Can stainless steel be soldered into/on gold? Arthritis ring lock questions

[SparkleFest]

Hello all! Hoping a jeweler can help me with this. First and foremost, I'm asking because my Mom can't wear her rings anymore due to the arthritis swelling/damage. I have it now too, but so far only in the joints closest to the fingertips. So the question is pertinent to me as well, but a bit later.

I asked my local jeweler about 2 years ago to quote an average price to put a gold arthritis "locking" device so she could wear her rings, it was almost 600.00 US. Uhmmmm, okay.....a bit too much. Told my Mom could she pick her favorite ring? No, she couldn't (she'd love Pricescope, has lots of rings).

So I was thinking today, what about a cheaper metal, like ss or perhaps some other metal, could that be soldered onto gold? Silver? She has mostly gold rings, both white and yellow.

I know about the coil ring sizer plastic thing-ies, but with the arthritis in all her hand joints, I don't think she could put one of those things on. So the idea of having her rings sized up to fit over her knuckle and then putting those things on, I don't think it would work. Thanks in advance!

 

[Tophat1]

You may want to try something like this. She could size up her rings, put the ring on her finger and pull down over the knuckle, and then slip this on to keep the ring from spinning

RINGO Multi-Size Ring Adjuster:10-Pack of the Invisible Ring Sizer, Spacer, Fitter with Transparent Memory Material for a Perfect Fit - Not Metal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWTZC9H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6W9ZBbR4HCXTX

 

[kindred]

How about having sizing beads put inside the bands?

 

[missy]

I have a similar issue and what I do is size up my rings and then add sizing beads or for quick fixes add this from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073PRQ754/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's a photo of the coils on my OEC ER.





I prefer sizing beads to match the metal my ring is (usually platinum) as they stay put and easily get over my swollen knuckles.
Here's a photo of my rings with sizing beads. The sizing beads come in various sizes.

 

[SparkleFest]

Thank you everyone for all the ideas. Unfortunately I don't think Mom could get one of the plastic sizer on by herself. Her arthritis has made all her fingers so large, that any small "fiddly" things, she can't do.

Missy, the sizing balls, hmmmmmmmmm, I think I'll ask my jeweler. My worry is that they would have to be so small to go over her knuckle, that once on her finger it would be too big.

I was hoping someone here would know if a different metal than gold that is cheaper like stainless or something, could be soldered/blended onto a gold ring. Then, I could get several of her rings done for her.

 

[missy]

Thank you everyone for all the ideas. Unfortunately I don't think Mom could get one of the plastic sizer on by herself. Her arthritis has made all her fingers so large, that any small "fiddly" things, she can't do.

Missy, the sizing balls, hmmmmmmmmm, I think I'll ask my jeweler. My worry is that they would have to be so small to go over her knuckle, that once on her finger it would be too big.

I was hoping someone here would know if a different metal than gold that is cheaper like stainless or something, could be soldered/blended onto a gold ring. Then, I could get several of her rings done for her.

I could be wrong but I think the main cost of soldering the ring for your mom would be more in the cost of the work vs the cost of the metal. IOW the difference between using stainless v gold would not be as much as you think. Just a guess.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

For the type of problem your mom has, adjustable shanks are the best way (maybe the only way) to have the ring large enough to go over the knuckle but not so large as to spin uncontrollably once on the finger. They are a bit price-y. Here is one online retailers page with adjustable shanks with prices that are probably typical. A bench jeweler can put peg heads on the shanks.

http://africagems.jewelershowcase.c...omRAC=true&recommendationSource=SiteSearchRAC

This is a solitaire shank that would accept shank style heads.

http://africagems.jewelershowcase.com/products/sh235/?groupId=52168&recommendationSource=SiteSearche

As far as soldering stainless to gold, it's possible with the correct type of flux. What are you proposing to solder? I'm not sure I understand exactly how you're trying to address the problem.

 

[SparkleFest]

As far as soldering stainless to gold, it's possible with the correct type of flux. What are you proposing to solder? I'm not sure I understand exactly how you're trying to address the problem.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that! I am trying to find a less expensive way to have the arthritis type lock put on as she has LOTS of rings. My jeweler quoted me 600.00 (US) for one ring. Thinking outside the box is all. If the mechanism itself was not made of gold, I was thinking it would lower the cost.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

Here is a listing from Stuller... Natasha-cupcake posted the same ones from Africa Gems but the page is from Stuller's website. There seems to be a few branded brands.

Seem to have the same kind.
https://www.riogrande.com/search?q=adjustable+ring+shanks&c=&t=1&pageSize=100

Carries Superfit.
http://www.newyorkfindings.com

What about emailing David Klass & asking him what the cost might be for something like this? Maybe he can alter your moms present setting?

Search Adjustable shank, arthritic shank, arthritic ring on PS. There have been a few threads over the years for this same thing. I agree that with severe arthritis that the only thing that will work is the adjustable shank.

 

[hmr_mama]

My mother-in-law has a similar issue. She sized her ring up to fit over her knuckle and then wears a rubber washer (that she bought at a hardware store) on top of that. Your mother could opt for the trendier option:

www.ensorings.com
(There are many other silicone rings on the market. This is the only company I have experience with.)

I have the Enso thin elements silicone ring in black pearl and I quite like it. I wear it over a sapphire ring that's too big on my ring finger and it keeps it safe.

 

[MollyMalone]

* * * I am trying to find a less expensive way to have the arthritis type lock put on as she has LOTS of rings. My jeweler quoted me 600.00 (US) for one ring. Thinking outside the box is all. If the mechanism itself was not made of gold, I was thinking it would lower the cost.

The fundamental problem is that -- so far as I can tell -- no one is making adjustable shanks/shank inserts in cheaper metals; I assume that's because the manufacturers figure few people with gold or platinum rings are going to want a shank or insert that doesn't match/harmonize. Here's a webpage from Hoover & Strong that's more than 10 years old, but provides a detailed overview of all the ones I've ever seen when I was helping my arthritic mother try to arrive at a solution:
http://technical-articles.hooverand...arthritic-finger-joints-and-adjustable-rings/

There is an inexpensive option your mother could try if there isn't a huge difference (more than 2 ring sizes) between her knuckle size and her ring size lower on her finger: an inner ring guard that has some "spring" to it. These worked OK for my mother who found the sizing beads/bumps too uncomfortable & was unwilling to make the investment in an hinged, adjustable shank/insert for any ring other than her wedding and engagement rings. The Counter-Loc ones are typically gold-filled (white or yellow), but they also are available in 14K white or yellow gold.
https://www.stuller.com/products/704/?groupId=35035&categoryId=21768

These are available only in gold-filled:
https://www.stuller.com/products/22650/?groupId=14267

Doesn't look as if Stuller carries these (which I think is what my mom used):
https://www.esslinger.com/stronghold-ring-guards/

 

[Krisking]

OP, please pardon the tangent, but @MollyMalone or anyone: is there a more reliable way than a piece of string or paper to measure one's ring size (for the fleshy part, not the size needed to get over the knuckle?). I went to a local jewelery store to see if there were adjustable ring sizers for this purpose and left after being asked if I was "an engineer or something", because they couldn't answer any of my questions. Similarly, how would a jeweler determine what size of sizing beads to use for a particular customer?

 

[SparkleFest]

Thanks for all the ideas! I will look into all of them and talk to Mom. She has taken to wearing bracelets a lot now, so I may just go that direction for gifts for her. I saw her yesterday and there really is a huge difference between her knuckle size and finger. I think the locking types are the ones we would need.

Thanks again!