Regardless of the cost and type, gold jewelry wears out and breaks over time. If your gold chain is broken, you can quickly and easily repair it. Of course, it is better to repair the chain than to spend money on buying a new one, since repairs cost about 200-3000 rubles, and sometimes more. Today there are workshops that repair jewelry, but let’s figure out how to identify a workshop that has a reasonable price and good quality of work.
Why do you have to resize your ring?
Throughout life, the human body changes. It rarely happens that there have been no changes in your figure over the years, so almost everyone faces the question of the need to change the size of their jewelry. The most common reasons may be:
- changes in body weight, weight loss or weight gain, affect the size of the fingers;
- a family jewel inherited from a close relative;
- a gift from someone who doesn't know the exact size.
It is uncomfortable to wear a ring that is the wrong size. Even if you manage to put it on your finger, it will either press or try to fly off. Therefore, if you like the decoration, it is better to increase it according to your size. In most cases, this is a simple and affordable procedure.
In what cases should it be reduced?
Reducing the ring size may be necessary in several cases:
- if you have lost weight;
- if the ring was inherited;
- if it was given to you without first trying it on.
The size of cheap jewelry can be easily adjusted using home methods, even try cutting out a piece at the bottom of the product. However, for expensive rings it is better to use the services of professionals who will guarantee the safety of the appearance of the product.
If you are just about to purchase a ring, then try to try it on. However, remember that this should not be done if your fingers are very cold or swollen - in this case, there is a risk of choosing the wrong size of the product.
Enlarge a ring at home: an effective way
In some cases, it is possible to enlarge the ring on your own. There is a way to solve the problem at home, which includes several steps:
- Select a metal cone that matches your finger size.
- Wrap the cone in foil to protect the jewelry from damage and scratches.
- Heat the ring and put it on the cone.
- Gently tap the product, expanding to the desired measurement.
The process is labor-intensive and must be performed carefully so as not to damage the ring. Therefore, it is not advisable to increase the size of the “engagement ring” at home.
What to do if the ring has a stone or a diamond?
Work on resizing often begins with heating the product, and stones, especially precious ones, cannot be subjected to heat treatment. They may change color, become cloudy, or crack. Therefore, before starting work, the jeweler must warn the client that the stone will have to be removed while the metal is being processed , as well as about an increase in payment for the work performed.
After stretching the ring, the stone is returned to its place. Sometimes boring can be used to increase the size of a ring with a stone. The decisive factor in this is the thickness of the tire . If it is sufficient, then the decoration can be increased by a maximum of half a size. The work will take from 10 to 30 minutes, all this time the stone will be in its place. There is no need to delete it.
Another method used for inlaid jewelry is to insert a piece of metal. In this case, the jeweler will prefer to laser solder the gold patch. Upon completion of the work - polishing, grinding - the applied part will not be visible, but such processing will take at least an hour.
How can a master jeweler enlarge a wedding ring?
In order not to take risks and not worry about the safety of valuable jewelry, it is better to take the product to a jeweler. This will guarantee that the process of increasing the size will take place quickly and efficiently, and the expensive jewelry will not lose its pristine beauty.
Jewelers use several methods to increase the size of a wedding ring:
- Stretching. This is the simplest and most inexpensive option. It consists of using a special metal cone onto which a ring is placed after annealing. The device is gently rotated, which causes the jewelry to stretch. Once the desired size is achieved, all that remains is to rinse and polish the product.
- Insert. If you choose this method, the ring will have to be sharpened with a small amount of metal. The craftsman cuts the shank and polishes the product with the required amount of gold or silver.
- Insert. If you choose this method, the ring will have to be sharpened with a small amount of metal. The craftsman cuts the shank and polishes the product with the required amount of gold or silver.
- Boring. This method involves removing a small amount of metal from inside the rim of the jewelry. Boring will allow you to increase the size without external changes to the product. This method is only suitable when you need to expand the rim quite a bit.
The method is not suitable for rings with a wide rim and for products with openwork inserts and large stones.
It is important to choose the sample and color of the precious metal correctly so that no differences in color or seams are visible on the finished product. The method is expensive, since the price includes not only the work, but also the cost of the material being ground. Professional work will allow you to maintain the ideal appearance of the product even with a significant expansion of the ring.
Depending on the problem and type of ring, the jeweler will select the ideal option for enlarging the product.
Which decorations are difficult or impossible to roll out?
Laconic, smooth rings are considered “problem-free” jewelry; an experienced specialist can enlarge them in a matter of minutes. But changing the diameter of a small ring is not always possible. Sometimes expansion can have a negative impact on the decoration, and craftsmen do not take on the job, realizing the risks.
