There are so many reasons to want to resize an engagement ring.
Whether you've recently become engaged and your ring doesn't fit quite right, or you've had a life change that has caused your ring to no longer fit, you might be wondering, "can I resize my engagement ring?" The good news is that, more than likely, the answer is yes.
You will always remember the feeling of sliding the ring onto your partner’s finger for the very first time— but in the case that the engagement ring feels a little bit too loose, or a little too tight, it will likely need to be resized before it will fit your partner’s hand correctly. An engagement ring is one of the most significant purchases you’ll ever make, so it's worth taking the extra step to ensure a good fit.
Ensure the Right Fit to Begin With
Figuring out your partner's ring size to begin with is the first step. While the ring can be resized, it will save time away from the ring and allow your fiancé to wear her ring right away if you can figure out her ring size ahead of time.
Play Detective:
One of the easiest and most accurate ways to find the answer out is to measure any rings the other person already wears on their ring finger. Some people enjoy jewelry and have several rings that they wear daily or when dressing up. For those who are lucky enough to have a partner who regularly wears rings, obtaining this information can be as simple as being a little sneaky. Pay special attention to which ring fits their ring finger, and where they store it when not wearing it. The next time they leave the house without it, simply take the ring to a jeweler and have it sized. The ring can often be replaced without the other person ever finding out and your special surprise can go off without a hitch.
Ask Her Circle:
If your significant other doesn’t wear a lot of jewelry, finding out the ring size might require some outside help. Depending on how much they socialize much with others, it may be possible that their best friend either knows their ring size, or can help you find out. If they don’t already know it, they can bring it up casually in conversation and report back what they find. While not as assuredly reliable as sizing an owned ring, it can still help partners pull of a romantic surprise proposal.
When All Else Fails:
If they do not wear a lot of jewelry and have no friends who can assist, a third option for finding a ring size relies on having a heavy sleeping partner and a delicate sense of touch. Using a small piece of paper or string - about 3 to 4 inches in length - a pen, and a ruler, it is possible to find out ring size using a simple measurement. While they are asleep, carefully slip the paper or string around their finger and make marks for measurements. Using just about any ring sizing chart at a jewelers shop or site, it is possible to find the exact ring size.
What Is the Right Fit For An Engagement Ring?
An engagement ring should be able to slide on fairly easily, but resist enough when sliding off that there’s no risk of it falling off without some effort. You should need some pressure to get over the knuckle on the way off. But if it gets stuck behind the knuckle and needs more than a second to be maneuvered off, it’s likely too tight and needs to be adjusted to a larger size. If it slides off without any pressure at all, that is a sure sign it needs to be adjusted to a smaller size.
Not sure if your engagement ring is a good fit or not? A skilled jeweler will be able to quickly let you know if your ring fits properly of it it needs to be resized by seeing how it fits on the finger. With an investment as special as an engagement ring, it's worth the visit to the jewelry store to be sure!
Can All Engagement Rings Be Resized?
Most engagement rings can be resized, although rings that have gemstones on the entire band (such as an eternity band) usually can’t be resized. Eternity bands don’t have enough exposed metal available for a jeweler to work with, so it is especially important to know your partner’s ring size before you buy a ring with gemstones that go all the way around the band.
It is important to note that there are limits on how much a ring can be adjusted. Typically, you can adjust a ring up to two sizes smaller or larger. Stretching beyond this introduces the risk of damaging the ring and affecting the diamond (or other gemstone) setting.
Lastly, some materials are too hard or brittle to resize safely. For example, rose gold is more sensitive to stress and can crack when being resized, while Tungsten and stainless steel rings are usually too hard to resize effectively.