How to Measure Ring Size for a Perfect Fit

Fingers, as you know, come in a variety of different sizes. While this endearing feature is what makes us all so wonderfully unique, from our hands (literally) down to our feet, it can cause a bit of consternation for the uninitiated when measuring ring sizes at home. But fret not, because the designers and jewelers at Waxing Poetic know a thing or two about ring sizing for women, and how to measure ring size for men as well.

How to Measure Ring Size

If you want to measure ring size, most likely for a gift or when ordering online (if only for yourself, you can have your measurements taken by professionals at a jewelry store), you’ll come across several methods, that when performed correctly, should yield accurate results.

You want a snug fitting ring, that’s easy to slip on and off, but not so loose your precious ring is in danger of arbitrarily falling off — yet not so tight it will cause you discomfort or pain.

Before measuring, make sure you know what ring sizes you’re working with. In the United Stated, rings sizes range from around 3.5 (14.4 mm) to 13.5 (22.8 mm). You can find and download conversion charts online that match different international measurements (mm) with international ring-size standards. For US sizes, refer to the chart below:

Measurements (mm)	US Ring Sizes
14.4 mm	3½
14.8 mm	4
15.2 mm	4½
15.6 mm	5
16.0 mm	5½
16.5 mm	6
16.9 mm	6½
17.3 mm	7
17.7 mm	7½
18.2 mm	8
18.6 mm	8½
19.0 mm	9
19.4 mm	9½
19.8 mm	10
20.2 mm	10½
20.6 mm	11
21.0 mm	11½
21.4 mm	12
21.8 mm	12½
22.2 mm	13
22.6 mm	13½

Ring Sizing with Floss or String

Almost everyone has some string or a box of dental floss lying around the house. One of the simplest methods to employ when measuring ring size is to cut, then wrap a piece of string or floss around the base of your finger, just below the knuckle. Mark the point where one end of the string meets or overlaps the other end with a pen.

Don’t pull the floss or string too tight, which can distort your measurements. Measure several times to make sure you're getting an accurate reading. Once you have a piece of marked string or floss, measure it against a millimeter ruler, then compare it to a ring-sizing chart (like the one above) to gauge your ring size.

Ring Sizing with a Tape Measure or a Ring-Sizing Tool

If string, floss and an old-fashioned ruler don’t appeal, you can always get your hands on a ring-sizing tool. A jeweler will sell you one, and in many cases, give you one for free (they’re not expensive). You can order plastic ring sizers online, some designed for women, some for women and men. The latter is perfect if you’re worried about how to measure ring size — men being the "owners" of the fingers you’re planning to size up.

If you want to know how to measure ring size with a tape measure, follow the basic steps we've already laid out. But use a cloth tape measure instead of string or floss to gauge the circumference of your finger before comparing your marked tape measurements to the appropriate sizing chart.

The Various Lengths of Necklaces and How to Wear Them

Necklaces comes in all shapes and sizes, and finding the right one to complement your style and wardrobe is important. When ordering a necklace online, it should come with the chain length, but if you aren’t sure what this means, then it’s just another number. Here are some ways to figure out necklace length and find the right fit.

Different Types of Necklace Lengths

In general, there are six different necklace lengths. These include:

• Choker
• Collar
• Princess
• Matinee
• Opera
• Rope or Lariat

Each of them comes in a different length, and determining which option is right for your will depend on the look you are trying to create. Let’s get into a little more detail about each type.

Choker

On average, a choker necklace will be 14 inches in length. They are designed to wrap closely around your neck and are often worn with a high-necked top or dress. However, they can be worn with any outfit if you are looking to make a fun, bold statement.

CollarA collar necklace sits right at the base of your neck and is a good option when accessorizing tops or dresses with a high neckline. These necklaces are 16 inches in length and aren’t as tight as a choker. These are usually worn to make a statement, so finding one that is colorful and/or large is a good decision.