Ring in a jewelry store
They will probably refuse the service if:
- The ring is jewelry. The alloy of such products is unknown; the master will not be able to predict how the metal will behave during work. Also, jewelry can release chemical compounds harmful to humans when heated.
- The weight of the decoration is up to one gram. Such jewelry works are too thin and fragile for expanding manipulations.
- The product is inlaid with a path of precious stones. Before enlarging, the master removes the stones, but this is not possible in all cases. Large precious minerals may fall out of the socket after the diameter is expanded.
- Ring material: platinum. To work with such a refractory metal, you need special equipment, which is not available in every workshop. Also, such an alloy may darken at the weld site.
- Patterns or engraving are applied to the surface of the product. The drawing may “float” due to stretching and heating.
- The ring has a galvanic coating. Electroplating is used to increase the wear resistance and durability of jewelry. In this case, expansion work is possible, but after that the coating will need to be restored.
- The product is coated with ceramics or jewelry enamel. These materials are sensitive to heat and may react by darkening.
Which rings cannot be enlarged?
The problem of small ring size is not always solved. Some jewelry will still have to be put aside until you lose weight or passed on to the younger generation. Cannot enlarge:
- costume jewelry, because jewelers do not risk working with alloys whose composition is unknown. It is not clear how this or that metal will behave when heated and mechanically affected.
- rings with engraving, under the influence the inscription will deteriorate and lose its beauty.
- openwork rings, because patterns may “float”, which certainly will not make the product better.
Difficulties arise with platinum rings and jewelry with stones. Platinum is a very demanding metal that requires special equipment.
Working with stones requires special attention. They do not always retain their ideal appearance when heated, so they are removed before work. For products with scattered minerals, it is better to use the expansion method by insertion. In any case, the work is carried out carefully and exclusively by professionals who have the necessary equipment and are familiar with the specifics.
Pricing factors
The price of the service may vary. The cost is influenced by the following factors:
- Decoration form.
- Material of manufacture.
- Width and thickness of the product.
- The presence of stones and other inserts.
- Availability of engraving.
- Type of technology used.
- Difficulty of work.
- Equipment used.
- How many sizes should I reduce?
- Urgency of order execution.
- Master's qualification.
Expanding a Wedding Ring: Risks
Modern jewelry workshops can solve the problem of increasing the size of a ring in just an hour or two. Most often, problems do not arise, but their risk cannot be excluded. The worst thing that can happen to jewelry during expansion is:
1. Change in metal color. This can occur when rings made of alloys and coated silver are enlarged. If a silver product can be restored to its former appearance with proper processing, then costume jewelry behaves unpredictably.
2. Tarnishing of the stone. This can happen when heated. To avoid this, you can remove the stone from the ring before working or try not to heat it.
3. Imperfect shape. Enlarging a ring “in a hurry” can lead to the fact that the finger will end up with not a round ring, but an oval-shaped product.
Don’t want to face such nuances? Look for a trusted jewelry workshop and craftsmen with extensive experience.
What determines the cost of ring enlargement or reduction services?
The price is determined upon acceptance of the order, taking into account the standard price list and the specifics of the work. The cost mainly depends on:
- depending on the chosen method - rolling and boring is cheaper than stretching the decoration or adding an insert;
- features of the ring design - working with a smooth shank costs less than with a textured surface, enamel, blackening, embossing, diamonds and other decorative elements;
- using precious metal from the workshop's reserves - additional materials are required when increasing the insertion technology or when increasing the thickness of the shank from the inside to reduce the diameter of the ring.
Also, the estimate may be affected by the need for related repairs, such as strengthening stones, etc. Often, when clients send jewelry to be rolled out, they order engraving. Such work is paid at separate rates.
The order acceptor or master will agree on the calculated cost with the client.
Signs associated with increasing the size of a wedding ring
Wedding rings are a symbol of love and fidelity, a kind of amulet of a family idyll. There are a large number of beliefs and signs about the accessory. One of them predicts disaster in the event of breakage or damage to jewelry. And this makes me think: is it possible to enlarge a wedding ring, especially by insertion?
Remember, if the engagement ring is too small for you, you should not consider this a problem. Because there are always professional jewelers who will solve this problem in an hour or two. And you will again be able to wear your favorite piece of jewelry, rather than storing it in a home box. Wear symbols of eternal love and be loved!
Repair of chains in the GoldLazer workshop
In our jewelry workshop “GoldLazer” you can order the repair of chains made of gold, silver, platinum and any other materials.
We employ highly qualified specialists who will qualitatively repair your jewelry, restore a broken chain or replace a lock. As a result, you will receive a perfectly serviceable product that will serve you for many years.
Modern equipment and extensive experience allow our craftsmen to carry out high-quality chain repairs reliably and quickly.
