Resizing Wedding Bands: Is It Possible And What's The Process?

Wedding bands are often ranked among the most precious gifts, but they can lose their perfect fit over time. Fortunately, resizing is a common and safe process that can be done in a few hours or a few weeks, depending on the type of ring and the complexity of the work. While some metals, like tungsten and titanium, are too tough to be resized, others, like gold, silver, and platinum, can be adjusted to your preference. So, if your wedding band is feeling too small, too big, or simply uncomfortable, resizing may be the solution for you.

Wedding ring resizing methods

Resizing a wedding ring is a common procedure and can be done on most types of rings. However, there are limitations to this. For instance, resizing is dependent on the type of metal and the complexity of the ring design. Rings can typically be modified up to a maximum of two sizes bigger or smaller.

Enlarging a Ring

Enlarging a ring is generally more complex than reducing its size. One method of enlarging a ring involves stretching the metal up to half its original size. This method involves heating the bottom part of the ring and stretching it. However, this process can compromise the ring's structure and quality, and many jewellers avoid it.

A safer method for enlarging a ring, especially one embedded with precious stones, involves cutting the ring and soldering a matching piece of metal to it. This method preserves the ring's structure and, after polishing, it is difficult to tell that any modifications have been made.

Reducing the Size of a Ring

Reducing the size of a ring can be done using a sizing assistant, which is composed of beads that, when fitted into the ring, reduce its circumference. Another method involves using a ring guard, which is a size adjuster that occupies the extra space, reducing the ring's size. If these methods are ineffective, a jeweller can cut off a piece of metal from the ring, solder it, and polish it.

Metals Suitable for Resizing

Silver, gold, and platinum rings are generally easy to resize. However, tungsten and titanium rings are too tough to be manipulated and cannot be resized.

Metals that can be resized

Wedding rings can be resized, but it depends on the metal. Softer metals such as silver, gold, and platinum can be resized by a jeweler. Harder metals such as tungsten, titanium, and stainless steel cannot be resized because they are too tough and do not take soldering.

Gold is a soft metal that can be resized as much as you want, which is one of the reasons why it is a popular choice for wedding bands. Platinum and silver rings can also be resized, but this requires additional metal, as well as labor and overhead costs for the jeweler.

Cobalt chrome can be resized by up to one size up or down. Wood wedding bands can be resized, but only by up to half a size from their original size.

Resizing a ring usually involves either cutting the ring and soldering additional metal to increase its size or cutting the ring and soldering the ends together to reduce its size. The ring is then polished so that no visual signs of the procedure remain.

Stretching is another method that can be used to enlarge a ring, but this is not recommended for many rings as it can compromise their structure.

Metals that can't be resized

While resizing a wedding band is a common practice, it is not always possible. The ability to resize a ring depends on the type of metal and the complexity of the design. Harder metals such as tungsten, titanium, and cobalt chrome are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to resize due to their solid and scratch-resistant structure. These metals are challenging to work with and do not take soldering.

Tungsten, a hard metal used in wedding bands, cannot be resized as it is scratch-resistant and has a solid structure. Titanium, another popular metal for wedding rings, shares similar traits with tungsten, making it too tough to manipulate for resizing. Titanium is as strong as steel but much lighter, and its strength makes it difficult to resize. While it is challenging, some jewellers can size titanium rings up slightly.

Cobalt chrome, a strong metal similar to titanium, can also be sized up slightly in rare cases. However, it is still considered a hard metal that is generally difficult to resize.

Additionally, stainless steel rings fall into the category of metals that are challenging to resize. They require very high temperatures, and most local jewellers do not have the specialised equipment needed to work with this metal.

Resin, ceramic, jade, and wood are other materials that cannot be resized. These unconventional materials cannot be cut and bent, and their composition is not amenable to the resizing process.

How to make a ring bigger

It is important to note that you should not attempt to resize a ring yourself as this could result in damaging or breaking the ring. Instead, enlist the help of a professional jeweller.

There are two methods that jewellers use to make a ring bigger. The first method involves adding extra metal. To do this, a jeweller will cut into the metal and then add an extra piece of metal to make the ring bigger. The jeweller will then carefully match the ends of the ring together, solder them, and clean and polish the ring. This process ensures that the ring doesn't have any cracks or tarnishes and that there is no obvious line where the ring was cut and joined.

The second method is the stretching method, which is effective and best used on plain wedding rings without gemstones. The jeweller will stretch the metal by heating it up and pulling. This method can make the ring up to half a size larger. If the ring needs to be enlarged further, the first method should be used instead. Stretching the metal will make the band of the ring thinner and may distort its shape, but the jeweller will reshape the band so that it looks as good as new.

It is worth noting that resizing a ring may be more challenging depending on the type of metal and any gemstones or engravings on the ring. Harder metals such as tungsten and titanium are too tough to be resized. Additionally, if the ring has gemstones, they may need to be removed and reset, which can change the spacing and number of stones. If the ring has any engravings, the jeweller will need to ensure that the process does not distort the writing.

How to make a ring smaller

A wedding band can be resized, but it depends on the type of metal it is made of. Generally, jewellers can resize softer metals such as silver, gold, and platinum. Harder metals like tungsten and titanium are too tough to be resized.

If you have a ring that is too big, you can take it to a jeweller to have it resized. They will cut a small piece of metal from the ring, solder and polish it to make it smaller. This method is best for rings made of soft metals like silver, gold, and platinum.

For a temporary solution, you can use a ring guard or sizing assistant. A ring guard is a size adjuster that occupies the extra space, making the ring fit more snugly. A sizing assistant, on the other hand, is composed of beads that are fitted into the ring to reduce its circumference.

Another option is to use a spring insert. This is a strip of metal shaped like a horseshoe that lines the bottom 3/4 of the inside of the band. It springs open to allow the ring to fit over your knuckle and then springs back to fit snugly at the base of your finger.

If you are looking for a more permanent solution, you can consider a fold-over device or sizing bar. A jeweller can solder a U-shaped bar across the bottom of the ring with a hinge on one side and a latch on the other. You simply open the latch to put the ring on and close it to hold it in place.

Frequently asked questions