Princess

This is the most common necklace length and falls just below your throat at the collarbone. In general, this necklace is 18 inches in length and will work for just about any outfit you pair this type of necklace with. Whether you are wearing a fine chain or a bold piece, the princess length is ideal for everyday wear.

Matinee

The length of this necklace falls between 20 and 22 inches, and it will sit right above your bust line. This necklace style is often worn with plunging necklines or for individuals who feel like 18 inches of necklace feels too short.

There is also a 24-inch matinee necklace that you can add to your wardrobe. You’ll need to consider that it is meant to lay on top of your clothing and is often worn to make a statement. These necklaces will fall just below the center of your bust. This matinee necklace is a great addition to business or casual wear, and they often come in bold colors or with multiple strands so that they stand out.

Opera

Opera necklaces have a tendency to be more formal than shorter necklaces. They hang below the bust and can be worn with high necklines or eveningwear. They average 30 inches in length.Rope or Lariat

This necklace hangs well below your bust and may reach all the way to your navel. In general, they are 36 inches in length and add something extra to business or eveningwear. Although, they can add some elegance and sophistication to casual wear as well. It’s advised that you don’t wear a rope necklace with a plunging neckline, as this won’t pair well with the necklace’s length.

Now that you have a better idea of the types and lengths of necklaces that exist, you can find the pieces that will express your individual style and add something extra to any outfit you put on.

Everything You Need to Know About Signet Rings

Traditionally, a signet ring was a symbol of family heritage. Many of the first versions of this ring bore the family crest or coat of arms. The image was engraved into the ring in reverse so that it could be pressed into hot wax or soft clay and used to seal a document. The recipient of the document would know that it was authentic because of the symbol in the wax.

Signet rings go by many names, including “seal rings” because of their function to seal letters, as well as a “gentleman’s ring” because it was often worn by the male heirs in the family. In modern times, both men and women wear signet rings.

Modern Signet Rings

In the past, signet rings were only worn by those in the upper class, so they were often associated with elitism. Today, anyone can have a signet ring. Many people still decide to have their family crests engraved into the ring, but this isn’t the only option. It’s also possible to get your initials or any other picture you like included in the ring.

Currently, some rings are worn to symbolize membership in a club. The most common wearers of signet rings include Freemasons or military personnel, who wears rings that symbolize their rank or what branch of the military they are in. As these rings grow in popularity, people are wearing them every day with their outfits or using them as wedding rings. How to Recognize a Signet Ring

Despite the fact that signet rings can come in many shapes and sizes and include a crest, initials or other photo, there are some common traits that set these apart from other rings. More often than not, they have a flat bezel and a design is engraved in intaglio, which means that it is raised and can leave an impression if pressed into wax or other soft materials.

While these two traits have to be present to make the ring a signet ring, determining the design, size and shape will be up to your personal preference and style. Some of the most common shapes include the following:

• Oxford Oval – the most traditional and popular shape for signet rings
• Round – a more contemporary and modern option
• Marquise – gives the ring a more sophisticated and elegant shape
• Cushion – this is a square-shaped ring that was popular during the Victorian era

How to Wear a Signet Ring

Traditionally, signet rings were worn on the pinkie finger of a person’s non-dominant hand. This would make it easier to use it for its intended purpose, which was sealing a document. Today, many people still abide by this rule, but not everyone does.

There are no longer any hard and fast rules when it comes to wearing a signet ring, so you are allowed to wear it on the finger that feels most comfortable. As mentioned, some people where them as wedding rings, so they will be found on the ring finger of their left hand. Others wear them on their middle or first finger.

Signet rings are often worn to make a bold statement or show off heritage. They add something unique and special to your style, whether you wear them for special occasions or every day.

How Instagram inspired an earring design

Introducing The Influencers: earrings as a wearable, shareable platform for your treasures

In the realm of social media, we are what we portray to others – sharing ourselves – who we are – with our family, friends and followers.  For all of its screen-overdosing issues, when we are in a good flow, our projected outward appearance, or persona, can empower inner world expression.  It is fairly poetic really – the arc and story of our lives playing out in the social arena in ways we have never seen before.

