Have you ever pondered how to buy the “just right” piece of jewelry? Getting the proper size can be a very important step.
With February 14th around the corner, it’s the perfect time of year to step up to the swagger and show your woman the kind of appreciation she’s been dreaming of. At the end of the day, flowers and chocolate don’t last long, but jewelry she can wear throughout the years will impress to no end. Indulge the fantasy, be a hero, and go for the gold (or silver)…literally, but before you do, here’s a sizing cheat sheet by accessory to make your holiday shopping easy.
Classic Necklace
Necklaces are a fabulous choice for Valentine’s Day. Fun to wear, and versatile in sizing, they usually come in the following standard lengths: 16”, 18”, 20”, 24”, 30”, 33” and 36” lengths. With all jewelry, the observation of your woman’s preferences and style will aid you greatly in finding the right piece. Also, an understanding of her height and weight will help you with finding the right jewelry to balance her proportions.
- 16” vs. 18” vs. 20”: Women who are petite in size, and whose weight falls at or below an estimated 140lbs. look great in 16” chains, which will sit beautifully on their neckline. The most popular chain size is the 18” chain, which fits nicely around the neck at about 1”-2” below the collarbone for women with average to tall height, and weight falling in the mid-range of 140lbs to about 170lbs. For tall, full-figured women, a 20” chain will fit like an 18” on them, and would be the perfect length option for a necklace that looks great with a “V” neckline or button down top.
- 24” vs. 30”: A longer chain, often worn on the outside of garments, 24” lengths usually lie around high chest length. The 30” length easily slips over the head, and tends to fall around the low chest/stomach area, depending on a woman’s size.
- 33” vs. 36”: These long options are great for beads and pearls, often called Opera length when referring to pearl necklaces. Again, both easily slip over the head as a one-size-fits all. The longer length is great for average to full figures, while 33” is recommended for more petite ladies.
Fabulous Earrings
First and foremost, be sure that your woman has pierced ears and wears earrings. Not all women have pierced ears, so it is important to tune into that first. If she does, notice her personal style and what kinds of earrings she tends to go for: fashion or fine, large or small, diamond/pearl/colored gemstone accents, silver or gold, or does she mix metal colors? All of these observations will clue you into her preferences. If she has a favorite store, check out the earring designs being sold there, as that might provide easy inspiration. She may have a wish list at a local jeweler’s, so if there is a retailer or designer she is friendly with, it never hurts to check in. As a general rule, sizing for earrings is less of an issue, since they are one-size-fits-all, but be consistent with the kind of size she is already wearing. Pay attention to weight, since earrings that are too heavy can be difficult to wear for long periods of time, and you want to be sure she is comfortable in them.
Putting a Ring on It
Assuming the ring you are considering isn’t an engagement ring, giving a ring is a beautiful sign of commitment that will certainly be met with excitement. Ring sizing, however, can be quite tricky, with sizes ranging anywhere from 4 through 12, with half and quarter sizes in between. Finding the right size for a ring requires stealth, and is the perfect lover’s challenge.
The easiest way to do this is to ask one of her friends for her ring size. If they don’t know, no worries, just keep an eye out for a ring of hers lying around and discreetly draw an outline of the inside of the ring on a piece of paper, bringing it to a jeweler for the appropriate size correspondence. Note the ring band width as well, since sizing changes slightly for thin vs. thicker bands. Stick to buying a ring for a finger she already wears a ring on. Some women like right ring fingers, while others prefer pointer or pinky rings. As with other styles, consider her taste, or perhaps buying something stackable to add more rings on future special occasions.
Bracelet Beauty
Bracelets of all sorts are having a moment, with a trend towards layering them, especially fashion on fine jewelry for an endless variety of looks. If your woman is trending, it could be fun add a versatile bracelet for her collection. Bangles are particularly good for stacking, and come in many sizes. While the average wrist size for a woman is around 7”, the range can easily fall anywhere between 6” to 8”, but be aware that bangle sizing is tricky. In the case of the bangle, it’s not about the wrist, but rather the width of hand at its widest point (side-to-side between the pointer to pinky finger). A bangle has to slip over the widest point of the hand to fit, so this is what needs to be measured. How to measure with stealth? Wrap your fingers around this part of her hand and ask her to dance (then don’t move your hand as you briefly excuse yourself out and measure), or ask if you can playfully draw an outline of her hand and then turn it into a turkey drawing kindergarten-style (she’ll think you’re playful, and you keep the drawing to measure later). Alternatively, buying an adjustable link bracelet is a great way to impress while not having to worry about size, since the adjustability factor will work for all the ladies.
At the end of the day, purchasing a piece of jewelry for a woman is personal, and something she will be delighted to receive for Valentine’s Day. It not only shows love and dedication, but that a man has taken the time to go above and beyond to consider her style and taste. The mystery of how her man intuitively is a jewelry sizing guru will also intrigue her, and one can never impress his woman too much.
Photo: StacyZ aka Adore_One/Flickr
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