Buying a Ring as a Gift When You Don't Know His Size

If you're buying a ring as a gift and don't know his size, the most reliable route is to borrow a ring he already wears and have it measured. If you can't, most of the men we size fall between a UK T and a W. And if it still isn't right, you have 90 days to exchange it. Here's how to do each of those properly.

Why size matters more with titanium and tungsten

With a gold or silver ring, a jeweller can usually adjust the size afterwards. Our rings are different. Tungsten generally can't be resized at all, and titanium only has limited scope for it. (If you're still deciding between the two, our titanium vs tungsten guide covers the differences.)

So the plan for a gift is simple: get as close as you can, and treat an exchange as the back-up rather than a failure.

The method that works: measure a ring he already wears

If he already wears a ring on the finger you're buying for, that ring tells you more than any guess will. There are two ways to use it.

Take it to a jeweller

A jeweller can read the size off in seconds. Write it down before you leave the shop. That sounds obvious, but we regularly hear from people who were sized, tried to remember it, and ordered something different a week later.

Measure it at home

If getting to a jeweller isn't practical, our ring size guide walks through how to work out a UK size at home, step by step.

Either way, make sure the ring you borrow is one he wears on the same finger of the same hand. People assume the matching finger on the other hand will be the same size. It usually isn't.

If you can't borrow a ring: a sensible best guess

Sometimes there's no ring to borrow. When customers ask us what to do then, our advice is to choose a size between a UK T and a W, which is where most of the men we size end up. If he's on the slimmer side, go for a T. If he's of a bigger build, go a little larger.

This is a starting point from our own experience, not a promise it will fit first time. That's what the 90-day exchange is there for.

Two methods we'd skip

"His hands are about the same size as mine." They very likely aren't, at least not closely enough. One full UK ring size is a difference of about 0.4mm in diameter, which is far too small to judge by eye.

Asking his friends or family. For the same reason, it's very unlikely they'd know. Unless one of them has seen him sized, you're swapping your guess for theirs.

The mistakes we see most often

• Not writing the size down. Get sized, write it down, order from the note.
• Measuring only once. If he's happy to be measured, do it three times across the day rather than once. Our size guide explains why.
• Measuring the wrong finger. Measure the finger, on the hand, where the ring will be worn.
• Letting string or paper slip. When people wrap string or paper around a finger, it tends to loosen as the hand moves. That's how people end up with a ring two or three sizes too big.

Choosing the width and metal when you're guessing

Width is easier than size. For a man, we'd suggest 6mm or 8mm. Narrower rings, at 2mm to 4mm, aren't what most men choose for themselves. If you're buying for a woman, 4mm or 6mm is the more usual choice.

If you know he'd prefer something that feels light on the hand, choose titanium. It's the lighter of the two metals.

Three rings that work well as gifts

All three of these are popular with our customers, and each sits at a width most men are comfortable with:

• The Brushed Silver 6mm Titanium Ring: plain, light, and easy to wear every day.
• The Wood & Black 8mm Tungsten Carbide Ring: a wider ring with more detail.
• The Hammered Silver 8mm Tungsten Ring: a textured finish for someone who'd find a plain band too simple.

If it doesn't fit: how an exchange works

You have 90 days from purchase to return a ring for an exchange or a refund, whether the size is wrong or he'd simply prefer a different one. The process is:

1. Contact us and tell us what you'd like to swap to.
2. We'll send you the return details and let you know whether the replacement is in stock or made to order.
3. You post the ring back to us.
4. If the replacement is in stock, we post it within one working day of your return arriving. If it's made to order, it takes one to two weeks to make, and we post it within one working day of it being ready.

A few things to know up front. Trying the ring on to check the size is fine, but beyond that it needs to come back unworn and undamaged, with the delivery slip and the packaging it arrived in. Return postage is paid by you.

A recent example

A couple of months ago, a customer got in touch about a ring for her boyfriend. She wanted a black ring, and told us he prefers simple designs, nothing too fancy. She also mentioned he's fairly slim and works in an office.

We suggested the Brushed Black 6mm Tungsten Ring: a plain finish, and a 6mm width so it wouldn't look too wide on his finger. Given his build, we went with a size T.

When she gave it to him, it was slightly too big. She used our size guide to find the right size and contacted us to exchange it. The ring arrived back with us a couple of days later, we let her know the same day, and the replacement went out the next day. It reached her two to three days after that, and it fitted.

Ordering for Christmas

For Christmas 2026, the last order dates are 20 December for rings we have in stock and 10 December for made-to-order rings. Most of our rings are made to order, so if you're not sure which applies to the ring and size you want, ask us before ordering. UK delivery is free.

Common questions

What is the average men's ring size in the UK?

It's commonly quoted as around a UK T. In our own experience, most men fall between a T and a W, with slimmer men nearer T.

Can a tungsten or titanium ring be resized?

Tungsten generally can't be resized. Titanium can only be adjusted in a limited way. In practice, a wrong size means exchanging the ring rather than altering it.

What if the size is fine but he doesn't like the ring?

The same 90-day returns apply. As long as the ring is unworn, you can return it for an exchange or a refund.

Choosing his ring

If you'd like to browse, our full range of rings is the place to start. And if you're stuck between sizes or styles, get in touch. We're happy to help you work it out.