QuestionWhen I was pregnant, I gained some weight and by my 6th month, my wedding ring wouldn't fit anymore. I went to a store and bought a ring that said it was sterling silver and wore that in place of my wedding band. I still like to wear the ring because it reminds me of my pregnancy, but it's clearly not silver. It's turning kind of a grey color and isn't as shiny, no matter what I do. I really want to preserve the ring and was wondering if I could get the ring plated in silver to keep it looking good. I'd also like to resize it (it's much too big for me now) and bond it to my wedding ring. Would all this be possible?
Thanks so much.
AnswerGrace, I understand the value of this costume jewelry ring to you. Yes, it does help represent a very significant part of your life.
Unfortunately, that first word in this sentence answers it all. Plating base metal with silver is difficult and certainly not a job a local jeweler will even attempt. You see, it all depends on the base metal and then the item must be given a base plate first. Silver is not easy to plate in a small shop and I do not know of any who do that. Rhodium cannot be used either since likely base layers of perhaps two metals (copper and nickel) would need to be plated first in order for the rhodium to be done well as a durable plate.
Of course, the major problem is having the ring sized to fit your finger. If the ring is brass, possibly a jeweler will size it for you. If the ring is of a nickel based metal perhaps a jeweler will size it for you. If of any other metal, you will get no takers and it will be difficult enough to get a jeweler to do the job even if the metal is workable.
With regular redoing of the plate finish (if even possible and someone will choose to do it), having the ring joined to the wedding ring is not a good idea. I believe you are then facing a regular redoing, a lot of expense and time between when the band simply will not be attractive next to the wedding ring due to wear.
Grace, can you find another way hold on to this ring without wearing it as part of your wedding ring? If some sort of attractive silver color finish can be applied would you consider wearing it as a pendant, for instance? Take the ring to jewelers who do repair and custom work in-house. That is, don't go to a jeweler who must send out all repairs. The actual working jeweler can look at the ring and tell you possibly better news than I have provided. At least, if anything can be done, this is the place to check.
I really have to tell it straight up, just as my years of experience and knowledge dictate. I do not like to be the provider of unwanted news. But, you asked to find out. That is why you get this answer. I do wish you the best with it.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