When I sat recently in a trend update meeting, the trend that caught my attention was “above the shoulder” accessorizing… namely, the uptick in hair and ear accessories in the market.  The reason for the surge?  Instagram. Selfies. Self-influence in social media. And of course most of this happens around the face. So … we were inspired, and had an idea for an earring.I thought: what can you say with an earring? And then: you can say whatever you want, as long as you have the way and the ingredients.  Enter, The Influencers.  A concept that can transform any jewelry elements, or other clip-able jewelry, objects and treasures you may have, into earrings.Personalization. Play. Creativity.  Giving new life to what you already own, and a canvas for new styles. Find The Influencers here: https://www.waxingpoetic.com/influencer-earringsThe whole game of accessorizing to me, is to make ourselves feel like we are wearing what we need – be it sparkle, totems, touchstones – so many little pieces that carry meaning, waiting to be curated and brought center stage and talked about and shared.

These earrings could have been called Tabula Rasa – “blank slate”- because having these feels like having a blank notebook or canvas to start working with (and equally as lovely on their own, which is the beginning of the story). But we chose the name Influencers to not only reflect the Insta-culture that inspired them, but also to remind us that we are all influencers in our own right and realms.

As Instagram, and other social media platforms like YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook encourage us to become more of ourselves with every visual we post, we hope these earrings provide a tangible, wearable platform for the same.

Use our hashtag #poeticinfluencer to join in the conversation and for a chance to be featured in our gallery.

Have fun, and use your influence well!

Xo Patti

See more Influencers in action in our new Fall/Winter 2019: Catalog:https://www.waxingpoetic.com/wp-digital-catalog And for more information:

https://www.waxingpoetic.com/press/

FIRST DAY OF FALL 2018

Some call it Autumn, some call it Fall, our Celebrate the Autumn Equinox this September 23rd!We love the first day of Fall.

From

We are unabashedly in love with Autumn/Fall. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s the only season with two names. Maybe it’s the light (ok, in some cases and places it’s very definitely the light -- those of you in states and climates where you get technicolor tree leaves, we in California are envious and maybe be coming soon for a visit, so maybe get some cider ready and we’ll bring tacos to trade?), maybe it’s the wind (nothing feels quite like a brisk Autumn gale), maybe it’s the essential duality in the season itself -- the first day of Fall, also known as the Autumn Equinox, has a kind of duality built into its name. Equinox quite literally the time of year (there are two) when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are of precisely equal length, for one precious 24 hour period. It’s no wonder that people have been celebrating the Autumn Equinox with feasts, festivals, harvest celebrations, family gatherings, and collective gratitude for millenia, it’s decidedly kind of magical.

In a way, Fall feels fuller than any other season. Maybe even all seasons combined --- maybe because in a sense, it IS the most interconnected season, a sensory feast combining the physical bounty owed to Spring and Summer (yum: fruits, veggies, squashes, grains, any and all harvestable things) and our collective gathering of warmth, light, attention and care needed to face the Winter (yes, even the cold California winter, where we break out our cashmere sweaters or burrow our normally sandal-clad feet in Uggs... for 58 degree evenings).

Fall is a season to gather and preserve, harvest and store, relish and celebrate all the bounty of the previous seasons, and also, to harvest and store light -- whether it’s through outdoor sensory experience (making time to take walks in that rapturous, gilded light that only exists between late September and mid November --matched only by the leaves that echo the same tones), taking as many #nofilter Instagram-worthy pix of your favorite Autumn activities (apple picking, harvesting the last of your summer garden, taking your littles to the pumpkin patch, making pies, raking piles of dive-worthy leaves, taking up heirloom practices like making jams or jellies, and so many more), or metaphoric light -- the light we create in relationships -- via friendships, family ties, newly discovered kindred spirits, and communities of fun and faith. We only have a few short weeks before winter -- an equally magical time to be sure, but before we bundle up and head full-tilt towards hygge practices, let’s make and keep some Autumnal magic of our own. We suggest…

