The Hows And Whys to Ring Resizing
Goldsmith downsizing a ring by sawing off a small section of the ring.
The necessity to resize your ring may arise due to a variety of reasons. For example, some people do it because of weight loss or weight gain when the band becomes too loose/tight.
Sometimes, people perform a resizing of their rings simply because they want to wear the ring on another finger.
Whatever the reasons are, one thing is certain: resizing is a very common procedure and can be done on most types of rings. However, as to every rule, there are exceptions too.
I recommend that you seek professional advice and always consult a jeweler (or maybe two, just to be on the safe side) if you really need to resize your ring.
The general rule of the thumb is, a ring can be modified up to a maximum of two sizes.
IMPORTANT: Read This First!
This ring is too small to fit comfortably on the finger.
Before you do anything rash with your current ring (especially for first time ring wearers), do you actually know how tight or loose a ring should be for it to be considered as correctly sized?
A ring which is properly adjusted to the size of your finger should feel a wee bit tight to you (while it actually is not). It should go on your finger easy and come off a bit harder, with a slight brush against your skin.
Getting used to the feeling takes a few days during which you will constantly feel and think that the ring is too tight for you. While patience is key, if your new ring still feels too tight or uncomfortable after a few days, you should consult your jeweler.
Do It Once, Do It Well.
Men, especially those who have never worn a ring before, will probably have a tougher time than others when they are buying jewelry.
One of the most common mistakes made by male shoppers is to buy an oversized ring. This not only increases the risk of a ring getting lost but also requires the trouble of undertaking a resizing job.
When it comes to jewelry shopping, I always advocate for doing it right the first time round. To save yourself from potential hassle, make sure you know the size of the ring to buy. If you have problems in determining the ring finger size of your recipient, you need to check out this article.
Also, I recommend buying your engagement ring from a reliable vendor like White Flash where they offer a 1 year free resizing period. In the event that you get the ring size wrong at the point of purchase, you can still get it corrected without additional costs.
Resizing Your Ring to a Smaller Size
Making a ring smaller is a fairly easy process compared to making it larger. When a ring is made smaller, the jeweler usually cuts out a small portion of the band, and joins the pieces back together again.
After restoring the circular shape, the ring is soldered back together and cleaned of any oxidation caused during the soldering. The ring is also given a polish to smoothen its surface. When the job is completed, there should be no indication or visible details that the ring had been resized.
Due to the intricate craftsmanship, it is almost impossible to rework a ring like this.
For simple ring designs with plain shanks or uniform bands, resizing is fairly easy. However, ornate rings or rings that carry a certain design around the entire length of the band are harder to work with. This is because the ornate design might have to be remade completely due to a change in ring size.
Increasing the Size of Your Ring
Depending on how much your ring needs to be sized up, there are generally two methods to do this. If it just needs to be modified slightly larger, stretching is the best option to achieve your desired modification.
The limit to this is that stretching can be done to a maximum of a half size larger depending on the material and design of the jewelry. Reworks to increase the ring by more than half a size requires the ring to be cut. Thereafter, additional pieces of metal are soldered into the gap.
This highly detailed ring from White Flash is resizable up to 1 size.
Increasing your ring’s size may pose a problem if your band has an ornate pattern around it as discussed above. If the ring has multiple stones (e.g. pave or channel settings) attached to it, it might be necessary to move the diamonds or gems around the band to balance the setting in order to keep its inherent beauty.
Regardless of whether you are enlarging or shrinking your ring, you should always check that the ring had been properly polished and that the ring’s surface is smoothed out evenly with no visual signs of soldering lines.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Ring Resized?
Well, it really depends on a number of factors.
Ring resizing often involve material costs (gold/platinum) and labor fees (depends on your ring’s intricacy and where you are based geographically). Based on the current gold prices, my estimate of a general ring resizing job should cost around $50 – $75.
Types of Designs Which You Should Not Or Cannot Have Reworks
Even though it may be hard to accept, there are certain rings which simply cannot be resized and those which should not be reworked. For example, eternity rings that have a continuous setting of gemstones around the band are very tough to be resized.
Any attempts to do so may damage the gemstones and also distort the original beauty of the ring. This is because resizing upsets the original continuity and balance of the ring when it was first custom created.
Brian Gavin’s beautiful eternity rings give consumers a strong incentive to stay in shape.
Also, titanium, tungsten and stainless steel rings are nearly impossible to resize due to their material properties. Likewise, non-metal bands such as wood, glass or quartz also cannot be modified and reshaped.
