Ring Sizing 101
By: Jennifer Choi, Graduate Gemologist (GIA)
One of the most common repairs people have is getting their ring adjusted to fit. Most rings are manufactured in a “stock size.” The stock size for ladies is usually a size 6 and a 10 for men. Most people do not wear a “stock size.”
I equate it to buying jeans. Short, regular, tall size options can really make a difference. The fit of the jeans also comes into play.
Factors to Consider
Ring shank width. (A shank is the bottom half of the ring) A narrow ring shank will fit differently (smaller ring size) on your finger than a wide shank (substantially larger size). For example, I wear a size 3.5 on my ring finger for a thin shank, and a 6 on a wide band. This means that while your wife wears a size five for her engagement ring, it doesn’t mean she will wear the same size if you add a wide band to it. Take a moment to look at your fingers, palm side up, and you will see that the finger gets thicker towards the knuckle.
Design of the ring. A ring with a flat top, invisible set stones, or tiny side stones may not be able to stretch/shrink to fit you. A jeweler will be able tell you the limitations of the ring. An example: A size 9 channel set anniversary band cannot be sized down to a size 5. The angles of the metal that hold the diamonds is would change too much, causing the stones to fall out.
Two sizes is usually the max range of adjustment for rings with stones. Rings with squared off shanks are more difficult to size and will cost a bit more labor wise because the jeweler has to make two adjustments. (like taking a dress up in the sides instead of the back seam) A quality jeweler should be able to copy the milgrain (tiny beaded edge) or ridges/designs after the sizing is done.
Engraving. If your rings are engraved on the inside, remember to ask to have the ring re-engraved before you leave it with the jeweler for sizing. The re-engraving is usually additional, but it beats having a ring that reads, “Never t art.”
Ring Material. Some rings cannot be sized. Tungsten, stainless, and titanium rings come to mind. When people purchase these rings, they simply have to buy new ones if they gain/lose weight. Some tension set rings also should not be sized.
Plated rings (gold over silver has been made more popular by Macys, Kmart, and soaring gold prices) can be sized, but most jewelers will refuse them because the plating comes off with the heat of the jeweler’s torch. If you fall in love with a plated or costume ring, don’t despair… Buy it as close to your size as possible. A simple ring guard can be worn to make it more “wearable.”
“Temperamental” stones–expect to be charged more for the sizing. Shell, coral, cameos, pearls, opals, malachite, turquoise, tanzanite, and emeralds HAVE to be removed before any sizing with heat can happen. They have to be re-set after that, so this explains why it takes longer and costs a little more.
Platinum vs. White Gold. Platinum jewelry is like owning a Cadillac. I once had a broken bolt and spent $800 to replace the whole wheel. Platinum is more rare than white gold, making it and its “parts” more expensive. Without fail platinum jewelry is much more expensive to service and repair. Platinum scratches more and tends to “bend” instead of break. Platinum is denser and feel “heavier” when compared to a gold ring of the same size.
White gold is an alloy of white metals, like silver and nickel combined with pure yellow gold. This mixture is why white gold looks “yellowish white.” To overcome this, most manufacturers rhodium plate white gold. Rhodium is a member of the platinum family and gives white gold the “white-white” look of platinum. With exposure to chemicals (bleach), wear and tear, or perspiration, the rhodium plating can come off. It can be touched up by a jeweler.
Sizing Options A common ring sizing problem is “big knuckles, skinny fingers.” I see this one every day, and it effects people with arthritis the most. There are options for adding springy bars, gold beads (bishop bumps), and even hinged bands to the bottom of rings to make them more comfortable. These options vary greatly in price, so ask for your options at the repair counter. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
A common problem with the big knuckle crowd is: once the ring is over the knuckle, it flops around. In the past, we have installed a wider shank to counter balance the weight from the top of the ring. A ring guard is usually the least expensive option to solve this problem.
Sizing vs. Stretching Rings are adjusted to fit by stretching if they:
A. have enough metal in the shank to handle the adjustment without getting too thin
B. are being adjusted up to a half size. The metal is adjusted without adding extra metal to it.
Rings are sized when they are cut and either reduced or expanded. Jewelers reform the shank by heating it and melting liquid gold into the seam to re-seal it. If the ring is being expanded, the jeweler will add a piece of gold to the ring and melt the gold into both sides of the piece. This is the more expensive of the two options and more time consuming.
Need your ring size? We recommend getting it sized by a professional in person. The disposable ring gauges are somewhat accurate, but not foolproof. Another option is to bring in a ring that fits to get comparatively sized.
