Almost everyone has had a situation in their life when their favorite ring became too big for them. And if the size slowly became smaller than necessary, you might not even notice it. But when the jewelry becomes large, wearing it becomes very problematic. The most unpleasant thing, of course, is the possibility that a piece of jewelry dear to your heart will fly off your finger and be lost. And a constantly scrolling or sliding ring also causes a lot of inconvenience. In the modern world, we have long learned to reduce the size of jewelry. Even the most complex ring can be made smaller. And if you are afraid to take your jewelry to a jewelry workshop, then there are ways to independently adjust the inner diameter of the ring to the size of your finger. We will tell you what to do with the jewelry so that you can wear it without fear of losing it.
How do jewelers reduce a ring?
There are three ways to size a ring. Its diameter is changed by cutting, compressing or inserting an inner rim into it.
- Tenderloin. To reduce the ring by one size, the master cuts a piece of metal about 3 mm long from the rim. This is the way to treat a “engagement ring” or a product with small stones.
- Compression. The jeweler heats the ring in a flame, partially cools it, and then places it in a cone and covers it with a pressing ball - a punch. Hitting the press with a hammer, he lowers the product along a tapering cone, and the pliable metal is compacted. After processing, carbon deposits are removed from the product and polished.
- Insert. To reduce the diameter, an additional rim of the same or another metal is soldered into the ring. This is the easiest and safest way to get your jewelry adjusted to size, but it can also be the most expensive if you order the headband from the same precious metal.
The ring is big
Which method the master will choose for your jewelry depends on the characteristics of the ring. Smooth rings withstand any treatment; a product wider than 8 mm cannot be compressed (it will be deformed during forging); openwork - it is better to reduce it with an inner rim.
If you have your eye on an original ring that doesn’t fit, ask the seller if they do the fitting in the store (this service may be free for customers). When reduced by carving in a jewelry workshop, the removed piece is weighed and evaluated. Part of the metal will be used to seal the seam, and the rest will be returned to you or taken into account when paying for the work.
Average cost of ring reduction service, what determines
Prices are directly based on the method that the jeweler chooses to adjust the diameter of the ring, the complexity of the product, and its shape.
The average cost of reducing the size of a ring without stones, spraying and designer delights is about 500-1000 rubles. Processing a product that requires a lot of painstaking work can cost twice as much.
The procedure time also directly depends on the complexity of the jewelry. Simple items are processed in an hour, ornate designer rings – up to 3 days.
Changing ring size by heating
Reducing rings with stone inserts
Remaking rings with stones is a more painstaking job than fitting engagement rings and other plain rings. They are usually reduced by cutting. But not in every model you can simply remove the excess and solder the seam:
- even with a slight decrease in the diameter of the tire (by 1–1.5 sizes), the frame sometimes becomes deformed, no longer tightly covers the stone, and it is easy to lose it;
- In the place where the frame is attached, the metal may burst during processing or after some time.
Therefore, large stones are removed from the frame, and after finishing the work, the shape of the fastening is corrected. In some cases, it is necessary to cut off the frame itself, then it is soldered in place of the already reduced ring. Small stones are not removed from massive rings, but on thin ones, the inserts on the top of the rim can be left alone (for example, small diamonds arranged in a row on a gold ring).
Ring size measurements
Are you afraid that the workshop will replace your inserts? Before going there, submit the product for gemological examination, after which they will put a tag on it with a description of the stones: their number, characteristics and cost. When leaving the ring in the workshop, ask the master to cut out the fragment so as not to damage the hallmark - re-branding the item can be difficult, especially if it is antique.
Section question - answer
Is it possible to reduce the size of a ring with stones?
Expert opinion
Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich
Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop
Yes, but only if the stones are large. Jewelry set with expensive stones, such as diamonds, requires careful, careful work. Before starting the process, the master removes minerals from the frame, and after reducing the product, he returns them to their place. If necessary, the frame is also adjusted. Not every model with stones can change the diameter.
Is it possible to reduce a diamond ring by half a size, where should I go to donate?
Expert opinion
Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich
Jeweler 6th category
For such work, it is best to contact a workshop equipped with laser equipment. You can also try contacting the jewelry boutique where you purchased the item. Laser soldering does not heat the jewelry, which means the stone does not have to be removed. This is the most ideal option for small size adjustments.
Diamond ring reduction
How are gold rings rolled, what is needed from me?
