It is very common for a ring to not fit. For example, you may not know the ring size when you choose it; you may have inherited a precious heirloom; you may have gained or lost weight; or you may have bought a bargain on an online shopping website, and the cheap price makes up for the disadvantage of the ring not fitting.
Because ill-fitting rings are so common, there are many jewelry stores that sell fine jewelry and also offer ring resizing services. Many jewelry stores will include this as part of the purchase price, especially for engagement and wedding rings.
How to resize depends on the type of ring and whether it is too small or too large. There are permanent and temporary solutions, and your professional jeweler will advise accordingly to achieve the perfect fit.
Your ring is too big if:
- The ring spins around your finger and won’t stay upright
- It keeps moving up and down on your finger
- It slips off when you shower or wash your hands
- You’re worried it will fall off when you make sudden hand movements.
Take Action Now
If you want to continue wearing your rings (especially bridal jewelry) but are concerned about it coming loose until you can find a jeweler, then you can use the rubber band wrap trick.
This is a temporary DIY ring fix that will keep your loose ring securely on your finger. A good old fashioned rubber band will do the job. It is safe for your skin and will not damage the ring in any way.
The best option is a small, clear rubber band. Simply slide it onto your ring finger and place the loose ring on it. Don’t wear the rubber band for too long. It will decay faster than you think and like I said, it is only a temporary measure.
Various options for semi-permanent and permanent fixes include:
Ring retainers or sizing bars
Your jeweler may first recommend a ring retainer or sizing bar. These are small adjusters, usually made of plastic or silicone. They work perfectly as a temporary size holder. They come in a variety of different sizes and work by clamping onto the inside of the ring.
Spring Inserts
A spring insert is a great sizing solution that your jeweler can install. It’s a small strip of metal shaped like a horseshoe that springs back into a rigid shape when pressure is applied. This means you can squeeze the spring, let the now smaller ring sit over your knuckle, and the spring will reopen to fit snugly against the base of your finger.
A less intrusive ring sizer than permanent resizing, spring inserts are a popular solution for rings made from metals that are too hard to resize completely or effectively, such as tungsten, titanium, and stainless steel rings.
Metal Sizing Beads
If the ring you are wearing is too big for your finger and the ring sizer shows that the difference is about half a size, you may want to consider using sizing beads. Sizing beads are two small metal beads that are soldered to the band of the ring by the jeweler. This reduces the space inside the ring and allows the band to fit more snugly. Sizing beads will not prevent the ring from sliding over the knuckle and are a good option if the ring cannot be permanently resized.
Professional Ring Sizing
Sizing rods, spring inserts, and sizing beads are all great solutions for making a ring smaller without resizing it. But sometimes, a proper permanent resizing is the best option.
Only a jeweller is qualified to advise, as operations to change the internal size of a ring may involve cutting the band and/or shank and using materials such as solder.
There is another benefit to resizing a ring. Not only will you get your ring adjusted to the perfect size for your ring finger, but it will also be in as good a condition as it was when it was new! Cleaning and polishing a ring after a resizing is standard practice for most jewellers.
Before you decide to resize your ring permanently, you should make sure that now is the right time. If this is a temporary problem, meaning it doesn’t fit your ring finger properly, it may be best to wait. For example, if you are trying to lose weight or are pregnant. Ring resizing can’t always be done multiple times. Wait until any size fluctuations have passed before resizing your ring permanently. In the meantime, you can always use one of the temporary solutions mentioned above.
What Not to Do
Everyone loves to get tips and tricks from the internet, so there are two common tricks you should avoid at all costs.
The Nail Polish Trick: People suggest that you reduce the size of the inner ring of your ring by applying several coats of clear nail polish to it. Don’t do this. Nail polish will chip and flake, and it may react with the metal of the ring, damaging it. Nail polish remover may also cause damage.
The Candle Wax and Hot Glue Trick: This involves “painting” the inner ring with glue or melted candle wax from a craft gun. Again, avoid doing this to prevent damage to your ring.
If you’re seriously concerned about a ring that’s too big for your regular wear, then you should care enough to have a professional take care of it.
