Ring Resizing 101

Picking out or being gifted a new ring is very exciting for jewelry lovers, whether it’s an engagement ring, a wedding band, a cocktail ring, or your grandmother’s heirloom ring, there’s such anticipation as you slip that new ring on your finger. But what if it doesn’t fit perfectly? If it’s a little too loose and keeps sliding around or it’s too tight to even go over your knuckle. We know that this can feel pretty devastating at the moment, but it’s not a problem without a solution. That’s where resizing comes in, and it’s not quite as complicated in most situations as it may seem. It’s normal to have some questions when dropping off your ring at a jeweler for resizing and we want to review those today. Let’s talk about how rings get resized, how we protect your stones and the integrity of the design, and what you should expect during the process. Hopefully by the end of this, you feel much more informed and comfortable in case your ring ever needs to be resized. 

Why Resize Your Ring?

Even if your finger was measured before the ring was purchased, it’s not uncommon to have your ring not fit perfectly. Ring sizers don’t come in all widths and variables, and the more custom your ring (width, design, etc), the more complicated it will be to perfect the size. In addition, everyone’s body changes over time and throughout the seasons. 

If you have lost or gained weight recently, your fingers could change size slightly and this may make it necessary to adjust your ring to properly fit. Your ring may fit you differently in the Winter than in the Summer due to differences in temperature and how the body can react to humidity. Even eating too many salty foods can make fingers swell and cause your ring to feel a little too tight. If you feel subtle changes during the seasons, it’s not necessary to have your ring resized unless it’s incredibly uncomfortable or in danger of falling off. But if it’s an issue you notice all year round, then you should definitely consider resizing it. 

As we age, our knuckles can change size as well, making it difficult to get the ring over the knuckle. It may be necessary to adjust the ring size for comfort in this case as well. One last situation would be if you were given a ring from a friend or family member that was previously worn by someone else with a different finger size. In this situation, you would definitely want to get the ring properly sized for your hand to keep it safe. 

How Jewelers Resize a Ring

Depending on the type of ring and how much smaller or larger it needs to be, there are different methods for resizing a ring.

Making a Ring Smaller

In order to make a ring smaller, the jeweler will usually make a cut in the band and remove a small section of metal and then solder them back together. They will then polish that area so there is no visible line where the sizing took place. Another choice to make the ring smaller is to add sizing beads, which are small balls of metal that are soldered on the inside of the band so the ring fits tighter on your finger without the need to cut the ring. Sizing beads are easy to remove as well if you find yourself no longer needing them later. There is also a spring insert, which is a small piece of flexible metal that is inside the band and hugs tighter to your finger so the ring doesn’t feel as loose. 

Making a Ring Larger

Making a ring larger is a different process that can be done a few different ways. If the ring only needs to go up slightly and there isn’t concern about loosening stones, the band can be stretched. This is most often done with men’s wedding bands. But doing this does make the band slightly thinner, so if it needs to go up in size quite a bit, this is not a good method. In that case, the jeweler will cut the band and solder in an additional piece of metal, then polish it so you can’t see the seam. 

How Much Can a Ring Size Be Changed?

In general, a ring can go up or down about 2 - 2.5 sizes. Going beyond that could cause structural issues with the ring because the shape may change too drastically to keep the design intact and the stones safe. This obviously depends upon the type of ring, since a plain metal band can be sized a bit outside of these guidelines, while an eternity band really shouldn’t be sized at all. 

Rings That Can’t Be Resized

Some types of rings or materials cannot be sized, so it’s something to think about before making your ring purchase. While eternity bands are absolutely beautiful with diamonds or gemstones set all the way around, they are very complicated to size because the stones can become loose and it’s nearly impossible to get the size perfect by removing or adding stones. There’s nowhere with plain metal the jeweler can cut to add or remove material, so we would avoid trying to resize an eternity band. Tension settings can also be dangerous to resize because it puts pressure on your stone and can also cause the stone to become loose. Rings with filigree or very ornate patterns should avoid resizing unless you have a jeweler that you are certain can replicate this design by hand perfectly. Alternative metal rings also cannot be resized, but many companies that sell alternative metal wedding bands offer a service where you can swap out sizes if necessary, but it’s a good idea to ask about this before purchasing. 

How Much Does Resizing Cost?

The cost of resizing depends on several things including if the ring is going up or down in size, as the addition of metal will add to the cost. It also depends upon the type of metal because platinum and palladium are more difficult to work with than gold, so it may take longer. It also depends upon the design of the ring, as a plain metal band should be a fairly straightforward and quick sizing, whereas a ring with a lot of stones and intricate design will take longer because the jeweler will need to check and tighten all of the stones and possibly match the pattern. Because of this, resizing can really run anywhere from $150 - $400 depending upon your jeweler and how complicated the resizing is. Any reputable jeweler should be able to provide you with a price estimate prior to starting the resizing process by just examining your ring and properly sizing your finger.

Final Thoughts

The thought of someone cutting or stretching your ring can sound a little bit scary, but now that you know more details about the process and how common it is, you should feel better if the need arises. Whether your ring feels a little too tight or too loose, the adjustment can be made within about 2 sizes up or down without the change being visible, and while keeping your diamonds and gemstones safe. As with all jewelry needs, make sure you work with a trusted jeweler who has good reviews or is recommended by someone you know well.