Expert opinion
Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich
Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop
Most often, the compression method is used to reduce laconic gold jewelry. To reduce a gold ring, you should seek professional advice. You need to take the ring with you. After discussing all the details with the master, the ring will be placed in a special press, which is a disk with special recesses. There the decoration will heat up and shrink to the required size.
The cost of the service starts from 300 rubles.
Where can I reduce my husband's ring?
Expert opinion
Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich
Jeweler 6th category
Almost every jewelry workshop provides ring reduction services. You can choose the best one based on reviews. Before visiting, be sure to find out the size to which the product will need to be reduced.
You can find out the size by wrapping your finger in a piece of paper. The length of the segment must be converted into millimeters and divided by 3.14.
Ring reduction procedure in a jewelry shop
Is it possible to make a silver ring smaller?
Expert opinion
Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich
Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop
Silver, like gold, is a fairly malleable metal. Laconic silver jewelry can be easily adjusted to the desired size.
Will downsizing affect the appearance of the ring?
When done correctly, the appearance of the ring does not change. But if a non-professional takes on the matter, you may end up with a flaw in your ring:
- Some minerals do not tolerate high temperatures, and if the craftsman does not remove the stone before work, it may crack or change color when heated.
- With a slight decrease in the diameter of the ring (by half a size or less), it becomes not perfectly round, but elliptical; If reduced by more than two and a half sizes, the center pattern and/or insert may be affected.
- Sometimes heat treatment makes silver items lighter as the heat burns away the patina on their surface. The patina effect is returned by special treatment in a jewelry workshop or at home using improvised means, for example, iodine or sulfur ointment.
- They can change the appearance of a ring made of several metals, for example, multi-colored gold (it is more difficult to disguise the seam on them).
When choosing a workshop where you will take the ring for alteration, ask the master what equipment he uses. The most gentle method of soldering metals is laser welding. It heats them less than gas, and the seam is thinner and neater.
Jeweler's work
Ways to increase your ring size yourself
To do this, at a minimum, you will need a special tool in the form of a crossbar, a gas burner or barbell, or a hammer with a rubber surface. Be prepared for the fact that one awkward movement and the ring could be ruined. To avoid this, follow this action plan:
- Find a metal pin/cone with the required diameter. The cylinder should be as smooth as possible;
- To avoid cracks and scratches, wrap the cone in foil;
- Heat the product until very hot;
- Place a ring on the foil-lined cone. Tap it lightly with a hammer, expanding it the desired amount.
Which rings cannot be reduced?
Most jewelry shops will not undertake to fit rings made of base metals, and not at all because such work would cost less than processing a gold, silver or platinum ring. Do not argue with the master, but ask him to explain why he does not agree to help you, and most likely you will hear the following:
- he does not know what alloy the ring is made of and cannot predict how the metal will behave when cut, heated or forged;
- In most cases, rings made of cheap metal lose their shape and color during processing. When compressed, they crumble, turn black or green when heated, and the seam cannot be hidden by polishing;
- After processing, some alloys oxidize and begin to release substances harmful to the skin, but there is no way to determine in advance whether this will happen to your ring.
You cannot reduce some products made of precious metals (more precisely, you should not do this). For example, when a rhodium-plated silver ring is heated, the matte coating on the surface deteriorates and will have to be restored, but it will not be possible to return it to its original appearance and color. It is difficult or impossible to reduce rings made of openwork filigree and with complex patterns.
Platinum rings are difficult to process. In order to change the diameter of such a product, special equipment is needed, and not all jewelry workshops have it. Platinum is a hard and refractory metal; a laser tool is needed to cut it, and a high-temperature crucible is used for heating and forging. In some cases, after cutting out a fragment from a platinum ring, a mark remains if the solder at the welding site is different in color or turns black.
Silicone tab
Defects in the work of the master. How to avoid
If the alloy of the jewelry is unknown, then it is better to refrain from adjusting it in a jewelry workshop. For example, if the ring was plated with rhodium, then when heated it will lose its original shade.
If the jewelry workshop does not have special equipment, then it will not be possible to reduce a platinum ring, since this metal is infusible and inflexible. Sometimes, even with good equipment, a visible mark remains in place of the removed platinum area.
Due to the craftsman's mistakes, cracks may appear, defects in the outline of the jewelry, lightening of silver rings, and the visibility of a seam at the soldering site. The least such defects are observed when the workshop is equipped with laser equipment, and the jeweler himself is a professional with many years of experience.
