Question regarding Sizing Balls - Don''t know which jeweler to believe:

[jewelgal]

I have a lacy diamond anniversary band that is 8mm wide.

My ring size is 6 3/4. This band is a Size 8.

I don''t want to have the ring permanently sized. I rather have a ring guard
or sizing balls.

Yesterday I went to my jeweler (who might not have the latest technology)
to have the sizing balls put in.

He told me that if he does that, he would have to sodder the balls on, which could possibly turn the finish on my white gold ring to a blackish color. Then he would have to send it out to be re-finished.

Well, I did not want to take a chance. I don''t want my ring to be refinished in any way.

So I left and my ring is still loose on my finger. I feel bad because I don''t wear it much because if I do, I have to be conscious of it all the time. I have to make sure of my finger movements so it doesn''t fall off. I can''t work like that.

Then today, I just came back from another jeweler in one of those "mall" type places to see if they had a skinny band to wear in front of this ring to sort of keep it from falling off my finger. The jeweler I met told me that my jeweler is crazy and that it would no way turn the finish color. He said he could do it, put 2 small balls, but i would have to leave it w/ him for 1-2 hours. (I want to watch them do it. I don''t want to leave my ring out of my sight). This jeweler also told me that the ring guard would ruin the finish/filigree work on the sides. He said it woudl be scratchy and uncomfortable.

So I left w/ nothing.

I was hoping that someone out there can tell me the up-and-up on sizing balls and soddering techniques for installing them and whether or not it would change the finish or color.

On tv I''ve seen "cool to the touch" soddering tools. Do jewelers have these?
Is this what they use to put the balls on to prevent change in color??

Any help and info. is very appreciated. I''ve had the ring for 4 months now, and I can''t wait to finally wear it on a daily basis.

Thank you in advance...
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[beaujolais]

or sizing balls.>

Just a question - why?

--

I have sizing balls on a few of my rings, I love them. I have great big ones, also. They only take me up a half size.

 

[strmrdr]

what is is made of?

btw the first jeweler if right, anytime a ring is soldered it might need a polish and if its white gold a re-plate.
Why it would have too to be sent out for that is weird if he can solder it he should be able too polish and re-plate it.

 

[oldminer]

Some jewelers who do light repairs may not have the electro-plating equipment set up for rhodium plating. Usually a light polishing will restore enough whiteness to do without a replate, but a discoloration that heat may cause can always be hidden with rhodium. He might have to have someone else do it.

I have never heard of temporary sizing balls, but changing an 8 to 6 1/2 is a lot do do with sizing balls no matter how they are put in. Instead of sizing balls, how about having someone make an interior collar to your finger size which fits inside the existing ring. Just have it solder tacked to a spot or two inside your ring and you now have a ring which feels good and has not been altered in the way sizing it would. It might take a couple days and won't be done while you watch, but it will be a good way to get a fine fit.

 

[Isabelle]

Sizing balls are necessary when you get a ring that no matter how low the size, it keeps spinning around. My Legacy ring was so top heavy, even after I sized it down, so I had to get them put in. In your case, you can''t really size a Legacy eternity ring, but sizing balls will only change the size by about 3/4 of a size, if you are lucky. Mostly it only makes about a 1/2 size decrease. In any case, of course, they are soldered into the ring. I would trust the original jeweler since he was honest with you about what it would entail. You will have to let him send it out to get re-plated, but it''s not a big deal, right? Anytime you solder something, there is intense heat. I never asked Tiffany, but I am sure when they inserted the sizing beads into my ring, they also re-dipped the platinum shank in rhodium. Pretty standard stuff there. Let us know what you decided. Good luck!