Sizing a ring is more complicated than what it might seem. You may hear prices ranging from $30-$120. There are often many variables involved such as:
–Is the ring being sized up or down? How far do you have to go?
–How wide is the ring shank?
–Are there any side diamonds, and how far down the ring are they set?
–Is the center stone tension set or a half bezel (this makes it harder)?
Don’t always go for the CHEAPEST price
Many people are tempted to base their decision of where to go on price alone. As is the case in many other businesses, price is far less important than the reputation of the jeweler.
A simple ring sizing (one of the easiest goldsmithing jobs), if done quickly can result in a ring shank bottom that is of uneven thickness or has a visibly poor polish (should have a mirror finish inside and out). Even worse is the common problem of the repair person wearing the bottom of the ring too thin (the bottom shank should be the same thickness as when you took it in).
In the most common scenario, the bench jeweler is just working too fast and not being careful enough to grind down the spot where the blob of solder was put to size your ring. A good jeweler instructs their repair people to take their time and do a good job and only grind down the area where the sizing was executed, and not grind down the entire bottom of the ring.
There’s another reason you might be subject to low quality repair work, and surprisingly this is something you might never understand without some inside information. Some stores will actually allow their repair people to keep any gold dust they accumulate as a kind of bonus. With today’s gold prices, that’s a pretty good deal. Just not for you and your ring. If the bottom part of the shank looks thinner than when you brought it in, it probably is…and now the bench jeweler’s on vacation.
How can you avoid this?
My advice is to look for an independent jeweler who does the work in-house, and don’t expect it to be done while you wait. Stores with a “one-hour sizing” wait or similar policies are rarely able to do quality work (all jewelry repair work is not created equal). Many places will accommodate customers who request their ring be done in less time, but honestly it is not in your best interest to negotiate this. Most jewelers will sacrifice quality of the work before they sacrifice the sale altogether.
I would say that a reasonable ring sizing is in the neighborhood of $35-$90, and that’s for a less complex ladies ring. With today’s gold prices, sizing a thick men’s band could be closer to $200 and still be reasonable. Ask your jeweler what type of labor is involved in sizing your particular ring.
Most importantly, take it to a well-known local jeweler you can trust. Word of mouth is powerful and the honest jewelers usually have a good reputation because of it.
How much would it be to get a princess one diamond gold ring to get sized down???
If we’re talking about a standard thinner solitaire, I would say $35-$50 is reasonable for a quality job.
How much would it cost to get white gold with a dimaond size 7 sized up to a 9
how much will it cost to go from a 6 to an 8
How much should it cost to get a set of wedding bands sized from a 7 to an 8?
It’s hard to say. However, if you have two bands soldered together and they need to be sized down there are usually extra costs involved. A jeweler has to unsolder the bands, size each one, and then solder them back together.
How much would it cost to make a size five ring into a 4.5? It is a solid band with a pearl in the middle.
how much does it cost to go from a six to a 4
Do you think it should be possible to get an antique ring (fairly ornate platinum with one larger diamond, four very small ones etc) sized down from an 8 1/5 to a 5 1/2? If not, do you think it is reasonable to try to get it sized down to a 7 and wear it with a sizer?
There’s always a risk in sizing down ornate vintage rings. I’m guessing 1 size down would be a lot safer than 3, but it depends on the ring. Ask your jeweler to be honest about the risks involved.
How much would it cost to get a ring resized (down) 5 sizes? Is there danger in down sizing a ring so much if it has stones in it? If so would it be better to get the stone made into a pendant? How much would this cost approximately? The rings are 18K.
Thanks for your advice.
There’s definitely a risk in sizing down a ring 5 sizes, especially if it has stones in it. The cost will all depend on the type of ring and what could occur during the process (cracks, loose stones). I would find out all the risks involved with sizing it down that much, and decide if you want to take the chance or create a new piece.
Is it possible to have a thin shank on a sterling silver diamond ring made wider? I’ve heard it’s possible to have the current shank taken off(sawed off?)and a new wider shank soldered on?
If it’s possible what price should I expect to pay?
You can not just “make it wider” but yes, you could re-shank the ring with a wider piece. However, given the ring is sterling silver, it will likely cost more than what you paid for the ring in time/labor.
How much would it cost to get a male ring, no diamonds, silver and gold in the middle, re-sized from a 9.5 down to just a 9?