How do Jewelers Resize Rings?

Jewelers make a lot of money from the resizing of rings. Oftentimes rings are bought in standard sizes, although rings unfortunately are not one-size-fits-all. This problem is easily fixed by resizing the ring by a jeweler. Depending on the procedure you need done, the price will vary. It is cheaper to have a ring resized to a smaller size than to resize it larger.

Resizing a ring is a very common procedure that jewelers do on a daily basis. Most rings are able to be resized easily; however, you may want to keep in mind that certain materials are not able to be resized.

• The first step to resizing your ring is to have the finger sized to fit just right. If a ring is too small it will be uncomfortable and if it is too big you run the risk of losing it. The proper measurement is very important to ring resizing.

• Making a ring smaller is an easier and cheaper process than making a ring bigger. The process of making a ring smaller is simple. The jeweler simply cuts off the unneeded material from the ring. He or she then reshapes the ring and solders the two ends back together. The joint where it was soldered together is then buffed and polished so that you can no longer see the joint. Jewelers are able to imprint a design on the ring as well if there is a continuous pattern that needs to be followed around the entire band.

• Resizing a ring that is too small is a bit trickier. Jewelers have two options: stretch the band or cut the band and insert a bridge. If the ring is already on the thin side, stretching may not be an option. If this is the case the jeweler will then cut the band and then insert a bridge. The joints will need to be soldered back together and then polished and buffed to remove any trace of where the joints are.

• Certain rings are not able to be resized depending on the material in which they are made. Rings made of tungsten or tungsten carbide are not able to be resized. Some metals do not have the right chemical composition to resize in a traditional format.