Start with the shape she already wears, then the center stone. Lab-grown or natural, the choice is hers, and the guide below sets the two side by side. Read the center carat, not the total. Size it from a ring she owns, and choose her wedding band with the ring.
Find your ring size in a minute
Size 7: 17.3 mm across, 54.4 mm around. 189 of the 210 rings here list size 7.
Between two sizes? Take the one that passes the knuckle and sits snug below it. A wide band, 8 mm and up, fits tighter, so go up a half size. Measure at the end of the day, at room temperature.
Text this size to the desk
The engagement ring size chart, 4 to 16
| US size | Inside diameter | Around the finger | Rings here listing it |
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| 4 | 14.9 mm | 46.8 mm | 93 |
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| 4.5 | 15.3 mm | 48.0 mm | 98 |
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| 5 | 15.7 mm | 49.3 mm | 190 |
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| 5.5 | 16.1 mm | 50.6 mm | 190 |
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| 6 | 16.5 mm | 51.9 mm | 196 |
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| 6.5 | 16.9 mm | 53.1 mm | 197 |
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| 7 | 17.3 mm | 54.4 mm | 189 |
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| 7.5 | 17.7 mm | 55.7 mm | 182 |
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| 8 | 18.1 mm | 57.0 mm | 180 |
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| 8.5 | 18.5 mm | 58.2 mm | 138 |
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| 9 | 18.9 mm | 59.5 mm | 127 |
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| 9.5 | 19.4 mm | 60.8 mm | 18 |
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| 10 | 19.8 mm | 62.1 mm | 16 |
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| 10.5 | 20.2 mm | 63.3 mm | 1 |
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| 11 | 20.6 mm | 64.6 mm | 1 |
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| 11.5 | 21.0 mm | 65.9 mm | 0 |
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| 12 | 21.4 mm | 67.2 mm | 0 |
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| 12.5 | 21.8 mm | 68.5 mm | 0 |
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| 13 | 22.2 mm | 69.7 mm | 0 |
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| 13.5 | 22.6 mm | 71.0 mm | 0 |
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| 14 | 23.0 mm | 72.3 mm | 0 |
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| 14.5 | 23.4 mm | 73.6 mm | 0 |
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| 15 | 23.8 mm | 74.8 mm | 0 |
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| 15.5 | 24.2 mm | 76.1 mm | 0 |
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| 16 | 24.6 mm | 77.4 mm | 0 |
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A screen measurement checked with a quarter is a guide, good to about a half size; the desk sizes you right the first time. "Rings here listing it" counts the live listings.
Shapes: which engagement ring shape to buy
Buy the shape she already wears in her other rings. A marquise runs long, with a point at each end. Round is on the most listings and sits compact. Oval, marquise and pear carry their weight in length, so they look larger than a round of the same carat. A marquise or pear has points that chip first, so look for a prong over each tip.
Lab or natural: lab-grown vs natural diamond engagement rings, told straight
Both are graded on the same letters, and the choice is hers. Here 122 rings are lab-grown and 76 natural. The grown centers are mostly 2 to 3 carats and E or F, VS or better. Lab-grown and natural diamonds of the same grade look the same; a natural diamond costs more. We don't sell diamonds as an investment, and resale value isn't guaranteed for either. The natural centers here sit near a carat, mostly G or H with SI clarity. SI2 in H or I leaves room for a bigger natural stone, while VS with E and up are the most prized grades; ask about cut, symmetry and fluorescence. Lab-grown and natural rings each have a page.
Carat and grades: how many carats, and what color and clarity mean
Many centers here weigh two carats or more, and 2 carat engagement rings and 3 carat diamond rings each have a page. Read the center carat, not the total weight, which adds in the side stones. A one-carat round is about 6.5 mm across. D, E and F look colorless, and G through J read white once set. VS and better look clean to the naked eye; on an SI stone, ask the desk what shows. Cut, the fourth C, is in the four Cs article.
Setting and metal: solitaire, halo or hidden halo, in 14K, 18K or platinum
A solitaire, one stone on a plain band, is the setting named most here, and prongs hold nearly every center. A halo rings the center with small stones so it reads larger; a hidden halo sits under the center, seen only from the side. Take 14K for every day; 18K is a richer yellow that marks sooner, and platinum stays white. Pick her wedding band at the same time, or start from the wedding ring sets.
Her size in secret: finding it without asking her
Borrow a ring she wears often, and note which finger it came from. Lay it over the ring sizer on this page, using a quarter to set the screen. A friend or relative who will not spill can confirm the size, and tell you which stone and shape she has her eye on. Made-to-order, resized or changed rings are final, by the refund policy. A ready-made ring usually ships in 2 to 5 business days; a made-to-order ring takes the weeks its listing shows, so ask the desk which yours is. For a size the listing lacks, open the live chat first; the desk picks up 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET.
Questions we get in the store
What shape engagement ring should I buy?
Buy the shape she already wears. Round is on the most listings here and sits compact, while oval, marquise and pear look larger than a round stone of equal weight.
Lab-grown or natural diamond for an engagement ring?
Lab-grown and natural diamonds of the same grade look the same; a natural diamond costs more. We don't sell diamonds as an investment, and resale value isn't guaranteed for either. At SI2 in H or I, a natural stone can go bigger.
How much should an engagement ring cost?
Each listing prints its own price. Most of it is the center: carat, shape, color, clarity, grown or mined. The setting adds its metal and side stones. For a ring or size not listed, ask in the live chat, or text 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET.
More questions we get
How many carats should an engagement ring be?
Many centers here weigh two carats or more. Read the center carat, not the total weight, which counts the side stones as well. A one-carat round measures about 6.5 mm across the top.
How do I find her ring size without spoiling the proposal?
Borrow a ring she wears often, and note which finger it came from. Size it on the sizer on this page. A friend who will stay quiet can tell you her size and the stone she loves.
What do the color and clarity grades mean?
Color says how white the stone is, and clarity how clean it looks under a loupe. D, E and F look colorless. VS and better look clean to the eye, while SI2 often does not. Most centers here that state a grade are that clean.
14K, 18K or platinum for an engagement ring?
Take 14K for every day, since 14K is the harder gold. Choose 18K for a richer yellow, knowing it marks sooner. Platinum stays white on its own and weighs the most on the hand.
Can an engagement ring be resized?
It depends on the band: stones all the way round often rule it out. Ask the desk before you order: made-to-order, resized or changed rings are final under the refund policy.
Can I return an engagement ring?
Ready-made, yes, within fourteen calendar days of delivery, unworn and unaltered. Clear it with customer service first (service@traxnyc.com, 212-391-3832); it ships only on our return label. The 5 percent restocking fee and the return shipping come off the refund. Made-to-order, resized or changed rings are final.