Rings are the most individual jewelry, very demanding on the physical parameters of the owners. If the size of the same earrings, chain or brooch affects exclusively the aesthetics of the product, then with rings the situation is fundamentally different.
A large ring is, to put it mildly, inconvenient to wear; too small is completely impossible. So, should you sell your favorite jewelry or put it in a box until better times?
Not at all necessary: there are ways to adjust the ring to size. They are not universal, they are not suitable for all products, and the range of size changes is limited to a maximum of a couple of units, but still!
So what to do if the ring is too small?
Several reasons to change your ring size. A way to enlarge a ring at home
An increase may be required in the following cases:
- change in body weight;
- purchasing through an online store where the size chart does not correspond to reality;
- a gift from a person who didn’t guess the right size;
- the decoration was inherited;
- the owner of the jewelry is subject to regular swelling of the fingers.
Most often there is a need to increase the size of the wedding ring. This can be done at home, but the existing method is quite labor-intensive and dangerous, as it can lead to serious defects in the product. The best solution would be to contact a jewelry workshop.
Simple and safe option with boring
It is quite possible to increase the size of a ring with a stone in the simplest and safest way - through boring the product. This procedure involves cutting out the inner layer of the tire. It allows you to enlarge your ring by about half a size. The method is ideal for products with decorative and precious stones that have a wide shank.
The process is usually performed using a special machine with a clamp. It is not suitable for rings that are too thin. Only for wide ones. Takes approximately 10-30 minutes. However, this method has its drawbacks. Due to the use of rolling or boring, the thickness of the tire will decrease. It will become thinner than its original thickness.
How do jewelers increase the diameter of a ring?
Increasing the diameter of a ring is one of the most common services provided by jewelry workshops. There are several methods for this procedure; the jeweler chooses the appropriate one based on the characteristics of the product.
Rolling out a small ring
So how do you increase your ring size?
Rolling is a simple universal method that involves increasing the diameter by reducing the thickness of the decoration.
The ring is heated, placed in a special device and carefully expanded. Afterwards, the rim of the decoration is leveled, ground, and polished.
It should be taken into account that products become thinner as they are rolled out, so this method is not suitable for narrow rings.
Rolling out a ring in a jewelry workshop costs about 600 rubles, and the process itself lasts no more than half an hour.
Rolling out the ring to size
Inserting an element into a product
The method involves enlarging by soldering a piece of metal of identical composition and shade.
The jeweler cuts the ring from the bottom, then pushes the base of the entire piece apart by 3.14 millimeters. This is exactly how long one size is.
Metal is inserted into the incision, and the resulting seams are removed with a laser. Next, the entire product is immersed in a chemical solution of boric acid, it gives the decoration a shine and smoothes out the soldering areas.
If the work was performed by a qualified professional, the insertion site will be completely invisible.
This work lasts up to three hours, the price is up to 700 rubles.
Stretching with the Pinocchio tool
To change the diameter, the master uses a special tool, nicknamed “Buratino” in the jewelry industry. It is used both to increase and decrease the diameter of seamless products.
How much does it cost to stretch a ring?
Jewelers in any salon can stretch the ring. But you shouldn’t take your word for it, because in the worst case, you will lose your favorite ring forever. Be sure to inquire about the following things before entrusting your jewelry:
- way of doing the work;
- quality of the tools used;
- Is there a guarantee?
Important! Depending on the method chosen, part of the ring remains. In reliable shops, the jeweler should give you the part that was removed, and not keep it for himself.
The cost of ring enlargement starts from 600 rubles for a standard procedure (gold engagement ring without inserts). The more expensive the stone, the greater the risks. For a product with a diamond they will demand at least 2 thousand rubles. Specialists will not undertake work on a product that has cracks or chips.
Which decorations are difficult or impossible to roll out?
Laconic, smooth rings are considered “problem-free” jewelry; an experienced specialist can enlarge them in a matter of minutes. But changing the diameter of a small ring is not always possible. Sometimes expansion can have a negative impact on the decoration, and craftsmen do not take on the job, realizing the risks.
Ring in a jewelry store
They will probably refuse the service if:
- The ring is jewelry. The alloy of such products is unknown; the master will not be able to predict how the metal will behave during work. Also, jewelry can release chemical compounds harmful to humans when heated.
- The weight of the decoration is up to one gram. Such jewelry works are too thin and fragile for expanding manipulations.
- The product is inlaid with a path of precious stones. Before enlarging, the master removes the stones, but this is not possible in all cases. Large precious minerals may fall out of the socket after the diameter is expanded.
- Ring material: platinum. To work with such a refractory metal, you need special equipment, which is not available in every workshop. Also, such an alloy may darken at the weld site.
- Patterns or engraving are applied to the surface of the product. The drawing may “float” due to stretching and heating.
