Brazilian and Latin American Ring Sizes

Brazil uses its own numeric ring scale, closely related to the ISO circumference but offset, and it is easy to convert once you know the rule.

The Brazilian scale

Brazilian ring sizes are approximately the inside circumference in millimetres minus 39. A Brazilian 15 corresponds to a 54 mm circumference, which is a US 7 and a UK N½. The scale runs from about 8 for small children's rings up to 30 for very large adult sizes.

Reference points:

• BR 11 ≈ 50 mm ≈ US 5¼ ≈ UK K½
• BR 15 ≈ 54 mm ≈ US 7 ≈ UK N½
• BR 19 ≈ 58 mm ≈ US 8½ ≈ UK Q½
• BR 23 ≈ 62 mm ≈ US 10 ≈ UK T½

Mexico and Argentina

Mexican jewellers often use the US numeric scale, especially near the border and in tourist markets, but domestic manufacturers may use a millimetre-based system. Argentina and Chile commonly use the ISO circumference. In all three, the reliable question is the same: what is the inside diameter in millimetres.

Why the offset causes confusion

A Brazilian 15 and a US 15 are nowhere near each other — the US 15 would be an enormous ring. Because both are plain numbers with no letter or unit, a listing that does not state the country of origin is genuinely ambiguous. Look for the seller's location and, if in doubt, ask.

Practical advice

• Convert your size to millimetres first and treat that as the master value.
• When ordering from a Brazilian seller, quote both the Brazilian number and the millimetre circumference.
• Check band width and whether the ring is resizable; import returns across continents are slow and costly.

Local hallmarks

Brazilian gold is commonly 18ct, marked 750, which is softer and richer in colour than the 9ct and 14ct more common in the UK and US. Softer gold resizes easily but scratches more readily, so a slightly thicker shank is worth choosing for daily wear.

Enter your known size into the converter to read the Brazilian equivalent alongside the millimetre measurement before you order.