Lynn Levenberg: Tibetan Women's Jewelry
Tibetan Women’s Jewelry describes the cultural history of Central Tibet told through traditional jewelry and trade from the 17th century of the 5th Dalai Lama through the 14th Dalai Lama’s 1959 exile to India. This art book presents ten distinctive styles of women’s relic boxes (Gaus), plus headdresses, ear pendants, shoulder chatelaines, and waist ornaments. The author’s fascinating interviews with the last living Lhasa noblewomen and master goldsmiths reveal original names and how and when these beautiful treasures were worn.
This innovative study establishes for the first time that jewelry styles changed with each Dalai Lama, setting an important dating precedent for all Tibetan collectibles. Meticulous research makes this the definitive scholarly publication on Tibetan jewelry.
Bracelets, bangles, bangles, necklaces
| age | Wrist circumference |
|
Newborn |
9 - 12 cm |
|
6 months - 3 years |
12 - 14 cm |
|
4 - 10 years |
14 - 15 cm |
|
Teenager, ladies (XS) |
15 - 16 cm |
|
Ladies (M) |
16 - 17 cm |
|
Ladies (XL) |
18 - 19 cm |
|
Men (M) |
18 - 20 cm |
|
Men (XL) |
21 - 22 cm |
The length of the bracelet may be 1 cm to 3 cm longer than the measured wrist circumference, depending on your taste.
Finger rings
Ring size conversion table
| EU / CH | US size | UK size | Inner diameter (mm) | Inner circumference (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 4.5 | I | 15.3 | 48.0 |
| 49 | 5 | J | 15.6 | 49.0 |
| 50 | 5.5 | J½ | 15.9 | 50.0 |
| 51 | 6 | K | 16.2 | 51.0 |
| 52 | 6.5 | L | 16.6 | 52.0 |
| 53 | 7 | M | 16.9 | 53.0 |
| 54 | 7.5 | N | 17.2 | 54.0 |
| 55 | 8 | O | 17.5 | 55.0 |
| 56 | 8.5 | P | 17.8 | 56.0 |
| 57 | 9 | P½ | 18.2 | 57.0 |
| 58 | 9.5 | Q | 18.5 | 58.0 |
| 59 | 10 | R | 18.9 | 59.0 |
| 60 | 10.5 | S | 19.2 | 60.0 |
| 61 | 11 | S½ | 19.6 | 61.0 |
| 62 | 11.5 | T | 19.8 | 62.0 |
| 63 | 12 | U | 20.3 | 63.0 |
| 64 | 12.5 | V | 20.6 | 64.0 |
| 65 | 13 | W | 20.9 | 65.0 |
| 66 | 13.5 | X | 21.3 | 66.0 |
| 67 | 14 | Y | 21.6 | 67.0 |
| 68 | 14.5 | Z | 21.8 | 68.0 |
| 69 | 15 | Z+1 | 22.1 | 69.0 |
| 70 | 15.5 | Z+2 | 22.5 | 70.0 |
Size categories:
Women:
- Very small: 48-50 (children/very petite)
- Small: 51-53 (petite hands)
- Standard: 54-56 ← most common sizes
- Large: 57-59 (strong hands)
- Very large: 60-62
Men:
- Small: 57-59 (narrow hands)
- Standard: 60-63 ← most common sizes
- Large: 64-66 (strong hands)
- Very large: 67-70 (very strong hands)
Brief instructions for measuring ring size:
- Take a ring that fits well.
- Place it on a ruler and measure the inside diameter (from one inner edge to the other).
- Compare the diameter with the table to determine the ring size.
- Take a thin strip of paper or thread.
- Wrap it around the part of the finger where you want the ring to sit (not too tight).
- Mark the point where the ends meet.
- Measure the length of the strip in millimeters. This is the inner circumference.
- Find the right size in the table.
- Measure the finger size in the evening, as fingers swell slightly during the day.
- If you are between two sizes, choose the larger size.
- Make sure that the ring fits over the knuckle.
