Ring size guides -- UK, US, European, Japanese

I had a conversation last night with my DB and his sister, and somehow ring sizes came up (I think it was because we were talking about "can you wiggle your ears?" "is your second toe longer than your big toe?" etc. and my freakishly skinny fingers came up). I personally had never thought about it, but ring sizes are different in the UK than in the US, they go by letters of the alphabet instead of numbers.

So, seeing as this may be a useful piece of information for me/DB within the next year or less, I figured to go on a little hunt to see if I could figure mine out. After I found some promising information, I figured I would share it with all of you since it seems like it's barely been brought up.

For those who are interested, a quick Google search came up with these ring size charts that have US, UK, European and Japanese sizes:
http://www.jewellers.net/ringsizer.htm (US, Eur, UK)
http://www.marchenoir.com/ringsize.html (Japanese, UK, US)

And, if you're like me and have forgotten your US ring size so you can't use those handy charts above, and you have some sort of inability to measure your ring finger with tape (again, guilty as charged), then you can send away for a Free UK Ring Sizing Guide, which is absolutely free, you don't even have to pay for shipping:
http://www.zoojewellery.com/ringsizing.asp

I just sent away for mine today, so I don't know how long it'll take to arrive, hopefully only within a week or two.

Hope this helps someone, and if any of you have any more suggestions (like jewelers that don't mind sizing you, etc.) feel free to add those

For those who may be interested, I received my free ring sizing guide from Zoo Jewellery this morning, having placed the order for it less than 24 hours ago. They processed that incredibly fast for a freebie!

My ring finger is a US 4.5 or a UK I 1/2 but unless you really try the ring on at the shop you may have some trouble. My husband bought me a diamond encrusted ring for Christmas two years ago.  He had sized it down for me to my US size but it was still too big. I had to have it sized down twice.

that first link you posted is really helpful, lilac, thanks!

I've found that finding the right ring size is often a matter of taste- once you get the basic range of sizes that will physically fit your finger, you can often go down/up a 1/2 size or so depending on how you like the ring to fit.  It's definitely not an exact science!

It also varies.  My engagement ring is UK-sized I (I have tiny fhands) and the website I ordered my wedding ring told me that this was equal to size 4 in the US (I don't know why, but they used US sizing, even though they were in Wales).  It's actually around 4.25, but no one really does quarter sizes.  I settled for a 4, but it IS noticably smaller than my UK-sized I.  The difference is tolerable, but not everyone could get away with that.  I think it's all personal preference, anyway, as people like their rings to fit differently from person to person.

actually around 4.25, but no one really does quarter sizes. 

e-weddingbands.com  (where we're ordering our wedding bands) does quarter sizing! And I'm glad too, because FH's ring size is Q 1/2, which is really equivalent to 8.75 in US sizes (even though most sites say 8 1/2).

e-weddingbands.com  (where we're ordering our wedding bands) does quarter sizing! And I'm glad too, because FH's ring size is Q 1/2, which is really equivalent to 8.75 in US sizes (even though most sites say 8 1/2).

Well, okay, SOME do .  I meant the vast majority...

oh the fun we've had with the ring size conversions!!!! My DF wanted something a little different from the traditional gold wedding band, so we looked around and found some sites that sold stainless steel, tungsten etc... It was at that point we realised we sized rings differently!!!
We had a look at some of the conversation sites online and thought we'd cracked it...ha ha ha!!! 4 rings later and we finally got the right size!!! The first three rings couldn't be altered because of the metal they were made out of!!!
It would seem the conversions don't always match  - My DF was giving me his US size and the rings I bought were huge!!! The ring that actually fits we bought together from a shop, where he could actually try it on!!!