Reducing a ring at home
If you don't want to take your jewelry to a workshop, try adjusting it to size yourself. The easiest way to avoid losing a ring that is too loose is to put it on top of another, and the discreet bottom ring will hold the loose top ring.
If the second ring bothers you, use other ways to “fit” the jewelry more tightly onto your finger. However, before you reduce a non-precious ring at home, try to find out what alloy it is made of.
Silicone lining
The easiest and most affordable way to make a ring smaller on your own is to glue a transparent silicone lining into it. The ring thus reduced tightly covers the phalanx and stops sliding, but at the same time its external size does not increase and it does not put pressure on neighboring fingers. Silicone does not irritate the skin and does not react with metals, and is resistant to household chemicals and cosmetics.
The ring seal is inexpensive, but it is quite difficult to buy it in stores, and not everyone can order it on AliExpress. Therefore, some women make such linings from scrap materials. Keep in mind that durable materials (for example, cable insulation) are not intended for contact with skin and can cause allergies, and safe rubber rings will last no more than a month and a half.
A compromise between store-bought and homemade lining can be sealing the ring with hot silicone from a special gun. Squeeze a line of silicone onto the inside of the ring, spread it and let dry. This tab is less durable than the finished one, but it is safe for the skin. This method is convenient for reducing rings made of alloys that are not altered in jewelry workshops.
Nail polish
The most affordable way to size a ring is to apply several coats of clear nail polish to the inside of it. How many layers you need will have to be determined experimentally. Sometimes it is enough to coat it five to seven times, but if the ring is too large, there will be 10 to 15 layers. To avoid spoiling the work, wait until it dries after each layer. Of course, the process can take a long time, but be patient, otherwise everything will have to be redone. If over time the decoration becomes a good fit for you, the layers of varnish can be easily washed off.
However, varnish and remover will not harm only precious metals. But alloys can change color or texture, so it’s better not to experiment with them.
How is reduction carried out?
Most often, having discovered a problem, jewelry owners go to the jeweler. And they do it right! A professional will be able to make this metal item suitable for you. What will the jeweler do?
Technologies
There are three main technologies for reducing size:
- tenderloin;
- compression;
- stavka.
But unfortunately, not every ring is suitable for one or another method .
REFERENCE . Design or inlaid gemstones will place significant restrictions on how the jewelry can be treated.
Let's take a closer look at the operating technologies for various rings.
Tenderloin
Using a notch involves removing part of the rim to reduce the overall diameter. The master removes 2–4 mm from the central part of the rim or at the seam site, if the ring has one. Then he squeezes the ends and solders them. The product is slightly deformed, turning from a circle into an ellipse.
But a specialist using a special crossbar will also correct this deformation. Then all he has to do is clean up the seam and polish the product to return it to its original shine.
IMPORTANT! You can calculate how much will need to be deleted using the following algorithm. You need to multiply the amount of size reduction by Pi (3.14). For example, reducing the product by 0.5 sizes, we get: 0.5*3.14=1.57 mm.
Compression
The simplest and fastest technology for size reduction. The process involves driving a ring into a cone-shaped hole. In this case, a special round knob is used.
REFERENCE! The work does not require a long time. The finished product can be picked up in 20–40 minutes.
But with all the advantages of technology, it has a serious limitation. It can only be used for simple wedding rings; any ornament or stones do not allow this method to be used.
Insert
The most complex and expensive method, but it is used only in very difficult cases. This technology consists of soldering another ring of smaller diameter onto the inside of the ring . This allows you not to touch or deform the outer contour. But at the same time achieve a reduction in size.
REFERENCE! This work can take up to 4 days. The artist may need additional time to find enough material for your decoration.
Jewelry with complex shapes is often made from a rare precious material that may not be available in sufficient quantities in the workshop.
3D printing of a duplicate ring
If the question “is it possible to reduce the size of the decoration?” The workshop answered in the negative, but you are afraid of ruining it using homemade methods, order a duplicate ring. A specialized printing house designer will make a 3D computer model for you, and then it will be printed with transparent photopolymer on a special printer. Using the sample, the jewelry workshop will create a mold for casting and make an exact copy of the ring, but of the required size.
This technique allows you to repeat even very complex patterns or openwork rings, the size of which cannot be changed. If we are talking about a purchased product with complex details, in which you are not satisfied only with the size, then it will be made from the same metal and the same stones will be inserted into it.