If you have a ring which has an invisible tension setting, altering the size of the band may upset the ring’s tensile strength. This can cause durability issues as well as misalignment of the center stone if the resizing is done incorrectly.
On the last note, it is advisable that you check out all the necessary details with your jeweler before you make a purchase. Upfront advice will help prevent headaches down the road and avoid unnecessary trouble should the need for ring modification arises.
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90 Comments
Hi, Paul –
Thank you for your very informative blog/ebooks! I was wondering if you had any information/advice for how to resize your ring to fit a larger stone? Is that easier than purchasing the size stone you want & waiting to fit it in a setting later?
Thanks!
It’s better to buy the loose diamond first and to fit it into a correctly made setting later.
I recently had several of my rings resized large. After cleaning them in an ultrasound ring cleaner with about 1/16 or less of bleach and a tiny drop of dish soap the bands show exactly where the rings were enlarged. When I picked them up from the goldsmith they looked perfect. Now there is no gold on the resized areas just a dull silver. Opinion please
.
The resizing material or post finishing process may not have been performed well. Bring your rings back to the jeweler and let them take a look at it.
I have my mother’s wedding set and before I can wear it I have to have it resized but before I take it anywhere I would kind of like to have and estimate on how much it’s gonna cost she had like a size 5 ring and I need it sized to a 7 so I can wear it so can you please give me a estimate price I’d be looking at thank you so much —— please let me know either way thanks again
I’ve edited your post to remove personal identifying details like your address. You can get a quote to change the size of your ring from a local jeweler near you. It’s a relatively easy job (in most cases) and shouldn’t cost much.
We had our 18k gold ring re sized. They said they added gold to it . Ever since the ring always losses its shape. Does this have anything to with it being resized incorrectly?
It could be due to poor soldering that might have affected the ring’s integrity.
I had my wedding ring and guard resized up 1/4 size, and they suggested soldering it together. Now the guard bands on the sides are not level nor is the under gallery flush, but it fits fine. Should it take it back or leave it alone ?
Take it back if you think the soldering job wasn’t done well. From what I think you are describing, it was a sloppy job.
I inherited my grandmothers ring and its 4 sizes larger than I need it. A jeweler told me that the ring was previously resized & because it is a platinum blend they would not be able to decrease its size. How can I get a platinum ring resized to a smaller band??
Without looking at the ring or having details, I would offer the following advice: bring it to another jeweler and get them to take a look at it.
Hello , I need to resize a half eternity diamond band from a size 7.5 to a 5. The jeweler told me that it can be done but that my ring would then be an oval shape rather than round. What exactly does this mean ? How would it look and would it affect the diamonds and durability of the ring? Thank-you
Eternity rings are extremely hard to resize because the diamond sizes and prongs are made to exact specifications and measurements. Any resizing will be done at the part of the shanks with no diamonds on it. I don’t have your jewelry piece in hand and can’t tell you why or how it may turn out. When in doubt, you should be asking the jeweler who is resizing the ring what the outcome will look like. If need be, get them to sketch or draw it out.
I want to buy a ring but it is way way to small… Is re-sizing even possible given this description?
My reply is, why bother to buy a ring that isn’t fitting well in the first place? Save yourself the headache and get one that’s correctly sized since this is a new purchase.
I have a coin filigree ring that’s 19.2k. want to resize up from 6.5 to 10.5 is this possible family heirloom
Well it depends on the filigree details. In general, I would say that it would not be possible to do so without changing its appearance.
Is it possible to have a ring made bigger if it is not made of a precious metal?
I don’t see why not and it still depends on many factors like those I listed above.
Hi I have recently my engagement ring resized to 2 sizes bigger and now it’s a size to big for me it’s a gold band with diamonds and stones if I get it resized again will this damage the gold band or diamonds
Thank you
Theoretically, if you can upsize it to be larger without affecting the sidestones and diamonds, it shouldn’t be an issue to downsize it. In reality, there could be issues. You should be talking and discussing this with the jeweler who did the job as they can further advice on a piece they worked on.
Hi Paul,
I’ve received a size X (UK Size) 18ct gold men’s signet ring with a blank face that is 13 mm x 16 mm. However, my finger is much smaller and the ring must be resized to size N (UK Size). I have been to told that it could be downsized or shrunk with the caveat that the face may bend.
