Diane Humphreys can hold a volleyball in one hand. She can also save a basketball. Ms. Humphreys can’t find rings that are 10.5 to 11 inches in size. The Atlanta-based director for leadership development has only been a ring-wearer for the call she received as her high school volleyball championship ring. It was custom-ordered from men’s because the women’s rings were too small. Ms. Humphreys (29) is looking for something simple and casual to wear every day. It shouldn’t be too difficult to ask for it, but she would like it in her size.
The average U.S. woman’s ring size ranges from 6 to 7. A 6.5 is the industry standard size for a ring. The supply-and-demand model is followed by the most popular sizes for women, 5 through 8. You will need internet research to find ready-made rings within the double digits. There are nines, but they are not the norm in brick-and-mortar.
Yet, fingers come in many shapes and sizes, just like the people to which they are attached.
Nadine Froughi carries a size nine ring. She refers to her hands as “chunky like the rest of my hands” and compares her fingers with “chipolata sausages”.
Ms. Froughi (27) said, “I think they are cute.”
She has never found rings that fit her in high-street stores like H&M. Her experience has taught her to believe these styles are too small for her pinky or maybe my ring finger depending on how cold it gets.
Bailey Peyton, a 28-year-old curve model and content creator, tried on a few engagement rings before finding the correct size. She was reminded of her struggle to find clothing and shoes in her size in stores beyond a 6 or 7 measure.
She said, “It was almost like adding it to the list.”
Maxey Greene is a plus-size model who was also on the lookout for engagement rings. She found a shortage of suitable bands in stores and an absence of “chubby finger” representations on Pinterest. She started the hashtag #AllHandsAreGoodHands in response. To combat the various hand insecurities, she created an Instagram account dedicated to it. The woman who shared her problem also followed suit.
“When we think of insecurities, there are obvious ones like “Oh, my arms are insecure,” Ms. Greene, 31, stated. But, it turns out that many people have hand insecurities. It’s something I have, but it wasn’t something I thought about because you can’t hide your hands.
Why should you?
Lauren Chan, a plus-size model and former fashion editor, said that style continues even after you reach a specific size. She is also the founder of HENNING, a luxury womenswear brand for sizes 12 to 26. “There is a compromise in style or quality when I wear, or style size-inclusive rings. You don’t have to be as aspirational as your peers if you have larger bodies and more extensive hands or feet.
Adrienne Bunn founded Shine Like Me. This company makes crystal rings made from diamond-cut crystals that can be adjusted up to a 13-inch size. The image of adjustable may remind you of the little rubber rings from gumball machines.
Ms. Bunn, 36, said, “Everybody deserves some kind of luxury.”
Kelly Augustine is a 35-year-old stylist who looks for rings that can be adjusted and are open to change. Kelly Augustine keeps a list of size-inclusive jewelry designers. L’Enchanteur is her favorite (sculptural, wearable talismans), Automic Gold, JLANI jewels (eco-conscious, everyday pieces), and Poirier. This line of demi-fine jewelry was created out of frustration with the lack of size-inclusive options for jewelry.
Fine jewelry is made with semi-precious and precious gemstones and precious metals such as gold and platinum. The more unique the metal used to make the ring, it will be more costly. Each time the size of a diamond-wrapped eternity ring goes up, another diamond is added to it, and the price goes up. Although costume jewelry might use cheaper plated metals or imitation gems, producing a product that doesn’t sell is still risky. Stocking product for customers who might not come is expensive. It takes time to discover who your customers are, their needs, what they will spend, and how you can reach them.
Yet, increasing numbers of brands are making it a priority to offer rings in different sizes. They know that customers are out there and have been waiting. They are commenting on the Instagram accounts of brands, asking for the elusive size 11. They’re custom-ordering size 13, L’Enchanteur’s most popular signet ring, which features a flying phoenix. They don’t care if the calls are for men or women. Even the term “ring finger”, feels outdated. The early aughts are back in fashion. Some of us would love rings on our thumbs and pointer fingers.
AL Sandimirova was the designer of Automic Gold’s first rings. He sampled different sizes than the standard used in the jewelry industry to create them. Mx. said, “I didn’t know it was an industry norm because I wasn’t introduced to this from the fashion sector.” Sandimirova, 33. “I understand the importance of sampling one sample rather than three as a small-business owner. Technically, I make the largest sample size in my company.
Mx. Mx. The company’s rings are delicate chains made from recycled and recyclable gold, with ethically sourced precious stones embedded in simple bands. They are unisex sizes. Mx. Sandimirova looked online for other size-inclusive fine jewellery brands but quickly realized that Automic Gold might be the only brand that offers this wide range of sizes.
Who hasn’t dreamed of being Liberace? A mountain of rings stretching from one pinky, to the next, all over our hands. Imagine the joy when a customer finally finds the right call for them.
Jasmine Elder, a plus-size clothing designer, has launched JIBRI. Her line caters to the “fashion-conscious curvy woman”. When she couldn’t find statement rings that met her needs (the few available felt cheap and tarnished quickly), she decided to create them. Ms. Elder’s customers were used to wearing ill-fitting and non-fitting rings.
Christina Senia (27), co-founded the jewelry brand SENIA along with her sister Gina Senia (22). She said that Hunter McGrady, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model, couldn’t believe they had made rings that fit her. Like JIBRI and Automic Gold, SENIA launched a modular, customizable line in extended sizes “simply to prove that I didn’t know anything else,” Christina stated. It was foolish of us. “We assumed everyone would be inclusive and offered every size.”
But inexpensive-sized rings still need to be the norm. However, established jewelry brands are starting to catch up. The Catbird Wedding Annex offers acceptable and semi-fine ring samples in sizes 6-12 at the Catbird Wedding Annex in Brooklyn. Mejuri is another famous fine jewelry brand that was launched in 2015. It offers a range of rings in sizes 5 to 9.
Noura Sakkijha (36), Mejuri’s cofounder and C.E.O. said, “Ever since our start, it was a major component of ours to offer a wide variety of sizes.” Mejuri began expanding its size range in September 2020. She said, “We’ve always thought of inclusion in very different aspects.” “The brand promises to break fine jewelry’s price exclusivity and style exclusivity.
Ms. Chan of HENNING, who “spent her career in fashion editing advocating for size inclusion,” stated that the first step when expanding into a new category or demographic is to talk with, research, and hire people from that group. Next is the development of the product.
She said, “We get caught up in harping about the difficulties, and it’s more cash.” You’re learning new design nuances, but you can still make anything. You can even make something from an existing product but in a smaller size.
”Ms. Chan stated, “We can build spaceships.” “Anyone can make fine jewelry within a 12 x 12 frame.”
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