- The ring has a galvanic coating. Electroplating is used to increase the wear resistance and durability of jewelry. In this case, expansion work is possible, but after that the coating will need to be restored.
- The product is coated with ceramics or jewelry enamel. These materials are sensitive to heat and may react by darkening.
Where can I enlarge the ring?
Services for changing the diameters of women's and men's, wedding and decorative rings are offered by the GRIGOF jewelry studio.
In each case, our specialists select the optimal technology and explain to the client its features, advantages and risks. They carry out the work carefully and carefully - so that the ring does not lose its material value and original decorative effect, but acquires the required size.
The workshop has modern tools for all types of work:
- for enlarging rings and rings - the equipment allows you to stretch, bore and roll out shanks without visible marks, and insert additional fragments into them;
- reduction - it is possible to extend the shank from the inside, cut out pieces, roll decorations (compress after heating).
We work with any precious metals, so you can place an order to reduce the diameter or increase the size of a gold ring, platinum, silver, or made from a combination of jewelry materials.
Clients located in Moscow can visit our studio (the addresses of two metropolitan GRIGOF workshops are on the website), and from other regions they can send jewelry by courier service. The quality of work is guaranteed.
The worst thing that can happen to a ring from a master: the main risks
Interfering with the structure of a product is always associated with certain risks. If a specialist has an irresponsible approach to work, the following defects may be observed:
- Changing the shade of the alloy. Most often this happens with silver items that become lighter due to high temperatures. The situation can be corrected with special treatment.
- Loss of shine of the stone or appearance of cracks. It occurs due to intense heating, so qualified craftsmen always remove minerals from the frame before working.
- Changing the shape to oval.
- Seam visibility. This usually happens when the ring consists of two alloys, each of which has an individual melting point. Not every jeweler can carefully disguise the resulting seam.
- Deformation of the inscription. Occurs when attempting to resize engraved jewelry.
Such troubles can be easily avoided if you contact qualified specialists.
Which rings should not be rolled out?
- The size you get after rolling depends on the thickness of the tire. If the ring is too thin, when you try to expand it, it may simply tear. It is better to solder a piece of gold into such an accessory. Before starting the procedure, the master will carefully examine the jewelry for seams, chips and cracks. Sometimes, existing damage can cause the ring to fail to stretch, because it can burst in unprotected places.
- Rings with rotating inserts cannot be rolled out. Such a piece of jewelry can only be enlarged by sawing off the inside, and not every jeweler will undertake this.
- Designer jewelry with engravings, stone inserts, diamond cuts and non-standard coatings also cannot be stretched, as this can lead to damage to the decor.
- Fashionable combinations of two or more metals, unusual alloys cannot be rolled out. The temperature and pressure at which metals become soft are different for all materials, so the ring can be deformed.
Folk signs about rolling out a wedding ring
Rings have become part of everyday human life so long ago that they could not help but become part of various beliefs.
- Breakage or loss of wedding jewelry means discord in the family. The logic of the sign is very clear; after all, the ring is an attribute of love and devotion.
- Darkening of the ring means unpleasant news.
- If the wedding ring has become small and is replaced with a new one or rolled out to increase the diameter, then a prayer for family well-being should be read over it. It is especially important to do this for couples married in a church.
You should not attach great importance to superstitions, and contacting a jewelry workshop with a good reputation will help you avoid defects.
Enlargement of a wedding ring
What products can be rolled out?
Before you start rolling, keep in mind that not all products can be processed in this way. For example, you cannot use rolling for rings with rotating inserts. You should not try this method for bimetallic products. It is not recommended to roll out even if there are inscriptions, engravings and drawings.
If your rings contain stones, you must carefully remove them before performing the procedure. Otherwise, when the ring is stretched, they may leave their “nests” and jump out. At the end of the work, you can return the stones back and securely fix them using pliers, for example.
Jeweler's opinion
Molokanov N.M.
Jeweler, 26 years of experience in jewelry production.
Clients often wonder how to stretch a ring that has become out of size? Modern equipment allows you to both increase and decrease the diameter of the decoration. This is one of the most common services provided by jewelry workshops. It is not recommended to roll out the products yourself. Without proper skill, jewelry can be easily damaged. The procedure is very inexpensive, so you will save time and avoid possible defects.
Application of mechanical stretching of metal
When answering the question of whether it is possible to increase the size of the ring, one cannot help but recall the method of mechanical stretching of the metal. However, the method is not suitable for products with complex decorative patterns. The presence of a small stone in this case is allowed. The ring itself should also not be too wide. Its approximate thickness should not be more than 10 mm.
During the work process, the master usually performs calculations and determines the size. After that, he rotates the fixed decoration on a special crossbar and heats it. Thus, he manages to achieve suitable dimensions of the product. At the end of the procedure, it is necessary to eliminate roughness and uneven areas of the tire. To do this, it is cleaned and polished.
