Is there a limit to the number of times you can resize a ring? Does the ring get to the point of no return – in this case, no more resizing after some time? Well, this article delves into this pertinent aspect of ring resizing to help you determine how many times it qualifies as too many times that a ring could be resized.
Can you resize a ring more than once?
Before we look at the maximum number of times that you’d get when it comes to getting your ring resized, let’s first take a look at what you need to look out for when determining if your ring needs to be resized.
This is important because the best ring you could invest in is the one that fits properly, especially if it is something that you need to wear on a daily basis.
So, what does this look like? Well, a ring that fits correctly is one that slides easily on your finger but still requires a little effort on your end for it to get through the knuckle – meaning that it fits snugly but not to the extent that you feel pain or discomfort when you have the ring on.
Generally, a ring that is too small and needs to be resized would cause discomfort and swelling, along with pain. On the other hand, if the ring is too big, meaning that it spins or almost falls out, it means that the ring’s sizing is incorrect, and because such a ring would result in the premature loosening or wearing off of the setting, even causing the gemstone to fall out, consider keeping the ring away until it’s resized.
How many times can you resize a ring?
But what happens if, after some years, the right you’d resized because it was too big is now too snug and uncomfortable, or the previously small ring is now too big? Can you get it resized again?
Well, the good news is that most of the rings made of the best quality materials can only be resized a maximum of 2 times over their lifetime. Of course, there are some exceptions to this, and the maximum number of times that the ring can be resized without loss of its beauty or without causing permanent damage will depend on its design.
If the ring features intricate settings and gemstones, it can only be resized once or twice – although there are cases where it would be impossible to resize such rings. For the simpler rings, however, resizing can be done more than twice. That said, it’s important to bear in mind that there are rings that cannot be resized at all, and the intricately designed rings often call for resizing to be done via unique methods.
That said, always know that rings with wider bands tend to have a tighter fit than thinner rings. And if you find that your ring no longer fits while you’re pregnant, it is recommended that you don’t get the ring resized then because the size of your fingers will vary during and after pregnancy.
How many sizes can a ring be sized up?
There are different ways of resizing rings, and your ring could be resized up or down. If your ring is now too small and you need it sized up, the first thing you should know is that resizing a ring up tends to be more involving, and you’d want to take the ring to an experienced jeweler. To make the ring larger, the metal that makes up the ring needs to be stretched out, but if stretching is not an option, an extra piece of metal would have to be added to the ring.
While enlarging the ring by stretching the metal often appears as the most effective strategy for sizing up the ring, it is not the most recommended method because it weakens the ring, and if the band is originally thick, it will thin out and become less durable. Often, the stretching of the metal that the ring is made of involves the heating of the ring then stretching it out.
To protect the integrity of the ring, most jewelers will expand the ring by heating up the band, cutting it up, then adding more of the same metal, forming a bridge, which is then soldered to create a bigger ring. Once soldering is done, the ring is cleaned thoroughly and polished. Often, the difference between the original and the resized ring is not discernible – but this is only the case if you work with professional and experienced jewelers.
So, how many sizes up can the ring be resized? The rule of thumb is that a ring can be sized up only 2 sizes. Beyond this, the ring will be exposed to too much stress, making it more fragile.
How many sizes can a ring be sized down?
Jewelers recommend that a ring be resized down only 2 sizes. While other people may want to stretch this allowance, stretching a ring beyond this allowable size would be damaging to the ring. But there are a few instances where it is possible to resize a ring down more than 2 sizes – but only if its design allows. The design of the ring is the same reason why some jewelers will not resize uniquely and intricately designed or patterned rings made of precious metals and gemstones because of the high risk of irreversible damage to the ring.
So, how is a ring sized down? For starters, sizing down a ring is not as demanding as sizing it up, and in most cases, the jewelers will just cut the back part of the ring then joins the edges back together. After the ends are soldered, the ring is cleaned, and the oxidized edges are also cleaned. It is then smoothened out until the ring regains its original appearance. With the help of an experienced professional with the right tools, the resizing will be complete without any traces.
Alternatively, for plain bands, the ring can be resized by pressing down on it, albeit with the use of special machines. Where the ring cannot be physically resized down, a strip of beads or metal can be added inside the band, making it smaller.
Does half a ring size make a difference?
Yes, it makes a difference. Although it is a very small size, half a size will make a small difference, especially when the ring’s size features half a size or even a quarter. For most people, however, this size has negligible effects.
Do you lose gold when you resize a gold ring?
When a ring is sized up, there is no metal lost, but when it’s sized down, a portion of the precious metal is cut off. The amount of gold cut off is often too small, and most often, it’s what the jewelers use to fix other gold rings that need to be sized up then soldered. It’s also used for repairs.
Pros and cons of resizing your rings
Pros
- Best way to ensure a more comfortable fit for your lovely ring
- Rings can be resized up or down
- Metals like yellow gold, white gold, platinum, and sterling silver can be resized easily.
Cons
- Not all rings can be resized, for example, the ones boasting intricate designs or the rings made of tungsten, titanium, rose gold, as well as the rings with tension settings and the full eternity bands.
- The area that is soldered will always be weak.
- The stretched out rings become weak after the expansion
- The soldering work may not be done well, and you may notice depression or a bump at the soldered point.
Conclusion
There is a lot that goes into determining whether the ring will be resized or not and how many times it could be resized, but in most cases, rings can be resized twice.
For more ring topics, please read here or here!
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.