QuestionSince getting engaged and married 11 years ago, I've gained about 12 pounds and then most recently lost about 25 pounds. With the last few pounds, my rings have become very loose, to the point that it's very annoying. I suggested to my husband that I get the engagement ring (which I wear on the outside of the wedding band) resized. I figure this will help to hold my custom made wedding band in place.
My husband, however, is concerned about the integrity of the ring. And he points out that if I regain any weight (NOT going to happen! I'm a gym rat for life now) then the ring won't fit. Let me point out that even before the weight loss, when my hands got cold, the diamond would go slinging to the underside of my hand. So...perhaps the rings were actually just a tiny bit too big to begin with?
The ring is a plain platinum band with a single stone. Can you advise? Is there any reason to worry about resizing this ring? And what should I expect to pay for the job?
AnswerThomas is back with a follow-up--------------------------------------------------
Diane, I sent your answer a while ago this evening. Since then, I realized I missed one important part of the question: Price. Well, in the meantime I was visiting my Internet provider service trying to get things connected right again including email which gets me to this question in the allexperts machine. So, connected again and here is the vital part I left out of the first answer:
A standard pricing used by many jewelers will put the price of sizing down a plain platinum ring with a gemstone at about $50.00. If the ring is over 3mm wide, you are looking at about $65 for the work. Now, going up is much more costly due to the price of the metal and extra labor. I figure from my own work that actual labor on platinum is about 3 times longer than on gold in average cases. Whew...glad to have caught my oversight and gotten this info to you. Again, God Bless. Thomas.
Original Answer Below--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Diane,
I quit smoking a little over a year ago and have gained nearly 40 lbs, this without really eating more. Now, the doctors say my body is not yet stable enough to begin losing this weight. Yikes..I don't like it at all! It is a fair price to pay to get past a bad habit but I finally understand how folks who have difficulty losing weight might feel. This is not and will not be easy. Guess what? I am not getting rid of my britches with 2 inches small waists and have a closet full with just a few larger ones to fit me. Why? I am losing the weight and getting my waist line back. Then, I will not want to wear pants large enough to fall off!
Diane, the same goes with the ring. Sure, you would be foolish to change the size for summer and winter. Yet, now with your rings much too large, it is time to get at least the one made to fit. I realize the custom band may not be suitable to re-size but you can ask a good jeweler for any suggestions, such as two small gold beads in the "bottom" of the band to take up space. Yes, gold is the least costly and most reasonable metal to use and if you have any problems with white gold have the beads made of 18k yellow, considering the beads will not show. The problem with these is some ladies fine the perfect solution. Others do not like the beads at all! Unfortunately, it is a done job when you discover it just doesn't work for you. (The jeweler can remove the beads and any slight traces of gold solder from the inside of the band.)
About the engagement ring, your husband need not worry about the integrity of the ring. I understand why he does and this ring means something very special to him also. The key is this: Find a good jewelers with a bench jeweler working in house; the bench jeweler is the one who actually does the work. Call first to prevent wasted driving. Ask if they are comfortable with sizing platinum rings. If the answer is yes, go and let the jeweler see the ring. Ask how the ring will be joined after the piece is removed to make it smaller. You see, some will use a solder and some will weld the platinum. Welding is the preferred method but with the innovative and fairly new plumb platinum solders available, if these solders are used the work is just as fine as welding. I will explain below and that may help your husband see from where my thinking comes.
WELDING AND SOLDERING PLATINUM
WELDING is just what it implies. When the piece is removed to make the ring smaller, the ring is rounded out to the smaller size. The ends are bought together and a tight fit is created. Then, a thin piece of the same platinum as removed from the ring is placed between the two ends of the ring shank(band). The jeweler dons welding glasses to protect his or her eyes from the white heat and with a very hot flame welds the thin piece into the ring shank. When finished off, the ring is as solid as from the get go.
SOLDERING HAS TWO APPROACHES. In years past, solders were made and used often for platinum work but unfortunately the solders did not contain platinum! Palladium was (and is) an ingredient. Sure, these solders melt at high temperature and are strong but the color does not match and when polished it is very, very difficult to keep a "solder line" from showing since the solder is slightly softer and when the ring is polished some solder pulls out, leaving a fine line to the eye. Many jewelers still use these solders, unaware of a quite superior alternative.
The alternative is plumb platinum solders. Have you heard of plumb gold? All gold today is plumb gold but it was not in some years prior to the 1980's. Plumb simply means the gold is on the mark with the gold standards issued by our government and these standards are much more strict than in earlier years. Plumb platinum solders means the solder may be chosen with the very same assayed platinum content as the jewelry on which it is used. This is a far cry from the old solders with no platinum content. Surprising, the newer plumb solders melt and flow at lower and more manageable temperatures than the old solders, however still requiring welding goggles.
These come in 950 platinum, 925 and 900 platinum. The color match is wonderful and the strength is wonderful and there is not a color variation or line from buffing. If a jeweler is not aware of these solders, they will thank whomever tells them once they use the products. These are available from the inventor of these solders, Precious Metals West. In our shop, the old solders are simply decorative items, never to be used except in sometimes sizing palladium rings, with which the middle temp ones do a decent job.
www.preciousmetalswest.com
The web site is for a jeweler if needed and also for you folks to take a look and if there is any interest, see a few simple videos of various aspects of metal forming and casting.
WHAT JEWELER? Do not begin to go to a bargain place for this work. Good platinum work requires a jeweler who has experience with the metal and works at a store with a clientele who will have platinum work possibly more often than other stores. A finer store with an experienced bench jeweler is what you want.
Diane, I do hope the answer will help you. I do hope this will ease your husband's mind about the integrity of the ring once the size is changed.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