However, copying a ring from a 3D model is not the cheapest way to make it fit. Therefore, it is more often used for antique rings, so as not to spoil the original.
As you can see, reducing the ring is quite simple; you don’t have to go to a workshop for this. True, this work is painstaking and requires patience.
Jeweler's help
Also, if a gold ring is important to you, then you can turn to a jeweler for help. This service does not cost quite a lot of money. Anyone can use it.
The cost of this service is about 500 rubles. This amount is small. Husbands often mistakenly choose the wrong ring for their wives. And to get a partner, the girls manage to wear it on different fingers. You can also reduce the size. This mainly applies to simple products, without engraving and complex composition.
Transparent enamel
What to do if the ring is too big? There are situations when jewelers are unable to help and refuse to take on the work. These can be rings with multiple stones, which after alloying can simply either deteriorate or melt during operation. And then you have to try different methods at home. One of them is to buy clear nail enamel.
You need to paint the inside of the ring in ten layers. Carefully remove the excess with a knife for cutting linoleum or an ordinary stationery knife. It all needs to freeze. And then you can try on the product, even if it is still too big for you, you can apply several more layers of enamel. Reviews about this method are positive and indicate the popularity of the method. The duration of this method depends on external factors. If the product is frequently exposed to various chemical influences, the enamel can quickly fall off. And it will last for several years.
In general, there are many ways to fix this problem. In any case, you need to think it over carefully and make the right decision. Many people immediately resort to a jewelry workshop for help. They will not only give you advice, but also help you choose the right option for your ring. And if this is ordinary jewelry, but you have unusual stories associated with it or simply value it, then you can use different methods at home, which are listed in this article.
The engagement ring will be more difficult to deal with at home. But still, many people wonder what to do if the ring is large? It especially often happens that a man bought and guessed the possible size. At the same time, the ring was not the right size for the girl. It is not recommended to bend it yourself at home or perform other methods to eliminate this problem. It’s better to turn to specialists for help; they will choose the method themselves to ensure that your ring fits in size. According to omens, the ring should be worn on the ring finger. Some people simply hang it around their neck with a chain or another finger. This is not entirely correct and will lead to unnecessary questions that are not entirely pleasant, as we have already said above.
Therefore, it is better to wear the wedding ring on the right finger, follow the omen and, most importantly, believe in it.
What to do with an engagement ring if it becomes small
The procedure used to increase the size of jewelry is called rolling. In some cases, it can be used to enlarge the ring by 2 sizes. It is done quite simply. The ring is heated red-hot and carefully rolled out on a special metal rod. It is made in the shape of a pyramid, where the maximum thickness is at the base. At the same time, the rod itself is made of ledges designed for different sizes of rings.
There is an opinion that rings with stones or rings should not be rolled out. Actually this is not true. After all, only metal is rolled out. In addition, the master can use another option to increase the size of the ring.
If the ring is decorated with a stone, you can increase its size by sawing. To do this, first a stone is taken out, then the ring is carefully sawed in the place opposite to where the stone is fastened, arranged by inserting an additional piece of metal, soldered at the joints, and the stone is transferred back.
Big wedding
What to do if the engagement ring is too big? Yes, sometimes that happens. That is, it happens that the ring purchased for a wedding does not fit in size. There is a sign that if the engagement party turns out to be big, then love and happiness go away with it. But still, don't be upset. Since everything can be fixed, it is worth taking action quickly. You can move the decoration to the middle finger, it is thicker than the ring finger. This option is suitable for women and men. Perhaps just hang a chain and wear it around your neck. But this option is not suitable for everyone. Since many people prefer to wear it on the ring finger. If you put a ring on your other finger, other people will not perceive it. They will assume that you are not married and may constantly ask questions on this topic. The most correct thing would be to contact a jeweler. He will measure everything and adjust the ring to the desired size, and you will be satisfied with the result. The price is not too expensive, and anyone who has encountered this problem can afford it.
Three ways
What to do if the ring is large in size? Jewelers can reduce size in three ways: adding, cutting and shrinking. Addition is considered the most rare procedure. More expensive in price. Another thin one is added inside the ring, and because of this the size becomes smaller. Compression is the application of high temperature. During this procedure, the ring becomes smaller. Cutting occurs as follows: simply part of the metal is removed, and the product becomes much smaller.