• Throwing a feast. Sure, of course there’s Thanksgiving and we LOVE Thanksgiving, but historically Autumn is a time for harvest and gathering -- what better way to celebrate it on a more intimate/informal scale than a Gathered Gathering AKA Pot Luck. Pick a date, choose to serve one or two things that you either have (or will amass) in abundance, and invite your guests to bring something to share. Not a gardener/cook? Make stovetop cider -- cinnamon for all and spiked for some is a good call. Had a bumper crop in the backyard and are afraid of impending rot? Not anymore! Run with whatever veggie overdid itself in your garden...lots of zucchini/yellow squash/tomatoes? Ratatouille is delicious and easy to make and nearly everyone enjoys it. Have nothing physical to harvest? Provide the venue. Give ample hugs.
• Make playlists. Share something heartfelt. A feast isn’t limited to food.
• Dedicate a day -- any day in the season -- to celebrating nature, honoring the earth, and giving back to it. This might mean going on a meditative walk in the woods, or it might mean volunteering to clean up the bonfire area at your favorite beach (where summer revelers might have been a little lax in their care for the earth).

Fall is a season of shifting, gathering, glowing, and going forward: gather the good, share your heart, and get cozy. We love you!

#iampoetic - Featured Friend Hannah

 FEATURED FRIENDS OF WAXING POETIC

 HANNAH CHILDS SHINES HER BEAUTIFUL LIGHT

Hi! I'm Hannah. I'm a 27 year old fashion designer in Santa Barbara with my own equestrian accessories and clothing line called Style Stock. I started riding horses when I was five years old, and have had my horse (Harry Potter) since I was 12. I took to art and design as a child, but decided I wanted to be a fashion designer with an equestrian line at age 16 when I saw Project Runway for the first time. I'm inspired by classic, feminine, and timeless designs. I started Style Stock as a creative outlet and hobby while I was designing for UGG, and decided to pursue it full time 2 1/2 years ago. I am currently renovating a fixer upper in SB with my fiancé, who I will be marrying this fall in Tuscany, Italy. In my free time, I'm most often outside and active, whether it be riding, running at the beach, or doing yoga, or doing something creative like drawing, sewing, or designing new projects for our house.

I first heard about Waxing Poetic when I was 16 when my mom told Patti that I wanted to be a fashion designer. She hired me to work a few days each week after school to get my feet wet in the business. I did everything from helping as her design assistant, to customer service, order processing, and even went to a trade show in New York. Working for Patti for three years and seeing how brilliant of a designer and business woman she is, confirmed my dreams of having my own design company. WP served as an amazing foundation for me to follow my dreams as an entrepreneur, and Patti continues to be a close friend and incredible mentor to me.

On dreaming big and changing the world
My dream is to build a brand that inspires women to be strong, independent, bold, passionate, and original and to create style that makes them feel naturally beautiful. I hope that as women we can lift each other up and support each other's dreams, struggles and accomplishments. I believe that when we are kind, encouraging and genuinely excited for one another's successes, we can change the world.

What matters most?
 Living a life that is filled with passion and purpose. For me that means having a career that not only inspires me, but brings beauty, confidence and expression to others. It means spending quality time with my family and closest friends. It means doing things I love; that fuel, ground, and excite me.
And being “poetic?”
Being poetic means leading with love, being authentic to myself in speech and actions, and sharing that with the world.

We love guiding principles.  What is yours?

