How Many Times Can You Resize A Ring? [All You Need To Know]

If you are given a precious ring that doesn’t fit properly, then one of your best options is to take it to a professional jeweler and have it resized. Besides, you want your ring to fit comfortably and safely on your finger. This issue happens most commonly with engagement rings and family heirlooms, but it can also happen if you’ve gained or lost weight and your ring no longer fits. But how many times can you look to get a ring resized without the risk of damaging it? I spent some time researching to find out exactly what is involved and what to expect.

So, how many times can you resize a ring? There is generally no limit to how many times you can resize a ring. You actually can resize a ring as many times as you’d like – if the ring can handle it! Most people get a ring resized around two or three times during its lifetime.

It, therefore, depends on the ring you have and how you want to resize it – whether bigger or smaller.

Either way, it’s best to get professional advice regarding any resizing, so that your ring will continue to maintain its best look, structural integrity, and quality.

When you take a ring to a jeweler, they can inspect the ring and offer guidance and advice on whether you should resize your ring.

If you’re here today, you likely have a ring that doesn’t fit well. Its a common problem with rings being passed down generations, unexpected gifts/surprises and changes in weight over time.

Besides, not many people will know what their ring size is to begin with.

Fortunately, ring resizing is usually a quick and affordable way to ensure that a ring fits perfectly on your finger.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the A to Z of ring resizing and alternatives if you later decide against it.

So, be sure to keep reading to get all the information you need!

When Should I Get A Ring Resized?

Even if you know your ring size and a ring fits you comfortably at the jewelry store, it doesn’t mean that the ring is comfortable for you to wear for an extended period of time.

After wearing a ring for a few days, you may find that it can slip out in the shower if the ring is not hugging your finger.

Your ring size may also fluctuate during the day and depending on the season, did you know that your body can shrink during the winter months when it’s colder?

A ring that fits well should hug your finger comfortably, and it should be slightly difficult to take off when pulling over your knuckle.

Any looser and it may slip out as you carry on your daily activities.

If your ring spins or slips easily, it’s recommended that you size it down so the ring can comfortably rest on your finger.

However, when you gain weight, the ring can feel uncomfortable and may cut off the blood flow to your finger, which can be dangerous. You should definitely get your ring resized if this happens.

After purchasing a ring or receiving one as a gift, you should wear it for a few days to see if it’s too tight or too loose.

Since our hands can swell up or shrink down during the day, wearing your ring throughout the day will give you a sense of what’s most comfortable.

One exception to this rule is with pregnant women.

Since their bodies swell up during the pregnancy, any rings they wear can feel uncomfortable.

However, these changes are not permanent, so it’s recommended that they wait until after the pregnancy when their weight stops fluctuating to nail down their ring size.

Can A Ring Be Resized Smaller?

Almost all rings can be resized smaller.

Making a ring smaller is actually quite simple, the jeweler only needs to take off a small piece in the band and join the two ends together. After some cleaning and polishing, you almost cannot tell where the piece was cut off.

Most jewelers allow you to keep the pieces that were cut off, in case you want to size up the ring in the future.

This is highly recommended, so you don’t have to pay for any extra material cost should you want to size up, which will require inserting more metal.

Can A Ring Be Resized To Be Bigger?

It depends on how thick your ring is. If there’s enough material in your ring, the jeweler will be able to melt the metal and stretch it out to fit a bigger size. But, this method can make the ring band thinner and weaken the ring. So, not many people like to size up through melting. Usually, you can only increase half a size using this method.

Alternatively, jewelers can cut the ring and insert a small piece to make it bigger, joining the two ends so that it’s invisible to the naked eye.

This is the most recommended method by jewelers because it will keep the thickness of the ring band. However, this method is also more expensive since you will need to pay for the additional material as well as the labor cost. 

When you take a ring to a jeweler, they will examine the ring and offer their expert advice and guidance on what you can realistically do.

As mentioned above, making a ring smaller is much easier than making a ring bigger, and it won’t change the band’s thickness and structure.

However, if you’re stretching a ring out to make it bigger, it may not work for lighter rings, because it will make the ring band much thinner and affect its structure.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Ring Resized?

Getting a ring resized can cost anywhere from $50-$1000+. It depends mostly on the change required, the materials of the ring, the ring design and the professional used for the service.

The truth is, there are a lot of factors that can impact the cost of a resizing job. It is normally relatively cheap, but some resizing jobs can be very expensive.

