Understanding The Ring Resizing Process

Nine out of ten times, the ring a customer tries on at a jewelry store isn't going to fit their finger. Rings must be just the right size so it can easily slide on the finger without falling off. An oversized ring will likely fall off the finger and become lost, while an undersized ring won't be able to comfortable slide on the finger. Thankfully, most jewelers offer ring sizing services. In this post, we're going to take a closer look at how ring sizing is accomplished.

Metals Suitable For Resizing

First and foremost, it's important to note that not all metals are suitable for resizing. Gold (white and yellow), platinum and silver are all perfectly fine; however, some of the tougher metals like titanium, stainless steel and tungsten are far more difficult to resize. This doesn't necessary mean that it can't be done, but only jewelers with the skill and confidence in resizing tough metals will offer this service.

Rings with precious gemstones may also increase the difficulty of resizing. If the gemstones are exposed to excessive heat, which is common in resizing, they may crack and break open. To avoid such a disaster, jewelers tend to avoid resizing rings featuring gemstones.

How Rings Are Resized

There are several different techniques used by jewelers to resize a ring, but the most common involves heating the ring to shape it accordingly. The jeweler first heats a weaker strand of metal at the bottom of the ring known as the shank. After removing the shank, the ring is placed around a form to hold its shape. The jeweler then uses a soldering iron or similar device to heat the metal so it's easier to work with. If the ring size is increasing, the jeweler will expand it out while adding additional metal into the band. If the ring size is decreasing, however, the jeweler will simply remove some of the metal.

Sizing a ring up typically costs more than downsizing due to the increased materials required. Because the jeweler is forced to add more metal, the cost of sizing a ring up is increased. The exact amount will depend on the type of metal, labor and prices set by the jeweler.

Once the metal is appropriately sized, metal is added back to the shank and the ring is closed. Most jewelers will clean and shine the newly resized ring before handing it over to the customer.