Gold rings are made bigger primarily by adding more metal to the band. Here's how jewelers typically accomplish this:
Methods for Increasing Ring Size
Jewelers use different techniques to increase the size of a gold ring, depending on how much larger it needs to be.
Minor Adjustments (Less Than a Half-Size Increase)
- Stretching: For very slight increases, the jeweler may use a ring stretcher. This tool carefully expands the band without cutting it.
- This method is usually suitable for minor sizing adjustments only.
Significant Adjustments (More Than a Half-Size Increase)
- Cutting and Adding Metal: When a ring needs to be increased by more than a half-size, the jeweler will:
- Carefully cut the ring band.
- Add an additional piece of gold to the ring to increase its circumference. The piece of metal will be chosen to match the ring's existing metal in purity, color, and carat.
- Solder the additional metal to the cut ends of the ring band.
- Shape the ring back into a perfect circle. This process includes filing, polishing, and making sure the ring maintains its original design.
- This method ensures the structural integrity and appearance of the resized ring.
The Soldering Process
Soldering is crucial in resizing a gold ring, and here's what it entails:
- Precise Cut: The jeweler makes a clean and precise cut in the ring band.
- Adding Metal: The new piece of metal is carefully fitted into the opening.
- Soldering: The jeweler uses a torch to melt a special solder at the connection points, fusing the metals.
- Shaping and Finishing: After soldering, the ring is shaped to restore its circular form, filed, and polished to blend in the soldered joint.
Considerations
- Metal Matching: It is critical to use a matching metal (gold of the same purity, karat, and color) to maintain the ring's appearance.
- Stone Settings: Jewelers must be careful to avoid damaging any stones during the resizing process.
- Ring Design: More intricate ring designs might require more complex resizing procedures.
In summary, resizing a gold ring generally involves either stretching it or cutting the band and adding new metal. According to the reference, for increases greater than a half-size, cutting, adding, and soldering is the method used.