Your ring size may vary up to 3 ring sizes thru the course of the day. Factors involved: weather finger shrink in the cold and swell in the heat, diet (salty food can swell fingers), time of month (self explanatory, ladies), and time of day (I wake up with skinny fingers and go to bed with fat ones). If your ring doesn’t fit perfectly, you may want to wear it for a couple days to see how the fit fluctuates. Going from an ice cold office to the blazing heat outside can cause big changes.
Ring sizing is a complex repair. Many factors contribute to how the ring is sized, or if it CAN be sized. One indisputable fact: you will not wear a ring that doesn’t fit. Talk to your local jewelry repair technician about any further questions you may have. Keep in mind every ring is different, and don’t be afraid to take “impossible jobs” in for a second opinion.
Ring sizing is completed same day service at Rose Diamonds Custom Design & Repair on site in our “open bench” jewelry repair center. We have been sizing rings for commercial accounts as well as individuals for years, and welcome you to swing by with any questions, “impossible jobs,” or free jewelry cleaning.
Jennifer Choi is a GIA trained Graduate Gemologist who has owned businesses in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Miami, FL in addition to our flagship store in Springfield, MO. She teaches a “Intro to Jewelry and Gemology” Course and personally designs original custom jewelry pieces for clients across the country. For more information on Rose Diamonds Custom Design & Repair, please visit: https://rosediamonds.wordpress.com
Rose Diamonds Custom Jewelry Design & Repair-Springfield, MO 1374 E Republic Rd 
Nancy R said,
January 10, 2011 at 4:16 am
Long time ago I saw a ring that looked like an open rose and the dimond was set in the middle. Do you have a shank like that?
rosediamonds said,
January 10, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Yes. I have this model as well as a model for two flowers on the ring.
marie said,
May 11, 2011 at 3:01 pm
I have a silver ring that I want dipped in either platinum or white gold do you provied the dipping services?
Marie said,
May 11, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I have a silver ring that I want dipped in either platinum or white gold do you provide the dipping services or know were to go to get that done?
rosediamonds said,
May 12, 2011 at 10:39 am
Yes, we have plating services. Bring the ring in and we can discuss your options.
revolve clothing said,
August 18, 2011 at 11:09 am
As part of your blog, I see the real comments! Did not exist many junk articles and reviews…… Your blog being in love I reckon that that’s it! At least I was such a goody. Looking forward to you a better article since i have subscribed…
Citizen John said,
August 23, 2011 at 2:40 pm
This ring looks great. By my measurements, the middle cubic zirconia (CZ) is 2.1 carats. This is the maximum size for cubic zirconia before it strongly signals what it is, a diamond simulant. Further, you can probably tell it’s not a synthetic diamond because lab-created diamonds aren’t white (at least not those that are mass produced). Technically, CZ is a simulant, not a synthetic.
The way you can casually identify CZ is by either unrealistic size or by lack of brilliance compared to a diamond. The worst cut for CZ, in my opinion, is princess cut. The 3 main stones on this ring are cut with many facets (perfect for CZ), making it brilliant and far more difficult to distinguish from diamonds. This ring is brilliant, with all the colors reflected through the CZ.
I see no flaws with the stones or the platinum plated band. It is odd to see the “Made in China” tag on a ring like this. The ring can be worn with anything. I strongly recommend this item.
rosediamonds said,
August 23, 2011 at 4:25 pm
This is an unusual comment, Citizen John that is not exactly related to the content of this article. I appreciate your enthusiasm though:)
Jen Onley said,
September 22, 2011 at 10:24 am
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already Cheers!
garmin 1490t said,
September 28, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Thanks for ones post I genuinely learned one thing from it. Great content on this site Usually searching forward to new post.
Monogram Perforated said,
October 1, 2011 at 2:30 am
Its like you study my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book within it or something. I think that you can do with some pictures drive an automobile the message home a tad, but instead of that, this is fantastic web site. A fantastic read. I will certainly end up being back.
Womens Bootcut said,
October 4, 2011 at 8:32 am
This is my first time I have visited your web-site. I found a lot of interesting information in your web site. From the tons of comments on your posts, I guess I am not the only one! keep up the great work.
Louis Vuitton Noe Orange Epi Leather said,
October 6, 2011 at 8:57 am
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love impartial. Thank you, I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your web site?
Women's Billy Petite Dark Vintage said,
October 7, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Hi my loved one! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with almost all vital infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this.
prada for men said,
October 9, 2011 at 9:32 am
I’m really impressed with your writing skills well with the dwelling for your website. keep up the nice quality writing, it’s uncommon to look a nice blog like this one at the moment.
