Ring size chart Switzerland: circumference, EU, US, UK

You are holding a ring, maybe an old one, maybe one from abroad, and on the inside there is a number or a letter that means nothing to you in Switzerland. Or you want to secretly order an engagement ring and need to translate someone else's ring size into a Swiss size. Here is the conversion chart for the most common sizes, plus an explanation of what the numbers actually mean and how reliable they are.

What the Swiss ring size actually is

In Switzerland and across much of Europe, the ring size corresponds directly to the inner circumference of the ring in millimetres. A ring size 54 means the ring has an inner circumference of 54 mm. That is practical, because you can roughly measure it yourself with a tape measure or a strip of paper, no conversion needed. The US and the UK, on the other hand, use their own sizing systems based on diameter or on a historically grown letter and number scale. That is why you need a conversion for imported rings or for size listings from abroad.

The conversion table: 48 to 62

The following values are rounded guide figures for the women's and men's sizes we see most often, in steps of two from 48 to 62. US and UK figures can vary slightly by manufacturer, because the systems were never precisely standardised across borders.

• Circumference 48 mm, EU/CH 48, US 4½, UK I
• Circumference 50 mm, EU/CH 50, US 5¼, UK J½
• Circumference 52 mm, EU/CH 52, US 6, UK L
• Circumference 54 mm, EU/CH 54, US 6¾, UK M½
• Circumference 56 mm, EU/CH 56, US 7½, UK N½
• Circumference 58 mm, EU/CH 58, US 8¼, UK P
• Circumference 60 mm, EU/CH 60, US 9, UK Q
• Circumference 62 mm, EU/CH 62, US 9¾, UK R½

As a rough guide: most women in Switzerland fall between size 50 and 56, most men between 58 and 64. These are really only tendencies though, we have had clients with size 46 and clients with size 70 in the atelier. Fingers are as varied as people.

How to measure roughly yourself

The most accurate way is always measuring in person at our atelier with a professional ring gauge, because finger thickness varies slightly with time of day, temperature and water retention. For a first estimate at home, a strip of paper or a piece of string is enough: wrap it loosely around the finger, mark where the ends meet, then measure the length in millimetres with a ruler. That number roughly equals the circumference, and therefore the Swiss ring size straight from our table. Ideally measure in the evening, when fingers are slightly larger than in the morning, and repeat it two or three times for a more reliable result.

If the engagement ring is meant to stay a surprise, there are also more discreet ways to find the size, for example using a ring your partner already owns, or asking family or friends. We explain these and other methods in detail in our article on finding your ring size.

When the size does not quite fit

Your actual size often falls between two table values, and that is completely normal, no need to worry. Most materials allow a ring to be resized up or down by one or two sizes afterwards, as long as the setting allows it. Rings with stones set all the way around the band are harder to resize, or not at all, and you should know that before buying. That is why we measure in person at every atelier appointment, so the ring truly fits in the end, not just on paper.

A chart is no substitute for measuring in person, but it gives you an honest first orientation. If you are unsure, or want to book an appointment for a precise measurement right away, our page on ring sizing and fitting shows the next step, at our atelier in Zurich district 4 or by video.