Let’s face it. Your body goes through changes. One of the body parts that may be affected from these changes are your fingers. This can leave you with a big dilemma-your rings may not fit anymore! Before you panic or run out to make some new (and expensive) purchases, consider resizing your rings.
Most rings can be resized, but there are also some that cannot. Rings that have set stones around the entire band are very difficult to resize. Some of the stones may need to be taken out during the process and if the ring is antiquated, discoloration may occur around the repair site, making it unsightly. Also, rings that have very elaborate patterns all around the band may distort the look and print on the ring.
If you wish to make your ring larger, you have two options in doing so. Rings can be cut and an additional piece of band is soldered onto it, making the ring about one half or whole size larger, depending on your needs. Also if you need to make your intricately designed ring larger, many times a small, plain space is designed on the base of the band, allowing a jeweler flexibility for resizing. Some rings can even be stretched if they are made of a malleable metal like sterling silver because of its low melting point.
If you wish to make your ring smaller, a jeweler can cut a piece out of the band and then reshape it into a circle so it can be soldered back together. Plain bands have the most success with this. Elaborate detailing around the entire band may require the jeweler to take out the gems and then replace them after the welding process.
You have options when it comes to resizing your rings. Keep this in mind before you purchase a valuable ring. Also know that even though your rings now fit after a resizing, their overall aesthetic may change slightly.