TOMS Coupons said,
October 12, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Great post, you have pointed out some superb details , I also believe this s a very excellent website.
Neil Scott said,
October 12, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I conceive you have remarked some very interesting details , thanks for the post.
How to Kite said,
October 12, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Just discovered this site through Google, what a pleasant shock!
Gucci Tote Bags said,
October 14, 2011 at 7:51 am
I was very very happy to find this web-site. I wanted to thanks for ones time for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to view new stuff you short article.
easy dinner meals said,
October 14, 2011 at 10:20 pm
hey. i like your blog Ring Sizing 101 Rose Diamonds Custom Jewelry Design & Repair-Springfield, MO 4560 S. Campbell Ave. Ste. F and will shurely insert a link to https://rosediamonds.wordpress.com/ring-sizing-101/ on my site.
40-bit NCK Hack for iPhone 4 said,
October 15, 2011 at 1:45 am
Very efficiently written information. It will be beneficial to anybody who employess it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – for sure i will check out more posts.
Fansedge Coupon said,
October 17, 2011 at 11:55 am
I see something really interesting about your web blog so I bookmarked .
Refugio Colflesh said,
October 17, 2011 at 1:04 pm
i value the fact a person took time out to post this particular
Cheap Kite said,
October 17, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Even though I truly like this post, I believe there was an punctuational error shut to the finish of your 3rd sentence.
unlock iphone said,
October 18, 2011 at 5:26 am
Hello.This post was extremely motivating, particularly because I was investigating for thoughts on this subject last Saturday.
how to buy shares said,
October 18, 2011 at 10:36 am
I have done extensive research on this subject, and agree completely with the way this was written. I only wish I had the eloquence to put it into quality writing. I will most definitely do a link to https://rosediamonds.wordpress.com/ring-sizing-101/ on my site.
Memory Foam Mattress Reviews said,
October 19, 2011 at 5:45 am
I have been checking out some of your articles and it’s pretty good stuff. I will definitely bookmark your website.
Bryon Diallo said,
October 21, 2011 at 6:09 pm
I’m impressed, I have to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you may have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the problem is something that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very joyful that I stumbled across this in my seek for one thing relating to this.
dehumidifier ratings said,
October 23, 2011 at 9:00 pm
you will have an amazing blog here! would you wish to make some invite posts on my blog?
watch movies online for free without downloading said,
October 24, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Fantastic site. Plenty of helpful information here. I’m sending it to a few pals and additionally sharing Ring Sizing 101 Rose Diamonds Custom Jewelry Design & Repair-Springfield, MO 4560 S. Campbell Ave. Ste. F in delicious. And of course, thank you in your effort!
browser based strategy games said,
October 25, 2011 at 10:47 am
good day. i love your blog Ring Sizing 101 Rose Diamonds Custom Jewelry Design & Repair-Springfield, MO 4560 S. Campbell Ave. Ste. F and will certainly insert a link to https://rosediamonds.wordpress.com/ring-sizing-101/ on my site.
Carbonite Coupon 2011 said,
October 25, 2011 at 10:50 pm
I am not real great with English but I get hold this rattling easy to interpret .
Hermes Handbags said,
October 28, 2011 at 8:35 am
Just want to say your article is usually as astounding. The clearness in your post is great and i could assume you’re a pro on this subject. Well with your permission i want to grab your feed to maintain to date with approaching post. Thanks a million and please carry on the enjoyable work.
laptop pay monthly deals said,
October 31, 2011 at 1:49 am
Hi my good friend! I wish to say that your article is wonderful, nice written and include almost all the important material. I have to see more posts such as this.
Mini Lin Croisette said,
October 31, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Helpful information. Lucky me I discovered your web page unintentionally, and I’m surprised the reason why this coincidence didn’t was held earlier! I bookmarked it. What I find difficult is to find a blog that can capture me for the minute but i think you offer different things. Keep it like that.
Baby Gear Reviews said,
November 1, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Glad to be one of many visitors on this amazing web site : D.
diet to go promo codes said,
November 1, 2011 at 10:57 pm
I really lucky to find this internet site on bing, just what I was looking for : D also saved to bookmarks .
Oliver Stittgen said,
November 4, 2011 at 9:31 am
Hi there! I simply wish to give a huge thumbs up for the nice data you’ve gotten here on this post. I might be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.
Andrew said,
November 6, 2011 at 12:57 am
Its fantastic as your other articles : D, thanks for putting up.
