What Happens When My Ring Gets Sized?

Written By Allie Perry July 26, 2024

When it comes to your rings, the most important factor for both comfort and security is a good fit. Ideally, a ring should slide comfortably onto your finger and over your knuckle, and rest at the base of your finger comfortably without squeezing your finger or leaving a deep mark. It’s ok if your ring moves around on your finger a bit, as long as it only passes back down completely over your knuckle if you intentionally remove it.

It sounds simple enough, but if you wear rings, you already know that your fingers change size frequently and a “good” fit can vary. That’s because there are tons of factors that will change the size of your fingers:

• Temperature Changes: Heat can cause fingers to swell, while cold can make them shrink. This is due to blood vessels expanding in the heat and contracting in the cold.
• Hydration Levels: Dehydration can lead to a decrease in finger size, while excessive fluid intake or retention can cause swelling.
• Diet: High salt intake can lead to water retention, causing fingers to swell. Conversely, certain foods and beverages with diuretic properties can reduce swelling.
• Exercise: Physical activity increases blood flow, which can cause temporary swelling in the fingers.
• Medical Conditions: Conditions such as arthritis, thyroid problems, and certain cardiovascular issues can cause chronic or periodic swelling of the fingers.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations, such as those occurring during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, can lead to changes in finger size.
• Injury or Inflammation: Injuries, infections, or conditions that cause inflammation, like tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, can cause localized swelling in the fingers.
• Weight Changes: Significant weight gain or loss can affect overall body size, including the fingers.
• Altitude: High altitudes can lead to swelling due to changes in pressure and oxygen levels.
• Medication Side Effects: Some medications, such as those for blood pressure or anti-inflammatory drugs, can cause water retention and swelling.
• Allergies: Allergic reactions can cause swelling in various parts of the body, including the fingers.

Luckily, a lot of these changes are temporary! While they may cause your rings to feel too loose or too tight, they don’t require your rings to go through any alterations.

For the changes that are more permanent, you need to consider getting your ring resized. Whether you need your ring to go up or down in size, understanding the steps involved and the potential limitations can help set the right expectations.

What Happens When a Ring Gets Sized up?

Sizing a ring up means increasing its circumference to make it fit a larger finger 9 (or sometimes just a larger knuckle). The best way to achieve this is to add metal to the ring. Here’s a step-by-step look at how I would typically accomplish this as a jeweler:

1. Assessment: First, I’ll measure the ring and your finger. Once I know how many sizes the ring needs to go up, I can determine whether the ring's design and material can accommodate the resizing.

2. Cutting: If it’s safe to do so, I’ll cut the ring at the bottom and open up that cut to create a gap. The size of the gap is determined by the amount the ring has to go up in size.

3. Adding Metal: Once the appropriate size gap has been created, I’ll take metal of the same color, karat, and dimensions as the ring and fit it in place in the gap.

4. Soldering: To permanently affix this new metal, I’ll solder it in place- again using solder that is the same color and karat as the ring.

5. Shaping: Once the new metal is soldered in, I reshape the ring on a mandrel to make sure it’s round, and file and sand the repair as needed to blend the new piece seamlessly with the ring.

6. Polishing and Finishing: Finally, I polish the ring to a like-new condition, ensuring no visible marks or lines are present.

What Happens When a Ring Gets Sized Down?

Sizing a ring down involves reducing its circumference to fit a smaller finger. Many of the steps are the same, but here’s exactly how I do it:

1. Assessment: Similar to sizing up, I examine the ring to determine how much it needs to be reduced and if the design permits resizing. The most important thing to consider is the presence of existing stone settings, as bringing a ring down too far in size can ruin the structural integrity and security of those settings.

2. Cutting and Removing Metal: Unlike sizing up, when I size a ring down I’m cutting out a section that corresponds to the amount of metal that needs to be removed to achieve the correct size.

3. Rejoining: I then bring the ends of the ring together to close the gap, and solder them together to form a seamless join.

4. Shaping: Just like sizing up, I reshape the newly-reduced ring on a mandrel to make sure it’s round, and file and sand the repair as needed to blend the new piece seamlessly with the ring.

5. Polishing and Finishing: This step is the same for sizing down as it is for sizing up- I finish the piece by polishing it to like-new condition.

The goal of any jewelry repair, whether it’s sizing a ring or soldering a broken chain, is to make the repair invisible. A casual observer shouldn’t be able to see that any work has been done.

Limitations and Considerations for Sizing Rings

I have resized tens of thousands of rings over the course of my career and, as an expert, it’s generally a very straightforward process for me to get your rings sized correctly and safely. But there are certain limitations and considerations to keep in mind:

1. Metal Type: Some metals, like titanium and tungsten, are very difficult or even impossible to resize due to their hardness. Others, like gold and silver, are more malleable and easier to work with. If a new ring is only available in a certain size, make sure it’s possible for the ring to be sized correctly for you in the future…you don’t want to be stuck with a ring that you can’t wear!

2. Design Intricacies: Rings with intricate designs, engravings, or settings that extend around the band can be more challenging to resize without affecting the appearance. Resizing such rings might require redesigning parts of the ring.

3. Stone Settings: Rings with multiple stones or certain types of settings, such as tension settings, can be compromised during resizing. It’s crucial to ensure the stones remain secure after the process.

4. Amount of Resizing: Rings can generally be resized by up to two sizes without significant issues. More extensive resizing might weaken the band or distort the design. Talk with your jeweler to see what’s possible for any specific ring.

5. Cost: The cost of resizing can vary based on the complexity of the design, the type of metal, and the amount of resizing needed. Intricate designs and harder metals typically incur higher costs.

While ring resizing is generally straightforward for an expert, it’s still a delicate process that requires skilled craftsmanship to ensure the ring remains beautiful and functional. Familiarizing yourself with the process means you’ll be able to ask educated questions when you consult with a reputable jeweler to discuss the best options for your specific ring. With proper care and professional expertise, your ring can often be resized to fit perfectly, allowing you to wear it comfortably and confidently!

Not sure how to figure out your own ring size? Check out my ebook: Find Your Perfect Jewelry Size.