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
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.
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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.
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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:)
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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
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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?