Marriage should be a perfect fit—and so should the ring!

We all know that one of the most exciting aspects of an engagement is the ring. (Besides celebrating the love and commitment between two people, of course!) Once you have decided it's time to propose, the next step is likely to choose a ring. Sometimes, however, the ring may need to be resized. But what is the best way to handle that? Let's take a look!

How to Determine Approximate Ring Size

It will be easiest to resize a ring that is already close to the correct size. Of course, the easiest way to do this is to ask directly. This one works best if you don't care about the surprise element of the engagement. If you're looking to be more secretive, you can always ask your partner's friends or family. Another method is borrowing an existing ring from them and bringing it to the jeweler, or tracing it around the inside and outside of that ring to take it to the jeweler.

Proper Fit

It's very beneficial to know how the ring should actually fit in order to determine what works and what doesn't. Luckily, it's pretty simple. An engagement ring should fit the same as any other ring, loose enough to slide on and off without getting stuck, but tight enough that it won't slip off. If it slides on easily and takes about 1-3 seconds to slide off of the knuckle, you've probably found a good fit. If you need more pressure or tools to pry it off, however, it's not a good fit. If the ring slides off your partner's finger simply by them angling their finger downwards, it's too big. Pretty simple, right? These are great exercises to try out to double-check that the ring fits properly.

If you're still uncertain, you can take it to the jeweler and have them size your partner's finger once they have the ring.

How Jewelers Resize Engagement Rings

There are multiple methods used by jewelers for resizing. While there is no "perfect" way to resize all rings, there are two standard methods that work for engagement rings:

If the ring is too big, the jeweler will remove a tiny piece of the shank. (This is the part of the ring that goes around the finger.) They will then reconnect the ring carefully with solder. Despite them taking the ring apart, the ring should show no signs of being resized. The jeweler will clean and polish the ring to ensure that it's as good as new.

When the ring is too small, the jeweler will need to add more to it. Typically, they will cut the bottom and then add a small piece of metal to the shank. Once again, the process is done very carefully in order to reach perfection. When done properly, it should not be obvious that the ring was resized. This process is generally more expensive than making a ring smaller, as they are adding material to it.

Resizing Through Stretching

This process works well for wedding rings, or other rings without any gemstones, as it can damage gemstones. Stretching can also cause damage to the metal and band shape, which is why it's not as popular a method, especially when it comes to engagement rings.

Sizing Assistants

Sizing assistants are used to help a ring fit that is too large. They are small balls that are placed inside the shank, which help the ring stay on the finger.

Rings That Can't Be Resized

While most rings are able to be resized, there are certain types of rings that are difficult or not possible to do this with. For example, rings that have gemstones around the entire band can likely not be resized. This is because there is not enough exposed metal. If you chose this type of setting, it's important to make sure you know your partner's exact ring size. Additionally, certain types of metal, such as rose gold, are too hard or brittle to resize.

Rings are usually able to be adjusted up to two sizes, whether that be smaller or larger. Anything more than that runs the risk of causing damage to the ring. Take these things into consideration and ask your jeweler any questions you may have.

There are many factors to consider when shopping for an engagement ring that go beyond style. Once you have determined that your partner will say "I do," and the look of the ring that would best suit their taste, make sure to do your best research on sizing. Try to find out their approximate ring size if you can, and ask your jeweler questions along the way. Resizing is oftentimes possible, but there are factors to keep in mind throughout the process. 

Remember, marriage should be a good fit—and so should the ring!