When it comes to choosing an engagement ring, one of the hardest things to get right (apart from the style and diamond of course), is the size of the ring. And while some partners find clever ways to get the right ring size, others accept their fate of proposing with an estimated ring size with the knowledge that they are inevitably going to have to take the ring to get resized.
The ring size itself should be comfortable to wear - too loose and there’s a risk of it getting lost, and too tight and you’ll cause discomfort or even issues with circulation. Speaking candidly, it’s very common for engagement rings (and other rings) to have to be resized to either be bigger or smaller. So, how long should you expect to wait for a ring to be resized?
How long it takes to resize a ring will depend on how many customers the jeweller has ahead of you. On average, a ring will take between 7 days and 30 days to be resized and returned to the customer depending on the workload of the jeweller.
When you submit a ring for resizing, however, it’s more than likely that the jeweller already has a list of existing priorities (new rings and other ring resizing jobs) that they will be inclined to complete before taking a look at your ring. At GS Diamonds, resizing will take a maximum of two weeks - and in most cases, we'll deliver it earlier than that!
In general, resizing a ring down (making it smaller) will be faster than resizing it up (making it bigger).
When resizing down, jewellers can simply cut and remove a section of the ring band and solder it back together, resulting in a more narrow band.
Resizing a ring up is more challenging; it can be resized half a size up through stretching of the band material. This involves heating the ring to make it more malleable, until it can be expanded using specialised tools. Resizing up any more than half a size will require a more complicated process that involves cutting and adding more ring material.
The time needed to perform a ring resizing can also be determined by the type of metal:
Gold
Gold is one of the softest metals and is considered relatively easy to work with by jewellers. Resizing gold rings is faster than other metals, with higher karat gold (18K or 24K) being softer than lower karat gold.
Silver
Silver rings are harder to resize than gold, but it’s still achievable in a relatively quick timeframe. Frequent resizing should be avoided however, as doing so may affect the ring’s long-term durability.
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Platinum
Platinum is more difficult to resize than silver, and while still possible to work with, can potentially cost more due to the value of the metal and the work involved.
Tungsten/Titanium
Tungsten or titanium rings are extremely resistant to heating and widely considered to be impractical to resize. If you have a tungsten or titanium ring that no longer fits well, it may be better to simply purchase a new one.
Resizing rings with a coloured gem setting
Coloured gems are sensitive to heat and can potentially become damaged if exposed to extreme heat during the resizing process. When resizing such rings, it’s important to find a jeweller that is able to use laser solderers instead of flame solderers to prevent any damage to the coloured gems. Even diamond stones that are resistant to heat may be indirectly affected as the heat can loosen the setting holding it in place.
Resizing rings with existing engravings
If your ring has any existing engravings on the band, it’s possible that it may be damaged during the cutting or stretching process. It’s important to let the jeweller know about the engraving, at which point they will usually provide advice on whether or not it can be kept as it is.
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Rings with complex designs
Rings that have complex designs of the band such as weaving patterns may not be able to be resized without affecting the integrity of the design. This is especially so if jeweller working on it did not originally create the ring, and thus may not have the expertise to replicate the same design.
Resizing rings with set stones around the band
Engagement ring and eternity ring may have precious stones set along the sides of the band. This can make resizing virtually impossible as the stones would have to be completely reset into the band.
If you need to have your ring resized, it’s always best to approach the same the jeweller or store where the ring was purchased or created. This is because each jeweller has their own distinct methods and designs for working on rings; the original jeweller will be best equipped to handle the resizing. Most jewellers also offer complementary ring resizing services to their customers, which can help you save on the cost involved.
At GS Diamonds, we offer complementary ring resizing for all our customers and can resize your ring (or your partner’s ring!) within 5 years from date of purchase. We'll have your ring resized and returned back to you within two weeks or less!