You’ll likely be able to make a rough estimate when you look at the ring you want resized. Otherwise, you can always get a quote before you proceed.

Let us look a little more closely at those factors that influence the cost:

First of all, whether you’re sizing up or sizing down. As mentioned above, sizing down is a lot cheaper, because the jeweler will only be cutting away a piece of the band to make it smaller.

Sizing up will require adding additional metal to make the ring band longer, so the jeweler will charge you for the cost of the additional material as well as the handiwork.

If you’re moving up a few sizes, you will need more material, which will definitely cost you more money.

Secondly, the material of your ring will also affect the cost, since some material is much easier to work with, while some others will require more craftsmanship.

For example, yellow gold and sterling silver are very common metals that are easy to resize, so the resizing job won’t cost you much.

However, if you’re resizing white gold or platinum rings, the jeweler will need to use special tools to melt and cut the metal, and there will be extra finishing steps to make sure your ring looks flawless. Therefore, resizing these rings will surely cost more.

Some ring designs are also more difficult to resize. If your ring has a lot of gemstones, the jeweler will need to remove them before resizing and re-attach them after the resizing process is finished to fit the new size.

If your ring has some engravings, the jeweler will need to work around these details while they resize your ring. This process takes a lot of time and work, so it will also affect the cost.

Where Can You Get A Ring Resized?

Most jewelers have a ring resizing service that can help you with your request. If it’s your engagement ring or a gift that’s newly bought, it is highly recommended that you take it to the original jeweler that sold the ring.

Oftentimes, if you have the gift receipt, the jeweler will offer the resizing service for free.

If your ring is a family heirloom, or if it’s not convenient for you to visit the original jeweler, you can take it to any professional jeweler near you and get a satisfactory resizing service.

Its a good idea to go for a consultation before deciding to resize your ring.

Depending on your ring’s design, material, and the nature of your request, the jeweler can give you advice on how best to approach your resizing needs.

How Long Does Ring Resizing Take?

Depending on how complicated your request is, it can take anywhere from five days to a few weeks to resize your ring.

When you visit your jeweler for your consultation, they can give you an estimated time frame that takes into account the level of difficulty of your request, as well as their current workload.

The factors mentioned above, including whether you want to size up or size down, the thickness of the band, the material, the design (whether your ring has any gemstones or engravings), can affect this time frame.

The more complicated your request, the longer the resizing job will take.

Don’t worry, the wait will be worth it!

Jewelers need to be careful and steady while handling your precious rings, so rest assured that your ring is being handled with care while you wait for a satisfactory result.

If you want to learn more about ring resizing timeframes, check out our guide, here.

Alternatives To Resizing Your Ring

If your ring is too small and needs to be sized up, there’s no alternative to resizing – you will need to take it to a jeweler.

However, sometimes when a ring is just slightly bigger than your finger, it may not seem worth the time and money – especially if the ring has a complicated design – to take it for resizing.

With engagement rings, the ring will often fit well without any discomfort, but the gemstone will often move around because it’s quite heavy.

Fortunately, there are low-cost and convenient options that can take in the size of your ring without the involvement of a jeweler.

You can use a ring guard – a small bar temporarily attached to the band – to make the ring slightly smaller and anchor the ring on your finger.

This is a really quick and cheap option, you can get them for a great price over at Amazon and get it delivered with Prime. That way it will arrive on the same day and you can quickly relieve any anxiety.

Just keep in mind that a ring guard is not designed to be used for a long period of time, since it can scratch your ring. Additionally, it will not feel as comfortable as if you were to permanently resize your ring.

Finally

How many times you can resize your ring will ultimately depend on your ring and what resizing you would like done.

Nevertheless, its a common request and many jewelers will offer this service.

Just be sure to do your research and due diligence, and consult with a number of different reputable jewelers before you make a decision.

Ring resizing does not come without risk, and depending on the ring and what it means to you will largely dictate your decision.

In the meantime, if you are worried your ring is too big, get a ring guard on Amazon to ease the stress.

Otherwise, take your time and consider your needs and your budget.

Whatever your request, a reputable jeweler will be able to examine your ring and advise on the best course of action.

Other ring-related size guides you may want to check out:

• Does 1/2 A Ring Size Make A Difference?
• How Long Does It Take To Get A Ring Resized? [What To Expect]
• Does Your Ring Size Change After Pregnancy? [Permanently?]