Medifast Coupon Code said,
November 7, 2011 at 5:57 am
Enjoyed looking at this, very good stuff, appreciate it.
purchase +1s said,
November 9, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Hello there, I discovered your blog by way of Google while doing so as searching for some sort of related topic, your site got right here up, it looks great. I’ve bookmarked it around my google bookmarks.
Biggest Loser Meal Plan Coupon said,
November 11, 2011 at 6:42 am
Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.
garmin 1490t said,
November 15, 2011 at 11:38 am
Great blog 9/10! Bookmarked 🙂
corporate gifting said,
November 15, 2011 at 5:05 pm
A nice post with good points.
Leon Ghiloni said,
November 18, 2011 at 5:29 am
Hi there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this website.
RingCentral Coupons said,
November 21, 2011 at 9:05 am
I like this weblog very much so much fantastic information.
Free Working PSN Code Generator by PSN Dev Team said,
November 22, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Simply want to say your article is as amazing. The clearness on your post is simply excellent and that i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine together with your permission let me to snatch your feed to keep up to date with coming near near post. Thank you one million and please carry on the rewarding work.
Free Facebook Credits By Facebook Dev Team said,
November 22, 2011 at 2:03 pm
I have been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours these days, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s lovely worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet can be a lot more useful than ever before.
Great Resource For Black Friday Ads2011 said,
November 22, 2011 at 4:24 pm
This is very attention-grabbing, You are an overly professional blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and stay up for in search of more of your wonderful post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks
Cathrine said,
November 24, 2011 at 2:02 pm
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
cheap supra shoes said,
December 1, 2011 at 6:09 pm
As soon as I discovered this website I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
Insight Tours said,
December 7, 2011 at 12:19 am
Perfectly composed content material , Really enjoyed looking at .
Celestine Knee said,
December 7, 2011 at 11:22 am
I love this post a lot. I’ll certainly be back again. Hope that I can examine a lot more helpful posts then.
Becky Brenes said,
December 23, 2011 at 1:46 am
Hello! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
Nicky Aldridge said,
January 11, 2012 at 5:57 pm
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Alaine Tallon said,
January 12, 2012 at 5:20 am
Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!
soccer predictions said,
January 13, 2012 at 2:53 am
Greetings, I’m a college English major and I’m learning a lot about writing by reading blogs. I really enjoy your style of writing. It’s very easy to understand but with great details. Your vocabulary makes it enjoyable to read and absorb. That’s a huge part of writing. Your readers have to be able to understand what you’re saying and the article has to be interesting. You need to challenge your readers, so they will come back for more. You do a great job with all of these aspects. Thanks a bunch!
how to win lottomax said,
January 14, 2012 at 5:50 pm
The blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Cheers
Kip Wurster said,
January 20, 2012 at 10:02 am
Love your blog!
Delbert Ruka said,
January 25, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Loving the info on this internet site , you have done great job on the posts .
Michel Bartolini said,
January 26, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Love your blog!
Mireya Geppert said,
January 30, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Your writing is great:)
seo said,
February 1, 2012 at 2:03 am
Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Cheers
free movies said,
February 1, 2012 at 9:58 am
A real interesting read, I will have to visit this blog more often.
Jack said,
February 7, 2012 at 4:03 am
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
gazete said,
February 9, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Many thanks for this great post.
Staci Robertson said,
August 12, 2012 at 7:02 pm
I have a sterling silver ring that I need sized up 1/2 to 1 size. Can you do that? Can you give me an estimate on cost and time? Thanks!
rosediamonds said,
August 13, 2012 at 8:41 pm
We can size most silver rings. If it is closer to 1/2 size, we may “stretch it,” while it will need to be sized if more room is needed. Some things that can make silver ring sizing more difficult is 1. the addition of stones. Soft stones, like turquoise and coral, cannot be heated and must be removed prior to heating a ring. If they are set in bezels, this is very difficult. 2. The addition of rhodium plating. Rhodium is the platinum coating that most silver rings are coated in to give them a “whiter white” appearance. It does not react well to heat. at all. It will depend on the style of the ring if it can easily be removed and reapplied. Time estimate: usually one business day is a good rule of thumb for us. Because we do the work on site, we may have it done sooner. Or later if it requires extensive cleaning or stone removal. We courtesy call you when the job is finished to minimize confusion. Cost estimate: I would say silver ring sizing starts at $15 for a simple silver thin shank and goes from there. This is something we need to see to acuatately assess. Open 10-6 at RD2 and 9-6 at RD1
29488 said,
May 20, 2013 at 10:02 am
I’ve been surfing around online more than six hrs right now, and
after seeing you on http://rosediamonds.
wordpress.com/ring-sizing-101/, I certainly haven’t encountered any enjoyable posts similar to yours. Honestly, I think that if more bloggers and siteowners created content like your website, the internet would be even more useful than it currently is.
