Curious about how your jeweler adjusts the size of your rings? Great! You’ve come to the right spot. In this informative guide, you’ll discover:
- How to determine your ring size
- The typical cost of resizing a ring
- Whether all rings can be resized or not
Discovering Your Ring Size
The average ring size in most jewelry stores is typically between 6.75 and 7 for online engagement rings and wedding bands. However, based on my experience at Kay’s, a majority of my customers didn’t fit this size. I would say that the average ring size is closer to a 6.
Knowing your finger size is crucial when buying a wedding ring since resizing should ideally be limited to a maximum increase of 2 sizes.
There are a few ways to find out your ring size.
The first option is to visit a local jewelry store. While I’m not certain about the preferences of family-owned jewelers regarding ring size checks, many people go to Kay Jewelers or Zales for sizing.
If you prefer the convenience of staying at home, our friends at Blue Nile have a solution. They offer a downloadable and free printable ring sizer. Alternatively, they have a mailing option available for those who prefer a physical sizer.
You can receive a free plastic ring sizer delivered to your mailbox. If you’re in a rush, they also provide expedited shipping for $15. I even had one sent to me to test it out!
How An Engagement Ring Should Fit
Did you know that finding the right size for your ring can be quite a challenge? While you may have a preferred method for measuring your ring size, many people are uncertain about how a ring should actually fit on their finger.
Here’s a simple way to think about it…
When you slide the ring onto your finger, it should go on smoothly without too much effort. However, when you try to take it off, it should require a slight tug and twist to come off. If the ring goes over your knuckle easily but feels a bit stuck when you attempt to remove it, then chances are it’s a good fit for you.
Sometimes, though not very often, people find themselves in between sizes, causing their rings to spin around their finger. This is more likely to happen with heavier rings, such as those with a channel set cathedral design. The weight of the setting can cause the ring to turn sideways or even fall off.
Luckily, there are solutions available to address this issue. One of our favorite online retailers for lab-grown diamonds, Clean Origin, offers the Perfect Fit Collection of engagement rings. These rings have shanks that are specially shaped to fit snugly on the sides, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit.
So, whether you’re searching for the perfect engagement ring or any other type of ring, remember that finding the right size is important for both comfort and peace of mind. And if you’re concerned about a ring spinning or slipping off, exploring options like Clean Origin’s Perfect Fit collection can provide you with a stylish and secure solution.
How Rings Are Sized
There are many ways to resize a ring depending on its style and materials. A bench jeweler considers these factors to choose the appropriate method.
Let’s take an example:
If you have a diamond ring, resizing it may involve using a jeweler’s torch. However, this method is not suitable for rings with gemstones that may be sensitive to heat, such as those treated to enhance their colors. In such cases, the jeweler would need to remove the stone before resizing the ring.
Sizing Up a Ring
In most cases, when you want to make a ring larger, the jeweler will remove the extra metal. To accomplish this, the jeweler will use a special metal called solder, which has a lower melting point than the main metal of the ring.
To join the two cut ends of the ring together, the jeweler will keep a small piece of metal. This piece acts as a bridge between the two ends, and the jeweler will melt it using a jeweler’s torch to solder the ends together.
Sizing Down a Ring
Reducing the size of a ring is usually easier than increasing its size. When it comes to making a ring larger, the specific resizing process depends on how much the ring needs to be expanded (up to a maximum of two sizes).
If you only need the ring to be half a size bigger, it’s often more practical to stretch the ring instead of cutting it and adding more metal. However, for increases of 1-2 sizes, the resizing process is similar to making the ring smaller. The jeweler will add metal and fuse the ends together using solder.
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Once the resizing is complete, the rings undergo a cleaning and polishing process. In the case of white gold, a jeweler will use a liquid metal called rhodium to maintain its silvery color. It’s important to note that rhodium plating is temporary, so white gold jewelry needs to be re-plated approximately every year. On the other hand, yellow gold and rose gold do not require rhodium plating.
