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Confused and getting mixed messages about resizing

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clueless2

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
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My e-ring is a size 6.5. I was measured as a size 5. I''m afraid to get it resized for fear of causing the stones on the side to pop off. The ring has one band at the bottom that divides into two bands (where the diamonds start) and meets at the center diamond. One place said that in order to keep the diamond in I would have to cut the band below the diamond and replace with a new band which would have to be different style. Another place said that he could resize it and there would be no worries about the stone falling out (they didnt see the ring). Another place said they couldnt resize it because of the band. I really like the band but I really do not want to lose the ring.

The sizing beads seem to be too small to get the job done. Would a horseshoe sizer work at least a full size? Not sure how to get one - a repair person or an jewelry store. I dont mind if it is a little lose plus I figured my finger would change in size a little. Is there any other way to build the band up on the inside? What would an interior collar or metal ring entail?

Any suggestions?
 
one picture of the ring

viewRing5.jpg
 
another pic

ViewRing6.jpg
 
last photo

ViewRing3a.JPG
 
I''m not really well-versed in this, but the fact that your ring is a 1/2 eternity instead of a full is promising. It should be easy to size within about 2 sizes or so.
 
Date: 7/7/2009 9:13:03 PM
Author: jstarfireb
I''m not really well-versed in this, but the fact that your ring is a 1/2 eternity instead of a full is promising. It should be easy to size within about 2 sizes or so.

I agree, it certainly looks possible from the photos you posted.
 
it should be possible to resize it but it is going to take a skilled benchman.
Ask if they have a laser welder to put it back together after the resize.
Someone just going at it without a clue will destroy the head.
I would find someplace that does it on site and has a laser welder.
 
Agreed that it should be doable, but will take a good bench and equipment. Does the jeweler who sold you the setting have a sophisticated operation - have you inquired there?
 
The ring can be made to fit your finger at 1.5 sizes smaller, but doing it the regular way will just about guarantee that the some of the small, side diamonds will loosen now or shortly afterwards. The usual approach would be to remove the metal from the base of the ring and squeeze it together and re-solder it. This would keep the ring quite round as it would normally be re-shaped after the squeeze. HOWEVER, this normal re-rounding will change the diameter of the ring and tend to make some of the small side diamonds loose. They may be able to all be properly re-tightened, but they may not all really get tightened up as well as they once were.

Another way would be to purposely make the ring less round at the base where the sizing was removed to maintain the roundness of the upper part where the small diamonds are. This makes the bottom of the ring a bit flatter, not so rounded. The small diamonds may loosen later as the ring naturally re-rounds itself in wearing it sometimes. Sometimes it will remain flattish and the stones may stay tight.

I suggest taking maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a size out and then adding enough metal inside the ring, at the base of the shank, to make the ring fit like enough metal was removed to make it 1.5 sizes smaller. Sort of padding the interior to decrease only the inside diameter. You can get away with 1/2 to 3/4 sizes by removal of a small bit of metal without making the side diamonds loosen and then make up for the rest by adding interior metal. It does not need to be a butterfly, just a fairly thin pad of matching gold which would be invisible and not felt when being worn.

It should not be a major problem to have this done correctly if you know what to describe to a jeweler. Now you have what you likely need to tell someone.
 
Not to threadjack or anything but I share OP''s concern; I have the exact same problem trying to resize my pave split shank E-ring from size 6 to 5.25. The best advice I was given was to bring the ring to the jeweler you bought it from. At least if the pave stones come loose, they have the expertise to fix them after the resize.

That''s a very pretty pear ring you got btw, clueless2.
26.gif
 
I have often told folks to return problematic items back to the manufacturer. The original maker often has the capability to do the work and give you some sort of continued warranty on the original item and the services additionally provided to you without voiding their warranty. If anyone else fools around with your piece, it is difficult for a manufacturer not to use the excuse that the item was tampered with, fixed improperly or abused. Then you are just stuck with whatever the condition is. Jewelers who don't feel comfortable potentially ruining your warranty have a justified hesitation in accepting the work you want them to do. They may do it perfectly and all of a sudden a $20 or $60 job obligates them to guarantee your item for a long period of time when it is not at all part of their fee or their obligation. They don't want you to be angry with them so they must do what you have not paid them for, a long term continuing promise of how well the item will hold up in use. They see this as unfair and some very good jewelers may choose to just avoid the work rather than take on a long term committment in which they can lose way more than they ever stood to make on a small repair or sizing job.

No matter who does the work on a ring like the one shown in the photo, a loss or loosening of the side diamonds will likely happen over years of wear anyway. These are tiny stones and very little metal needs to wear away before a stone or two escape their mounting prong tips. Wear and tear are normal and it ought to be accepted and expected.

Once you understand that such a design is not a "forever" design which will never wear out, you can learn to rely on a recommended jeweler who knows how to best perform the job without falsely believing that the jeweler has created some free, lifetime warranty of the ring and all the little diamonds. This is what insurance and a deductible cover. The deductible is on the owner, of course, just like the insurance premiums. It is a shame that you can't find a jeweler who will do this for you as it is definitely not a difficult or challenging task. Done right, it is not a simple sizing job, but it is not rocket science either. I believe your "need" is one that many consumers share and the market will respond with a solution in time. I'm working on one solution myself and probably others are in the process or will address this need, too.
 
A career bench specialist I know says guessing sizes on rings like this often haunts people.

Sizing up is better in such a case (if the diamonds are not touching) beause it can make the holes smaller and tighten the stones. Unfortunately when sizing down metal must be removed; in this case about 3mm (?). Then when you bend the remaining metal to make the ring round the holes for the diamonds will open a little larger. As they get bigger the prongs or clamps will pull back from over the edge of the diamonds in the band, possibly letting them fall out.

The best way to remedy this, short of resetting the stones in an entirely new ring, may be to reset the stones in a new, smaller-sized shank and place the existing head atop the new shank.

Date: 7/8/2009 2:48:59 PM
Author: oldminer
I have often told folks to return problematic items back to the manufacturer.
My initial reaction too. They're probably best equipped to handle this.
 
I know it''s sounds crazy, but the very best way to communicate the right size to a jeweler is to give the jeweler a ring or a sizing ring which fits exactly like you want the ring to fit your finger. Standarization in sizing is non-existent, so a sample which fits properly, no matter what size it might indicate, is way better for a jeweler to use. Better yet, is a sample which fits perfectly and you being present to try the alterned ring on before soldering during the process. Nothing works with less problem than this for getting a ring sized to fit just right. The next morning, your finger may be a different size anyway, but no one can control the normal variation in body chemistry, temperature or finger swelling.
 
I agree with David Atlas - when adjusting this type of ring, care needs to be taken to assure that the small round diamonds are tight.
It makes all the sense in the world to have the original seller handle this- as if there is a problem, it''s easy to assign blame- and hopefully have some recourse.
IMO a seller offering such rings needs to include size adjustment as part of the sale.

Have you asked the seller?
 
This is such a common problem. In the UK we have shopping channels that only sell rings in one size and they say that all designs can be resized up or down 3 sizes but clearly that''s not possible. The amount of people who then complain about loose or lost gemstones is amazing. I definitely would take David''s advice on padding out the inside etc as this seems the safest method.

Good luck and I hope you find an experienced benchman to do the work.
 
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