Question
Band ring
I love this ring but it can only be purchased in a size 7, the stock size. I wear a size 5. Is resizing this ring down 2 sizes possible in your opinion?
Specifications listed on ring:
10 kt yellow gold
Lined with 50 buttercup diamonds
Features six princess-cut white diamonds
Five round-shaped white diamonds
T.D.W. is 1/2 carat
I2-I3, GHI
High-polish finish
Answer
Band with shared prong
Hi, Rachel. Thanks for the question and the illustration of the ring. Being able to see the design of the stone settings is how I am able to give you an answer without much speculation.
You will see I took your picture and used it to show what this answer says. To go down two finger sizes, metal is cut out of the bottom of the ring band, the sides are brought together and brazed, the ring is made round again and all is buffed to make it look like it did before the sizing was done.
However, with this ring there is a problem. Stones go a distance around the band and the center stones do the same in that row. Notice the metal on each edge of a center stone, the metal holding the stone in place. You will see that one piece of metal also is used to set the next stone over, and so forth for all the stones. The side stones also share metal in the settings.
When the ring is made round again or even in the basic bending to bring the sides together in the first place after a piece is removed, guess what happens? The circle of the ring is smaller and this makes the metal used to hold the stones spread apart as the ring is bent to the new size. Remember, this shared metal holds in the diamonds. Spread the metal parts out and the diamonds are going to get loose. How loose? I cannot answer that last part.
If this was a ring I wanted, I would go looking for another one of similar design and much closer to the right size. I fear the sizing will lead to lost stones, either soon or later down the road of time. A jeweler might size it for you but if you did not get it there, you will pay for any stone tightening and the jeweler will likely not be responsible for stones that show looseness later. Do you see what I am talking about? If you are planning to purchase this ring, I recommend against doing that. There may be no problems, if the ring is a lot stronger than usual and the stones are set very snugly; however, my experience says that problems with lost or loose stones is more likely than not.
Rachel, I do not like to give bad news but better now than having problems with a lovely ring from now on.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
