Throughout life, most people experience situations when, under the influence of some factors, body weight fluctuates - it can decrease or increase. This is especially inconvenient for women.
Moreover, problems arise not only of an aesthetic nature - the figure changes, but also the favorite ring becomes huge, dangles on the finger and there is a risk of losing it. And here the question arises: how to reduce a wedding ring at home, without resorting to the help of jewelers?
Why do you have to resize your ring?
Throughout life, the human body changes. It rarely happens that there have been no changes in your figure over the years, so almost everyone faces the question of the need to change the size of their jewelry. The most common reasons may be:
- changes in body weight, weight loss or weight gain, affect the size of the fingers;
- a family jewel inherited from a close relative;
- a gift from someone who doesn't know the exact size.
It is uncomfortable to wear a ring that is the wrong size. Even if you manage to put it on your finger, it will either press or try to fly off. Therefore, if you like the decoration, it is better to increase it according to your size. In most cases, this is a simple and affordable procedure.
In what cases should it be reduced?
Reducing the ring size may be necessary in several cases:
- if you have lost weight;
- if the ring was inherited;
- if it was given to you without first trying it on.
The size of cheap jewelry can be easily adjusted using home methods, even try cutting out a piece at the bottom of the product. However, for expensive rings it is better to use the services of professionals who will guarantee the safety of the appearance of the product.
If you are just about to purchase a ring, then try to try it on. However, remember that this should not be done if your fingers are very cold or swollen - in this case, there is a risk of choosing the wrong size of the product.
Enlarge a ring at home: an effective way
In some cases, it is possible to enlarge the ring on your own. There is a way to solve the problem at home, which includes several steps:
- Select a metal cone that matches your finger size.
- Wrap the cone in foil to protect the jewelry from damage and scratches.
- Heat the ring and put it on the cone.
- Gently tap the product, expanding to the desired measurement.
The process is labor-intensive and must be performed carefully so as not to damage the ring. Therefore, it is not advisable to increase the size of the “engagement ring” at home.
Old wives' tales or a real threat...
Let me start my story with the reason for choosing such a topic. The other day I met a couple I knew (I was present at their wedding), got to talking, I asked how family life was, and suddenly I noticed that the girl had a plaster on her ring finger, right under the wedding ring. “How did you manage to hurt your finger in such an unusual place?” — I asked. The guys laughed and shared their troubles. During the wedding party and after it (the fruits of the “Lady Fitness” exercises), the bride lost so much weight that the symbol of their love began to subside and the only correct way out of the situation for them was to wear it on a plaster (and not in one layer).
How beautiful this is is not worth saying - in general, it’s good that I caught them on the first “plaster” day. I asked why it couldn't be reduced in diameter? But what I heard in response shocked me. They don't downsize a ring because of a sign! Just imagine!!! I, of course, remembered that there is such a belief that you cannot cut the ring..., well, you understand... but there are ways to reduce it, as they say, without “surgical intervention”. I forgot to tell my “heavily inventive” friends about this and decided to definitely write an article about it.
You probably already know how I feel about signs; I’ve written about them more than once. This is from the series: My husband is returning from a business trip... And returning is a bad omen. And if you really believe in them, then only the good ones, about profit and birds, or good news and spiders, but the things that prophesy separation, losses, and so on are like grandma’s horror stories. Remember that your happiness depends only on you.
How can a master jeweler enlarge a wedding ring?
In order not to take risks and not worry about the safety of valuable jewelry, it is better to take the product to a jeweler. This will guarantee that the process of increasing the size will take place quickly and efficiently, and the expensive jewelry will not lose its pristine beauty.
Jewelers use several methods to increase the size of a wedding ring:
- Stretching. This is the simplest and most inexpensive option. It consists of using a special metal cone onto which a ring is placed after annealing. The device is gently rotated, which causes the jewelry to stretch. Once the desired size is achieved, all that remains is to rinse and polish the product.
- Insert. If you choose this method, the ring will have to be sharpened with a small amount of metal. The craftsman cuts the shank and polishes the product with the required amount of gold or silver.
- Insert. If you choose this method, the ring will have to be sharpened with a small amount of metal. The craftsman cuts the shank and polishes the product with the required amount of gold or silver.
- Boring. This method involves removing a small amount of metal from inside the rim of the jewelry. Boring will allow you to increase the size without external changes to the product. This method is only suitable when you need to expand the rim quite a bit.
