# Want to surprise him with a ring, but don't know his size. Suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768 "2012-09-15T04:53:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/21 "2012-09-15T16:09:01Z")
Which finger? Put that finger in your mouth, and then keep that mouth “o” shape, run down to the jewelers and write, “I need a ring this size” ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/22 "2012-09-15T17:26:10Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Yeah after hearing everyone’s suggestions, and how difficult it would be to actually get his size measured accurately without him knowing… and the fact that he might not even _want_ to be surprised with it, I guess it’s better if I just shop it with him together. > > Thanks for the tips everyone… you’re the best! This doesn’t mean you can’t make the proposal something just AWESOME, though 🙂 And yeah, don’t do it on his birthday 😉 Do it after, or before; hell, wait until one minute after midnight 😃 Find something corny like a cigar band or a pop-top from a soda can, or a piece of string, anything…double points if it’s something that actually means something to you guys. Do the whole thing, and then go look at rings online AFTER you find out, for sure, his ring size. I have bought at least a dozen rings for MrTao with no success, when I was trying to guess. He’s in the process of losing weight so it never fits right for long, lol. I always loved the idea of having multiple rings to wear whenever, and he does too; the tungsten rings, especially, are affordable enough to mix and match and have fun with different styles. Oh, and congratulations in advance 😃 Also, at his size and weight…I’m going to guess a size 6-7. I’m his height, with more weight, and I’m a 6-6.5. So we’ll give him a half size for man-knuckles 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/23 "2012-09-15T18:40:18Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Yeah after hearing everyone’s suggestions, and how difficult it would be to actually get his size measured accurately without him knowing… and the fact that he might not even _want_ to be surprised with it, I guess it’s better if I just shop it with him together. > > Thanks for the tips everyone… you’re the best! I know you’re sure he’ll say yes and all, but keep us posted and tell us how it goes; I don’t know about the others but I’m a sap for that romantic stuff! ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/24 "2012-09-16T00:53:08Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I had heard that a good rule of thumb was that ring size and shoe size were roughly in the same ballpark. Is there any truth to that? So you know your ring size and are thinking about buying some shoes? Extra points for the “rule of thumb” mention. In answer to your question, the only ballpark is that shoe sizes and ring sizes more or less cover the same numbers. My shoe size is the same as the ring size for my index finger. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/25 "2012-09-16T01:18:12Z")
I really would not buy him a ring as a surprise. You may hit gold, but a lot of people are super particular about what they wear re jewelry and would want some input. Plus resizing a ring can be expensive and a big PITA. Surprise him with the “gift” of a ring but have it be a trip to the jewelry store etc. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/26 "2012-10-09T09:33:22Z")
An update, for those who were interested: We opted for the completely unimpressive route of simply just shopping together online. We printed out one of the ring-sizers, verified it was the right size, and measured our fingers. We then each picked out the rings we liked for ourselves, and are waiting to get them in the mail. So, no I didn’t have the special “moment” or anything like in the movies, but he was really happy when I pressed that “submit” button and I’m sure he’ll be doubly happy when we are putting the rings on once they get here. ---
**Author:** ![osme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/df788c/32.png) [@osme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/osme)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/27 "2012-10-09T13:30:24Z")
Did you know that most people’s shoe size is also their ring size? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/28 "2012-10-09T15:26:39Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > So, no I didn’t have the special “moment” or anything like in the movies, but he was really happy when I pressed that “submit” button and I’m sure he’ll be doubly happy when we are putting the rings on once they get here. Ugh, gay marriage is so boring these days!! 😉 Congrats - on the engagement (I call it engagement, dangit!) and for both of you getting correctly sized rings you both liked! ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/29 "2012-10-09T15:31:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Ugh, gay marriage is so boring these days!! > > 😉 Congrats - on the engagement (I call it engagement, dangit!) and for both of you getting correctly sized rings you both liked! Congragulations, and best of luck locating ‘Both Of You Getting Correctly Sized Rings You Both Like’ announcements 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/30 "2012-10-09T15:32:11Z")
> [@osme](#): > > Did you know that most people’s shoe size is also their ring size? My partner and I must be exceptions. I wear a 6 men’s shoe and a 7 ring. He wears a men’s 9 1/2 and around a 5 ring. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/31 "2012-10-09T15:32:23Z")
> [@Corcaigh](#): > > A lot of people have taken to giving their intended a toy plastic ring, then take them ring shopping for the real thing More or less this. If you want it to be a surprise, just get a plastic or really cheap ring for the “surprise” part, then go shopping together. When I got engaged years ago, as much as I thought it might be romantic to have a final ring when I did it, I thought actually getting to pick out the ring together would be more fun and more romantic, and it was, and then we could also have a more formal engagement where other people could be present for that as well, and she was still surprised because, despite designing the ring together, she didn’t see the final product until then. So it worked out the best of both worlds. In your situation, if you’re both going to wear rings, I’d think it’d be important to make the decision of what they look like together. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/32 "2012-10-09T15:40:21Z")
Congratulations on findiing nice rings that you liked! And you can do this as often as you like with different rings for different occasions, too. I never liked the idea of being tied down to one ring, bleargh. Then again it took me until 44 to tie myself down to one guy, too, so maybe that’s just me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/33 "2012-10-09T16:26:59Z")
Huh? I wear a 6 ring and a 9-1/2 shoe! (I’m sure the world was waiting for that information.) ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/34 "2012-10-09T19:07:32Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I had heard that a good rule of thumb was that ring size and shoe size were roughly in the same ballpark. Is there any truth to that? > [@osme](#): > > Did you know that most people’s shoe size is also their ring size? Size 9 shoe, size 5 ring. If you bought me a size 9 ring, it MIGHT not fall off my thumb. Shoes are sized by length and rings by width; it’s like guessing somebody’s waist size by how tall they are. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/35 "2012-10-09T19:47:30Z")
Congrats to you both! May you wear them a long time and in good health _drinks_ ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/36 "2012-10-10T09:35:27Z")
So, **drewtwo99,** are you planning to make a momentous occasion out of the first time y’all put on the rings? Or go to a restaurant or something? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/37 "2012-10-10T09:44:06Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > An update, for those who were interested: > > We opted for the completely unimpressive route of simply just shopping together online. We printed out one of the ring-sizers, verified it was the right size, and measured our fingers. We then each picked out the rings we liked for ourselves, and are waiting to get them in the mail. > > So, no I didn’t have the special “moment” or anything like in the movies, but he was really happy when I pressed that “submit” button and I’m sure he’ll be doubly happy when we are putting the rings on once they get here. I’m pretty sure you have to give back any accumulated Gay Toasters for such an un-fabulous proposal. 😉 But congratulations! (I’ve been engaged four times, hitched twice and never got a “moment” proposal, myself.) ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/38 "2012-10-10T18:00:27Z")
> [@osme](#): > > Did you know that most people’s shoe size is also their ring size? I don’t think this is true for anyone. My shoe size is 8.5, my ring size is 5.25. For anyone out there that wants to buy me fabulous heels or a stunning rock anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/40 "2013-07-05T12:22:27Z")
Zombies can’t spell. Oh, ha! They edited the post to correct spelling! Reported anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768/41 "2013-07-05T13:51:56Z")
Sad to see this thread bumped, IIRC they split up ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-surprise-him-with-a-ring-but-dont-know-his-size-suggestions/634768.md?page=3)