How is a ring “shrunk”? And how drastically do you believe the face might bend?
Kind regards,
GB
Shrinking a ring or to make it smaller typically involves using a laser welding machine or via mechanical compression. How drastically the face might bend is actually subjective. What I may deem as significant may not be to you and vice versa.
I bought my wife a new ring it’s a 4.5 ring size but it’s kind of hard going over her finger knuckle, but when she gets it on it fits a little loose around her finger what suggestions do you have for me
You may want to consider the use of spring inserts in the ring. This will make the ring hold its place on the finger beyond the knuckle. See if your jeweler can perform this “upgrade” with your current setting.
I have a plain stainless steel (I think) ring with no stones. It is about 1 size too small. Is there any way I can stretch it or wear the inside down (it curves inwards on the inside of the band) so that it is a little looser? Or will I have to go the jeweller for this?
Stainless steel is notoriously hard to work with if you do not have the specialized equipment to do so. My advice is to get the ring to a jeweler or manufacturer and let them do the resizing for you. If all else fails, you may want to consider buying a chain and place the ring in it. You can then wear it around your neck like a pendant.
I am looking at purchasing a new ring which will require sizing.
a mens white gold band with white diamonds and black diamonds – from a size 10 down to an 8 1/4 – do they take gold “out” of the band to make it smaller? If so wouldn’t that ‘decrease’ the price of the ring since the weight of the ring will be less in the finished product?
Let me response by asking a question in return: why are you purchasing a NEW ring that requires resizing in the first place? If you are getting it “new”, get it at the correct size to begin with or get to jeweler to make a new one that fits.
Technically, removing gold to down size the band will result in lesser material in the ring. So, you are right in that regard. What you have not factored in is the man hours and labour required to perform this service. The removal of a little metal (in material cost) is not going to outweigh the cost of labour to do that.
I have a wedding band 14K, 6mm wide and with a diamond cut. It was shrinked for 2 sizes. When I picked up the ring it was rounded (no diamond cut) and the ingravement from the inside was barely visible. Is that normal? I wasn’t warned it will be that way after resizing and I was shocked when I was picking up the ring.
PS. The part of gold was cut out and about that I was aware of previously.
I am not sure what you mean. Are you saying that there was a previous engraving on the inner shanks and that it disappeared after the resizing? If it is what you mean, then the removal could be caused by the polishing of the ring after shrinking it down.
Hi again,
Yes, there was an engravement on the inside of the wedding band, a very good visible engravement. Now it is barely visible. Yes, it was polished there, but the surface of the inside of the band is not as shiny as it was before, more ‘foggy’ I would say and I can see the smudges. Sorry don’t know how to describe it. And the engravement is barely visible. Didn’t expect something like that could happen after resizing.
The other thing is that the ;diamond cut’ edges ( 45°) are no longer there, the edges are rounded now. Is that a normal thing after shrinking the band size?
This is something you would have to bring up to the person performing the job. If it wasn’t as shiny as before, it means they did do the job properly. For white gold, after polishing, it is customary for it to undergo a replating process with rhodium. As for the edges, it is likely sanded down during the touching up process. Unfortunately, I am not of good help here without seeing the piece.
The band is made from yellow gold, sorry for not mentioning this.
Thank you for all your replies.
They probably didn’t do a good job in the finishing to polish it up properly.
Greetings.. I have a 14MM wide artcarved ring that is 14K Yellow gold with diamonds aligning each outer side (almost looks like 3 bands) but the diamonds run along the top to mid finger on both sides of the ring. It’s currently a 9.5 but I would like it to be a 7 to fit myself. Do you believe it is possible?
It should be possible to downsize the ring. But don’t expect it to have no repercussion on the final appearance of the ring details.
Because of an enlarged knuckle I need to have my wedding ring cut off. Can it be repaired to wear on another finger?
All rings can be “repaired”. It’s a matter of how it would look like after the work is done. Much of this is dependent on how the ring was sawn off and the original design of the setting.
I recently was given a ring from a friend but it is a few sizes too big. The shank is very plain and meets a sort of swirling design in the front followed by an opal in the center of it. On the inside of the ring it is engraved with ‘925’ which i think means it is made from Sterling Silver. How much would it cost to resize? And could they given the metal? The ring is a 9, and needs to be resized down to a 6.5. I can link a photo if need be.
Bring it to your local jeweler and ask for a quote. Sterling silver is definitely resizable but details like jewelry design may impact the final outcome.
