Can I Size My Antique Vintage Rings?

Most antique vintage rings can be sized without difficulty. The very first thing to do if you are considering sizing your rings is find an experienced Master Jeweler to do the work. Most of these jewelers will have had plenty of experience working with the stones and metals of older pieces, and will work diligently to preserve the quality and workmanship of your rings.

Rings are generally sized by adding or taking away a piece of gold or platinum. This added piece is soldered to the original for durability and then hand finished to match the rest of the ring. In some cases, a master jeweler will actually do hand carving to match the pattern of the original.

Softer gemstones such as amber and pearls, or the ivory of a cameo for example, can sometimes be more difficult to resize. Since the resizing procedure requires heating the jewelry, it is sometimes not wise to expose these softer stones to that heat. The heat from the soldering can travel up the band to the stones and cause damage. This is especially true of silver, as it is a good conductor of heat.

When there is risk of stone damage due to the heating process, your jeweler will sometimes remove the gemstones while the band is being sized and then reset them afterward.

When the sizing involves something like removing and resetting the stones, the cost of your sizing will likely go up. Make certain you get an estimate of the total cost of sizing your antique vintage rings before making a commitment to having it done.

One very popular style of vintage rings included enamel designs on silver or gold bands. These pieces are almost impossible to size as the artwork cannot be duplicated. Another type of ring that may be more difficult, if not impossible to size, is a ring that has a continuous band of stones all the way around the band. With these rings, there is no area where a piece of gold or silver can safely be added or taken away.

For the most part, if you really want to be able to wear your antique vintage rings, it is well worth your time and effort to look into finding the right jeweler to take on the job.