Some like fig somewhat firm some like very ripe we are all different.

Many will get hangmans neck ie it will droop down, some but not all types also have some cracking of the skin.

Try them as they ripen to see if you like firm fig, soft fig, wrinkly skin fig etc

In some climates they will dry on tree.

Martin

They are usually ripe when they droop and are soft. Sometimes if you wait till they wither, they aren't as good. You can pick at the first sign of a droop and a little soft and thread those on soaked rosemary limbs, drizzle with oil and grill em. Delish!

I like them really droopy and soft, but for instance some dammn critter broke 3 branches last night full of figs. I harvested the softest ones and those will be grilled tonight. ^&U*&Y^%$!!!!

Cooper example of 2 different cultivars dead ripe -hangmans neck (drooping).

First picture you can what is called bloom on the skin toward right side of fig similar to what happens on grape. Some figs get a type of sticky syrup that seals eye and helps stop rain from penetrating into fig and splitting it and spoiling- look towards very bottom of the fig pictured below.

Martin

That is a delicious looking fig.

I like that description about neck like a hanged man, the shirt open at the collar like a thief , and torn like a beggar.

Found this while looking for it;

How to know when a fig is ripe

I think this is it;

Q. How can I tell my figs are ripe?
A. There is an old Spanish proverb: A fig is ripe when it has a hangman's neck (droops), a mourner's eye (oozes honeydew from the eye) and a penitent's robe (skin tears). In practice, a drooping fig is a ripe fig.