Morning, My friend and I would both like to have our engagement rings resized. We have heard stories about switching out the diamond if you’re not there. Can the ring be enlarged while we watch?
Depending on ring design and equipment on hand, it may not be possible to get the ring resizing done the same day you bring it in.
Read: https://beyond4cs.com/care-and-maintenance/how-to-avoid-diamond-switching/
If you don’t trust the jeweler, why are you even thinking of getting them to perform the work to re size the ring?
Hello,
I have resized a platinium ring, once size up. The initial weight was 5.5g but it’s now 4.6g. Is it normal? The jeweler said that it’s due to the resizing process. I thought that increasing the size would involve either to stretch (same weight) or to add more metal (after cutting the ring).
Thank you
Ask the jeweler what was done during the upsizing of the ring that caused the reduction in weight of the ring.
Thank you for your answer.
This is the explanation: “Because there would be consumption during the resizing process (we heat it up and craft). It is difficult to add back the platinum because the whole shape would be different. Therefore, we don’t suggest customers to resize very often, it would make the ring lighter and lighter”
It would make sense depending on the design of your ring. I would say that if it is a solitaire design, then the ring shouldn’t become lighter and lighter in weight.
About a year ago, I had my wedding ring (classic with 5 diamonds across set in platinum on a gold band) resized up about a size. There was no discussion of the method of resizing, they just measured me for my proper new size. I had not been able to wear the ring for some years. When I received the ring back and paid $90 I was shocked at how thin my ring was. I have never ever seen a ring so thin at the back (the palm side). However, I assumed that they must know what they were doing as they are so reputable and was delighted to get my ring back and wear it finally, so I did not complain. Here I am a year later and the ring started getting rougher and rougher at the bottom middle, finally upon inspection I saw it was starting to break and now it has actually broken completely at the thinnest part at the back or bottom middle (palm side). I am really disappointed. When I brought my ring to be sized up, I just assumed they would cut and add gold for it to fit me. I never thought they would just stretch it out to the point of being thin enough to break. This is a reputable local jeweler, although I have been reading complaints online lately. I called and let them know my problem and the owner himself called me back and was a bit annoyed, asking me why I did not complain at the time I picked it up. I told him I was not a complainer but had been shocked at the thinness of the ring, but assumed they had done a good job because of their reputation – afterall, I know little to nothing about resizing rings (except what I just read here) – they are the experts I trusted. I also was happy just to get my ring back wearable. He insists on a personal meeting with me, so I hope to resolve it. I am just sad and disappointed.
Carrie, these things do happen from time to time as consumers may not fully understand what happens to a ring during resizing. Look on the bright side; the jeweler wants to talk and I think they are trying to make things right. That’s a good sign to me rather than someone trying to absolve blame onto you. So, go to the meeting with an open mind and I think things will work out eventually.
I purchased a ring made to order. When it arrived the company made it an L1/2 instead of I1/2 which we originally ordered & paid for. When we asked for the ring to be remade we were advised they would resize it and have it back in a week – Ignoring our request to have it remade correctly. The ring has diamonds half way around each side with a setting on top. It has been 6 months, the band has stretched a considerable amount and a diamond fell out of the band. When i took it back to the shop they sent it off to the jeweler who completes the work. They have since emailed to advise there are now 3 diamonds missing and they can fix it “as best they can” They have also requested me to pay for the fixing of the ring.
Would the bend in the gold and missing diamonds/ loose diamonds have anything to do with the fact the company resized my ring from an L1/2 down to I1/2? Band is 18 carat white gold with round brilliant diamonds on the band.
I am so disappointed they would not remake the ring in the first place and now fear this can happen again
Well, this is the kind of things you get when doing business with people who don’t stand behind their product. Readers here don’t get nonsense like this with reliable vendors. Getting a refund outright from the start if you suspected workmanship issues should have been the right thing. Diamonds can fall out of their bands for all types of reasons and resizing could be one of them. Without seeing the ring in person, I can’t offer any constructive advice.
Hi there Paul :) My name is faye from the philippines have been seeing and reading all your comments & blog regarding with choosing the right wedding bands.
I and my fiancè is struggling what to get.
First, we need to work on a budget we’re both middle class and no huge amounts of money to buy expensive wedding bands. We’re going to have a civil wedding first then eventually church wedding.