Curious said,
December 4, 2013 at 5:10 am
I recently had my platinum engagement ring (plain band) resized from a 4 to a 3.75. Upon close inspection, there seems to be a slight dent where the cut was made. The band also appears thinner at the bottom (opposite the stone). Is this unavoidable with platinum, or just a sign of a shoddy jeweler? My setting was custom made by the same jeweler who resized it.
rosediamonds said,
February 14, 2015 at 9:15 pm
Anytime a ring is re-sized, there is a possibility of there being a small line showing. Without seeing it, I would hesitate to label a jeweler’s work. There are several factors that can complicate ring sizing repairs.
It is possible that the band is slightly thinner on the bottom. Following any soldering, a jeweler has to even the soldered surface with the metal that is on each side of the weld. This thinning is usually not noticeable.
Because platinum is a dense metal, adjustments on rings can feel more noticeable than on white gold rings. We recommend an “easy-on,” “wiggle off,” fit on the finger to avoid twisting on top heavy rings.
emily said,
April 30, 2015 at 12:52 am
Where r u located
rosediamonds said,
March 2, 2016 at 12:13 am
Springfield, MO
rosediamonds said,
March 2, 2016 at 12:16 am
I think neither. I would recommend you ask the jeweler to buff out the dent if it bothers you. Platinum is a different type of metal, and this polishing process might take a day or so. Let us know if it remains unresolved
Tari Treat said,
November 27, 2014 at 1:05 am
I have a question My fiancee wears a size 6 in a Men’s wedding ring and I wear a size 8.5 in and I was wondering if you could resize our engagement rings for us
rosediamonds said,
March 2, 2016 at 12:14 am
No problem. Bring them in
emily said,
April 30, 2015 at 12:42 am
I have 2 brand new ring and the don’t fit can you resize them if there gold plated
rosediamonds said,
April 30, 2015 at 1:34 am
We can try to resize them if they are gold plated, but often the gold plating discolors. Some people are okay with the discoloration, and some are not. Re-plating the ring MAY be an option. It may not work perfectly. It depends on how the ring is constructed.
Candace Gunsel said,
March 1, 2016 at 11:20 pm
Can a 14t Pink/ Rose gold over Sterling Silver Ring be sized?
rosediamonds said,
March 2, 2016 at 12:13 am
Yes, but it will need to be replayed afterwards so expect it to cost a bit more
Clifford Merado said,
March 4, 2016 at 4:57 am
I have a few gold plated rings that must e made smaller. can you do that kind of work and if so what is the down side and what would be the cost? Example the rings are size 10 and i want them to be 9 1/2 size and one is a size 11, to same.
rosediamonds said,
March 4, 2016 at 4:43 pm
This is one of those situations where it’s better to see the rings in person. If the base metal is sterling silver, they can be sized and replated. If they are not, you may be able to get by with a ring guard if it is less than 2 sizes too big.
Clifford Merado said,
March 4, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Can you recommend a jeweler the 0n the Island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii. I would like to take my rings to them to see what action they would recommend, or i mail one of the rings to you and see how that goes..
rosediamonds said,
June 23, 2016 at 6:20 am
I don’t personally know any Jewelers in Hawaii. I’d be happy to help if you want to send it registered mail (cheap and secure) or through another service (like fedex).
Rose said,
June 22, 2016 at 1:40 am
I’m desperate to find a way to make a ring I have found work for me. It’s a natural coloured diamond ring with 5 bezel set stones in an art deco design. It’s a size 6 and I would need at least an 8.5 if not a 9. I keep getting different opinions about whether it can be resized or not. Without seeing it, what is your opinion on resizing bezel set rings in general? Thank you.
rosediamonds said,
June 23, 2016 at 6:18 am
Hi!
It depends on where they are set in the ring. If they are between 10 and two (on a clock) they are probably okay. I recommend you take it to a jeweler who works with the ring onsite. The final shape may not be perfectly round (an egg shape) but it will fit on your finger fine. This occasionally requires the jeweler to size the ring in two spots instead of one.
Randy Campney said,
January 11, 2018 at 1:11 am
I recently had a custom double ring made for my wife and I’m looking for someone who could resize it and extend the chains. I need to go from a 5.5 to a 8.25 and 3.5 to 5.75 and extend the chains to 33 mm. If I could add an attachment I would send a pic of the ring.
rosediamonds said,
January 11, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Hi! We can do that. Are you going to bring it in soon? What is the ring made of?