"Shine your beautiful light

To raise the vibration of consciousness

And come at everything from a place of love

So we may celebrate together the oneness of all for peace in our sacred world"

Favorite Waxing Poetic pieces? I love my "In Time" pendant. It is a symbol for me to follow my heart, but to also be patient and let the universe guide me in the direction of my dreams. I love the roman numerals on the front, signifying the time on a clock, and the script writing on the back. I recently wore it on my first solo international trip to Europe. In moments of solitude, temporary loneliness or unsureness it served as a reminder that I am right where I am supposed to be. My other favorite piece is the "Be the Light" pendant (I wear it on the Breidon Charm Choker so the pendant sits right at my heart ). I love it because it signifies leading with light, kindness, and compassion. I love the image of the sunburst in mixed metals with the black Kristal- it really is a showstopper! I have a bit of an affinity for the sun (I have a sunburst tattooed on my wrist) so when I saw this piece I immediately knew I needed to wear it.

I've found that Waxing Poetic customers are a devoted bunch. When people see me wearing the jewelry they are excited and most often enthusiastic to share the story of how they picked their own pieces and their experience with WP. 
There is such meaning and intention behind the designs. The pieces all signify different parts of our lives and serve as amulets for people to wear, give and cherish. I love that they are carved by hand out of wax, and cast in the different metals. WP is one of my favorite things to gift because whether it is serving as a celebration, memento, life milestone, totem or amulet for guidance, I can find something for anyone.

#iampoetic - Featured Friend Maggie

 FEATURED FRIENDS OF WAXING POETIC

MAGGIE DAVIS: VALUING RELATIONSHIPS

I am a loving wife & mother (I love being a mom!), loyal friend, reflexologist, optimist, caring, generous, easy going, a healthy sense of humor, active, love food and travel, hiking, books and film.

What Matters Most to you?
I value human relationships. And I dream of a world where everyone realizes we are in this together and acts accordingly (for the greater good). I love my family and friends, my community.  I am lucky to call my family friends as well!

And your relationship with your daughter, Morgan?

The minute she was born, loved oozed out of all my pores and now that she is an adult it still does, along with respect and admiration.What does being poetic mean to you?
It embodies artistic expression of the everyday and usually makes me feel good.

We know you love a good quote – can you share your favorite?
Right now I'm focusing on “Be Kind.” I also appreciate “When you are going through hell, keep going” - Winston Churchill

On giving back?
I regularly donate to Direct Relief and Vitamin Angels. They are both amazing charities where most of my donation goes to help those in need.

We can tell your Waxing Poetic charm necklace is meaningful to you!

I bought it while shopping in Los Olivos with my best friend -  we each bought a necklace for ourselves and a charm for it for each other.

I now have several WP charms on my necklace and they represent my family including my cat!  The combination of metals in one piece is so unique, and I love the quality handmade look of each piece.  People enjoy my necklace and like to hear about what each charm represents.

I have owned and worn Waxing Poetic jewelry since I bought it and I still like it and it still looks great!

Create Your Own Meaningful Necklace

INSIGNIAS

CAMP CHARMS

#iampoetic - Featured Friend Laurie

 FEATURED FRIENDS OF WAXING POETIC

LAURIE DEAN AND THE PRACTICE OF LOVE

I am very passionate about exploring and practicing the timeless teachings of the Buddha. This practice brings me a sense of wonder and allows me to shift from powerlessness to joy and freedom.

On what it means to be poetic

Living life fully expressed in movement, flow, grace, and playfulness.We love this quote you shared:

“Find that which is fearless in you, that which is all-powerful, that which is good and trust it. For that is what your truly are.”   - 16^th century monk

You are involved in our local community – how do you stay connected?

One of my favorite communities that I support is a local meditation center – Bodhi Path Santa Barbara. It is a diverse body of practitioners of all ages and levels of practice. The heart of this community is palpable and easily accessible, and the teachings are nourishing with insights and tools for everyday practice.

What Laurie is wearing

Break Boundaries

Break boundaries with our new floaty Periphery Cuffs and Rings

What happens when you examine space? You somehow find the periphery or boundaries. Here parallel lines are cast in a hammered sterling silver and highlighted with enchanting Labradorite, mystical Moonstone, or darkly alluring Black Onyx. Reminiscent of the aesthetics of 20th century Modernism, this collection will create a history all your own.

Shop the Periphery Collection Here.