The method is not suitable for rings with a wide rim and for products with openwork inserts and large stones.
It is important to choose the sample and color of the precious metal correctly so that no differences in color or seams are visible on the finished product. The method is expensive, since the price includes not only the work, but also the cost of the material being ground. Professional work will allow you to maintain the ideal appearance of the product even with a significant expansion of the ring.
Depending on the problem and type of ring, the jeweler will select the ideal option for enlarging the product.
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.
Which rings cannot be enlarged?
The problem of small ring size is not always solved. Some jewelry will still have to be put aside until you lose weight or passed on to the younger generation. Cannot enlarge:
- costume jewelry, because jewelers do not risk working with alloys whose composition is unknown. It is not clear how this or that metal will behave when heated and mechanically affected.
- rings with engraving, under the influence the inscription will deteriorate and lose its beauty.
- openwork rings, because patterns may “float”, which certainly will not make the product better.
Difficulties arise with platinum rings and jewelry with stones. Platinum is a very demanding metal that requires special equipment.
Working with stones requires special attention. They do not always retain their ideal appearance when heated, so they are removed before work. For products with scattered minerals, it is better to use the expansion method by insertion. In any case, the work is carried out carefully and exclusively by professionals who have the necessary equipment and are familiar with the specifics.
What to do if the ring has a stone or a diamond?
Work on resizing often begins with heating the product, and stones, especially precious ones, cannot be subjected to heat treatment. They may change color, become cloudy, or crack. Therefore, before starting work, the jeweler must warn the client that the stone will have to be removed while the metal is being processed , as well as about an increase in payment for the work performed.
After stretching the ring, the stone is returned to its place. Sometimes boring can be used to increase the size of a ring with a stone. The decisive factor in this is the thickness of the tire . If it is sufficient, then the decoration can be increased by a maximum of half a size. The work will take from 10 to 30 minutes, all this time the stone will be in its place. There is no need to delete it.
Another method used for inlaid jewelry is to insert a piece of metal. In this case, the jeweler will prefer to laser solder the gold patch. Upon completion of the work - polishing, grinding - the applied part will not be visible, but such processing will take at least an hour.
Expanding a Wedding Ring: Risks
Modern jewelry workshops can solve the problem of increasing the size of a ring in just an hour or two. Most often, problems do not arise, but their risk cannot be excluded. The worst thing that can happen to jewelry during expansion is:
1. Change in metal color. This can occur when rings made of alloys and coated silver are enlarged. If a silver product can be restored to its former appearance with proper processing, then costume jewelry behaves unpredictably.
2. Tarnishing of the stone. This can happen when heated. To avoid this, you can remove the stone from the ring before working or try not to heat it.
3. Imperfect shape. Enlarging a ring “in a hurry” can lead to the fact that the finger will end up with not a round ring, but an oval-shaped product.
Don’t want to face such nuances? Look for a trusted jewelry workshop and craftsmen with extensive experience.
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.
Signs associated with increasing the size of a wedding ring
Wedding rings are a symbol of love and fidelity, a kind of amulet of a family idyll. There are a large number of beliefs and signs about the accessory. One of them predicts disaster in the event of breakage or damage to jewelry. And this makes me think: is it possible to enlarge a wedding ring, especially by insertion?
Remember, if the engagement ring is too small for you, you should not consider this a problem. Because there are always professional jewelers who will solve this problem in an hour or two. And you will again be able to wear your favorite piece of jewelry, rather than storing it in a home box. Wear symbols of eternal love and be loved!
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
Severe cases
Sometimes a small ring is simply impossible to remove from a finger - this is especially noticeable when, after much manipulation to remove the ring, the finger begins to swell and even turn blue! In this case, there is not a minute to lose! If you are unable to remove the ring yourself, you should not even continue trying - you can only cause harm. Urgently call the Ministry of Emergency Situations - specialists will help you remove the ill-fated ring, which can cause serious harm to your health (there have been cases when, due to the ring not being removed in time. Sometimes unfortunate women and men brought themselves to long-term compression syndrome, which resulted in necrosis of the tissues of the finger with the wearing with a ring on it. In order not to take risks, be sure to seek emergency help. Even such a trifle as a ring that won’t come off can have serious consequences! When emergency workers come to you, they will most likely use special tools - metal scissors , wire cutters, etc. The ring is often deformed if no other way is found to free the finger.Depending on the severity, marks from a small ring will bother a person for about 1-1.5 weeks.
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.
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