How Expensive Is It to Change the Size of a Ring?
Wedding rings come in a wide range of prices, and the concept of affordability can vary from person to person. The price of a wedding band is not the only factor to consider when determining its value.
Besides the price, the duration of wear is also important. Many individuals plan to wear their wedding bands throughout the day, every day. However, there are some people who can’t wear their rings to work due to their job requirements.
For those individuals, spending $500 on a ring may seem expensive since they would only wear it for a short period each day.
On the other hand, someone who wears their wedding band every day might consider $500 a great deal. Over the years, they would get their money’s worth from wearing it regularly.
Is it Possible to Resize Every Ring?
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Not all rings can be made bigger or smaller. Some metals like tungsten, titanium, stainless steel, cobalt, and other hard metals cannot be resized. Therefore, if you opt for a pair of cobalt chrome wedding band, make sure it fits well. Otherwise, you will need to get a completely new one if you want a different size. The same goes for rings with diamonds or gemstones set in these metals.
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However, rings made of gold, sterling silver, and platinum can be resized. But keep in mind that not all ring styles can be resized. Eternity rings, carved bands, multi-toned gold bands, and textured wedding bands are examples of rings that cannot be resized.
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If your wedding band has intricate designs or gemstones all around it, most places that offer free resizing won’t be able to help you. Only a few will replace the entire ring, and usually, this is only within the company’s return policy.
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The style of your metal can also affect resizing. If your ring has special carvings or details commonly found in vintage ring settings, jewelers won’t be able to recreate the same design when resizing. However, if there’s an engraving on the inside of the ring, jewelers can redo it without any problems.
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RECOMMENDED: Blue Nile Ring Resizing
Temporary Ring Resizing
If your ring is slightly loose and you don’t want to permanently resize it, there are alternative options available that don’t involve anything tacky like tape.
To determine whether you need a permanent or temporary solution, consider a few factors. Was the ring originally a perfect fit? Is it suddenly spinning or feeling a bit tight?
One common reason for changes in ring size is related to weather. During cold winter months, some people’s fingers may shrink, while in the summer heat, fingers can swell.
It’s important to note that ring resizing is not ideal for the long-term health of your ring. Stores like Kay and Zales may offer lifetime resizing, claiming you can change the size as much as you want. However, it’s best to avoid frequent resizing.
The truth is, each resizing weakens the metal of the ring. Precious metals are still natural materials and not indestructible. That’s why many people end up with broken ring shanks. If a ring is repeatedly resized in the same spot, it will eventually break or become unrepairable. This same principle applies to gold chain necklaces that are repeatedly soldered in the same area.
Whenever possible, it is recommended to avoid resizing to maintain the long-term integrity of your engagement ring or wedding band.
Fortunately, jewelers can offer temporary solutions to resize your ring upward, allowing for a better fit.
Sizing Beads
Jewelers can easily add sizing beads to your ring, which is a simple and effective solution. These beads consist of two small metal beads that are soldered to the bottom of your ring shank. Sizing beads are perfect for those who want their ring to fit slightly tighter. If you no longer need them, the beads can be removed, and the ring will be restored to its original condition through buffing.
Spring Insert
A spring insert is a slim piece of metal shaped like a “U.” It goes underneath the ring’s base. When you slip the ring onto your finger, it stretches open like a spring. After it passes your knuckle, it contracts to fit your ring finger snugly. Interestingly, the spring insert is usually quite comfortable to wear.
Sizing Bar
A sizer bar, shaped like a “U,” is connected to the inner part of your ring band, right at the bottom. Sometimes it’s also known as a “fold over” tool. It has a hinge on one side and a latch on the other. Its purpose is to help you adjust the ring to a smaller size. To use it, you simply open the latch, slide it onto the ring, and then close it to tighten. Many people find these sizer bars comfortable to wear as well.