Now, my question is…is it advisable to buy a one time wedding ring like platinum (expensive) instead of buying white gold for now and platinum eventually…pls we really need your advice and what are the “real” pros & cons of getting a platinum? I was told at the local jewelry shop that platinum is hard to resize compare to white gold…pls help- thank you in advance :)
My advice is to plan ahead and buy exactly what you want in the long term. Upgrading from one material to another material is really unnecessary it it complicates things. Your jeweler is feeding you bullshit. Platinum is not hard to resize. Aside from preventing allergic reactions and a denser weight, there are practically no other benefits of paying for a platinum wedding ring.
We recently had my wife’s wedding ring repaired. It has a 1.25 marquis and three smaller diamonds on either side in a channel setting. One of the diamonds had fallen out and some of the others were loose. When we picked up the repaired ring it would not fit over my wife’s knuckle? Now the jeweler wants us to pay to have it resized. We said we would wait a few days to see if it was simply a swollen finger. Should we be suspicious? Would a jeweler use 14kt white gold from a ring for resetting diamonds…
Theoretically speaking, repairing a fallen out diamond should have zero effect on sizing as they are completely separate issues. Examine the setting at the repair area to see if you can see anything out of the norm.
Hi Paul,
I recently bought an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I could not get her ring size after trying various tricks here and there without giving it away. It’s a white gold band with a few diamonds along both sides. I ended up guessing a size 6 but suspect it might be a tad too big. Question: Would resizing down to a 5-5.5 [if needed] be a major rework? The ring is beautiful and I’m scared that such a sizing would potentially distort the appearance. I know it may vary, but in your opinion is going from a 6 to 5.5 significant enough to worry about the potential side effects?
It’s hard to save without looking at the ring design. For some pave settings, resizing may pose some issue. If you are still in your refund period, get a complete refund and buy a new ring with the same design in the correct size. That’s the best course of action to take.
After a jeweler measured my finger, we agreed that 3.75 would be the right finger size. When the ring arrived, it was a little over 3.5. The jeweler thought that the ring sat well on my finger even though I thought it was tight. He told me to try it for a week and if I wasn’t happy with it, then he would resize.
The 3.75 rings don’t feel too tight. they sit well but can rotate on my finger. I am taking the opportunity to try this new size. My ring sits tight on my finger. It’s a little difficult to slide my ring in and out of my finger unless I play with it repeatedly. It does not rotate on its own but I can rotate it with my other hand when I try to remove it. I feel that it is tight but doable. I would like to get it resized but I am worried that they may not get the right size again. May be this time it will come back to loose. I am also worried about the integrity of the ring.
I am planning to take my ring to another jeweler and get their professional opinion but I would also like to hear what you have to say. Thanks!
It sounds like the size of 3.5 is right for you. Is this your first time wearing a ring? If it is, it may take some getting use to. You definitely don’t want a ring that is too loose and one that rotates easily because that problem is going to be worse than one that feels snug.
Paul, your website is awesome.
I had a pure silver ring, hand crafted by an artist, resized in a local jewler. The ring came back definitely lighter than it was. Did they steal my silver? Is that a thing? It was resized twice. Once for an increase of 0.5 and then for 1.0. Each time it was lighter and lighter. Now it weights just like a cheap titanium china skull ring. I don’t think they melted anything, they removed silver. Help?
The best thing to do is to ask what happened during the resizing the ring. If they had to touch up or rebuff the ring to restore its luster, the repolishing process actually removes material from the ring. And just to be clear, silver is not expensive. No jeweler in the right mind would want to steal a small amount of silver and jeopardize their reputation in doing so.
Found this page by googling. I just recently found my class ring and I believe previously I may have taken it to be sized up a tiny bit, but nothing dramatic. Now when I put it on, it’s much bigger and spins all the way around on my finger. Are class rings able to be sized down as well? I’ve never really had to size down a ring before, it’s all new to me.
Depending on the material it was made with and the design, resizing may be a breeze or result in complications. Your best bet is to bring it to a jeweler and get them to assess it.
When you say “The general rule of the thumb is, a ring can be modified up to a maximum of two sizes” do you mean US or UK sizing ?
I meant US sizing. Thanks for pointing that out!
Hi Paul! I am starting to get the feeling that the ring size I went with may be slightly smaller than her finger size. The center stone is far from cheap and scared that I may fall victim of a stone swap with a lower grade. Would you recommend asking for the stone to be taken out before hand or can they resize in front of me?
