian or Art Deco styles.
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The matinee necklace: from 50 to 58 cm (20 to 22 in.), necklace often worn on necklines, the classic matinee necklace is a pearl necklace that can have several rows.
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The long necklace also known as sautoir or opera necklace: from 70 to 90 cm (30-36 in.), long enough necklace immediately reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties, it may or may not have a pompom. It can also have several rows.
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The long necklace also known as rope necklace: from 90 to 100 cm (36 in. +), necklace which, like the sautoir, we can make several turns. It goes down however much lower and remind him more particularly the flappers of the years 1920.
Curtesy of Les Ateliers du Bijou Contemporain
Nevertheless the standards of length vary from a manufacturer to another, from a mark to another and when one is purchaser of old parts, from a time to another.
Moreover, each morphology being different, it is important to consider this when taking the measure of a customer or when creating a new line.
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