Whether a ring once belonged to someone else or your finger size has changed, it’s sometimes necessary to have a ring resized to fit. A jeweler can do the work in as little as two hours, though it may take up to a month if the ring has an intricate setting.

A simple resize costs from $20 to $60, depending on the type of metal and region of the country. For a more complex resizing, the cost ranges from $50 to $150. Regardless of the design, making a ring larger will always cost more.

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Factors that determine resizing cost

Four things determine how much it costs to resize a ring:

  1. Larger vs. smaller. The more new metal that needs to be added to a ring to expand its size, the more expensive the job. Some jewelers will attempt to stretch metal, but it isn’t recommended.
  2. Ring Thickness. A jeweler needs to use more metal to resize a thick ring, increasing the cost.
  3. Stones. the more stones there are, the higher the cost to resize. If there are diamonds or gemstones set along the side of a ring that is being sized down, those stones likely will need to be reset due to the alteration in curvature.
  4. Type of metal(s). The type of metal in the ring determines how easy or difficult it is to resize.

From the least expensive to the most, here’s where metals fall on the spectrum:

  • Yellow gold. Although gold prices can be volatile, yellow gold remains one of the less-expensive metals to resize.
  • Sterling silver. Like yellow gold, sterling silver is fairly easy to work with and represents one of the less-expensive metals to resize.
  • White gold. It is the rhodium plating that is applied to white gold that gives it its finish. Once a white gold ring has been resized it requires a reapplication of rhodium plating.
  • Rose gold. This can be a challenge to work with because it tends to crack during resizing.
  • Platinum. A special set of tools must be used to resize a platinum ring. Platinum also has a higher melting point than gold, making it more labor intensive.
  • Titanium. This is very difficult to work with; some jewelers will not resize titanium rings.
  • Tungsten. It cannot be resized because of how hard the metal is.

Selecting a jeweler

There are several things that can go wrong when a ring is resized, including the creation of a weak spot in the metal and loose stones. It’s important to use a jeweler you can trust. Here are a few tips for finding a jeweler:

  • Ask friends and family. If they’ve had a ring resized, find out who their jeweler was and whether they were satisfied with the work.
  • Check locally owned jewelry stores. Most locally owned stores are run by expert jewelers who are in the business for life. They’re your best bet for an honest opinion.
  • Don’t go cheap. If your ring is important enough to be resized, don’t simply shop for the jeweler who will do it for the least amount of money.
  • Consider a traveling personal jeweler. Sometimes, a reputed jeweler travels from job to job and will give you personalized service, including custom repairs, in your home.
  • Listen to your gut. If a jeweler or jeweler’s salesperson seems disinterested or distracted, walk away. Find a jeweler who will take as much pride in the ring as you do.
  • Ask for the metal cutout. If you’re having the size of a ring reduced, ask the jeweler to return the extra piece of metal that’s cut out. Store this in a safe place in case you need to have the ring made larger again. Having the original metal will save money on the next job. That said, experts recommend against resizing a ring too often. Your finger can change as much as a half size from day to day.

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