This article should alleviate concerns: https://beyond4cs.com/care-and-maintenance/how-to-avoid-diamond-switching/
Depending on the ring design and the manpower they have at the jeweler, it may or may not be possible to get the resizing performed in front of you. The thing is if you think a jeweler is going to be such a scumbag, getting the resizing performed in your face doesn’t change things. It only takes a simple sleight of hand to swap out things out if they had malicious intent. Taking out the stone first and putting it back again is a MUCH MUCH MUCH more riskier move. Not only do you risk chipping the diamond, it doesn’t resolve your problem. If you think a jeweler is going to swap out your stone (no matter how cheap or how expensive you think it is), the process of remounting the loose diamond requires them to handle the diamond.
Hi,
I found your article on sizing rings helpful
I am wondering if you can give me a little advice. I recently took a ring to my jeweler to have the “speed bumps” (little wedges previously put in to make it fit) removed. We confirmed that I am a size 7 and he ground out the bumps while I waited and confirmed it was a size 7 (the size that it was when purchased many years ago). I left it to be cleaned and polished- no additional adjustments and picked it up yesterday. I thought it felt a little big but my hands to fluctuate a bit (i.e. salt intake). By last night it was swimming on me. I had a different jeweler check it with a mandrel and it is almost 8 1/4. I am not sure how to handle this because the work is paid for and I don’t have the repair ticket, because the jeweler took it when I picked up the ring…Any idea on how I should handle this?
Getting the job to correct the size off by 1 ring size is quite a big error. Bring the ring back to the first jeweler who fixed it for you and get them to rectify it. If it was an honest mistake, then they should be willing to do the correction for free.
If a 1/4 inch wide channel diamond 18k ring was made bigger by a half size should it weigh more than before it was sized. What’s the process? Stretched or cut and more gold added?
Well, it depends on how the bench jeweler decides to work with your ring. Depending on design, detailing and even the current size of the ring, it could be either of the 3 scenarios you describe. The best person to get this answer from is the jeweler who is going to work on your ring.
Hi Paul – I have an heirloom Art Deco engagement ring (90% platinum 10% iridium). Center stone with two side baguettes in a raised setting. It was recently resized from a 7 to a 5 (7 was its original size). And then again from a 5 to a 4.5. After both resizings, the ring was no longer circular but rather irregularly shaped and wouldn’t slide down/hug a ring measuring stick. Upon picking it up, I also noticed that the lower shank was much thinner (measured less than 1 mm in thickness) than the original shank but the jeweler assured me it was fine. After a couple months of very minimal wear (office, dinner), I noticed the lower shank was bending inwards at the “corners,” almost forming a square-like shape at the lower shank. The only pressure I could think I was putting on it was simply taking it on and off. (Note, my wedding band, which is also platinum, is still perfectly circular, but does have a thicker shank (at least 1.4 mm)). I contacted the jeweler who insisted that platinum is very mailable and less durable than gold, and therefore prone to bending. They have indicated that even with a thicker shank, it’ll still be prone to bending. Is this normal for my type of ring? I’m worried that maybe they’re doing something incorrectly that’s weakening the ring and it’s overall integrity. Thanks in advance for your help!
If the resizing job wasn’t done in a satisfactory manner, you shouldn’t have accepted it. The out of round shape you are describing is not a sign of a proper rework. A 1.4mm thickness is NOT thick at all. In fact, I would classify it as being too thin for normal everyday wear. Metals require a certain thickness to provide enough strength to maintain its shape. At this point, I’m not even sure whether the bending of your shank is a result of metal thickness or sloppy workmanship or a combination of both. But that doesn’t matter anyway because the ring has deformed in its current state. Bring it back to the jeweler or change the jeweler for a resize job.
Hello. Can a stainless band with continuous diamonds and sapphires around it be stretched? 1/4 to 1/2 size increase would be fine.
Stainless steel rings are notoriously hard to resize because of their incredibly tough alloys and hardness. A jeweler must be equipped with the right equipment in order for them to perform any alterations. The other part of increasing the size of a ring is in the design details. If it is a flat, plain stainless steel ring, it would be more likely to work out compared to if it had intricate designs like carvings and motiffs.
After a ring is downsized by cutting a “small section” out – what happens to that “small section”? Thank you!
It gets soldered together and patched up to the correct ring size. Good jewelers will polish and buff the ring such that you cannot see any lines or reworked areas in the ring.
Hi. My husband has a thick band 14 ct white gold, 1 ct diamond band and needs to go from a 10.5 to a 13. I know rule of thumb is 2 sizes up but is it possibly to go up 2.5? Or is that still considered 3 sizes?
If it is a simple band without intricate details, I don’t see much issues for resizing although the more you deviate from 2 sizes, the more the final appearance may be affected. Bring it back to the jeweler you bought from and get them to advise you.
Hi Paul, I have a gorgeous solitaire engagment ring (platinum) that is a family heirloom from the 1920s. I recently got engaged and we used this ring! I messed up the sizing. the ring was originally 4.5 and i resized it to a 5. then i realized it was too big, so sized it back down to 4.5 (even though shouldve done a 4.75). our jeweler is AMAZING and he said it should be A OK to resize one last time to 4.75. He said the platinum was in good shape and it should be fine. but he also said you dont want to size a ring more than you have to, which freaked me out. I got the ring back and it finally fits perfectly (4.75) and looks exactly like it did when i first got it, you cannot tell it’s been sized 3 times. I just want reassurance that I didn’t damage my ring and its integrity bc i keep convincing myself I did. thank you!
Hello, Paul: I found your site very informative and hope that you can help me. I have a GORGEOUS CZ halo ring set in rhodium over sterling silver. The ring is a size 6, which was perfect when I bought it. However, due to my age and my osteo–/rheumatoid arthritis, I can barely get the ring over my knuckle without scraping the skin on my finger. Is it possible to “up-size” a “non-sizeable” ring from a size 6 to a size 8? To not be able to wear this ring will break my heart!
It is going to be difficult to work with rhodium plated sterling silver and I would expect the ring to look different even if a resize was performed. Take your ring back to the jeweler you bought it from and see if they can do anything about it. If this is something that was bought off the rack at a departmental store, then bring it to a jewelry store and see if they have the expertise to do the job for you.
Paul,
For my 30th anniversary I had my my wedding ring and engagement ring resized up 1.5 sizes. The jeweler charged me $550.00 because gold had to be added. Made sense. When I picked up my ring it was different. I believe he stretched my ring to resize it and did not add gold. Is there a way for me to confirm my suspicions. At this point they’re denying it but I know my ring. Its been part of me for 30 years.
Thanks for your time.
Weigh the ring. That should tell you whether something was added to it before and after the repair works. But the thing is, having more weight doesn’t mean gold was added if you already suspect your jeweler is not being honest. I will just say that most jewelers will not screw a customer over for a measly $550 dollars at the expense of their reputation. I’m not saying that it can’t happen but it’s a low probability.
my 21carat gold wedding ring is now too loose and has fallen off several times (I have lost weight). It has an inscription with initials and wedding date. The jeweller i have taken it to says that resizing it by several sizes will destroy the inscription – is this true? resizing charge would be £150.
my 21carat gold wedding ring is now too loose and sometimes falls off (I have lost weight). On the inside there is an inscription with our initials and wedding date. I have taken it to a jeweller who says resizing it (by several sizes) will destroy the inscription (which I want to avoid if possible) – is this true? the resizing would cost me £150. would it be better to accept the destruction and have the inscription re-engraved after the resizing?
That is true. If I am understanding you correctly, you are downsizing the ring by several sizes. The way that most jewelers do this is to cut out a small piece of metal from the shank and re-attach the shank together again in the correct size.
Because of this, you can imagine the shank being “bent” to the correct size and this either stretches or shrinks the inscription depending on how the resizing is done. There is quite a fair bit of hammering and filing that takes place in the process. Either way, the inscription would likely be affected.
And you need to bear in mind that the jeweler has to repolish/replate the ring so that it looks homogenous after reworking. This step may also affect the original inscription. The bottom line is, if you need to wear the ring at the correct size, you will need to accept that a new inscription will be re-engraved.
Hello, I have a 3 ring wedding set that is welded together. I had repairs done to it a few months ago. Now it is tighter on my finger and due to the Claddagh ring crown, it gets water trapped underneath and causes a rash. I just brought it to the jewelers and was told they would have to separate all 3 rings – Claddagh, solitaire diamond, and ring with 5 smaller diamonds. The sale rep check my file and it said that it was not sized when I brought it in for the repair nor was my finger sized. Now they want to charge me $432.00!
Would a ring stretcher work on this set? Or a slotted mandrel if I was careful? My brother in law has the tools.
If the rings are just a simple/solitaire design, getting it stretched on a slotted mandrel should work.