Big Knuckles and Spinning Rings? Try the Butterfly Spring!
White Gold Butterfly Spring on Yellow Gold Top Heavy Ring
Do You Have Large Knuckles? Do Your Rings Spin?
Do you have a big gem ring you've given up on because it won't stay upright? Is it sad and alone in the bottom of your jewelry box?
You Want to Hear Joan's Story and What We Did For Her and Her Spinning Ring?
Joan had a gorgeous top-heavy blue topaz and diamond ring that spun around her finger every time she wore it. It constantly slipped sideways bumping into the fingers on either side.
Aside from the annoyance factor and having to adjust it every five minutes, Joan and I agreed that a ring that tilted sideways all the time, just wasn’t worth wearing.
It’s Not Your Ring Size That's the Problem, It’s Your Knuckle!
Joan's problem with her top-heavy ring was that the size she needed to size up to to fit over her knuckle was way bigger than her finger behind her knuckle.
This Butterfly Spring, Keeps Jo's Diamonds From Being on the Bottom of Her Hand
Basically, her knuckle was a couple of sizes bigger than her finger—not an uncommon condition.
The "Knuckle to Finger Differential" (My Name for This Important Measurement)
The difference between the size of your knuckle and the size of your finger behind it, is your Knuckle to Finger Differential. If it exceeds one or two sizes, rings become hard, if not impossible, to wear comfortably.
That was Joan's problem. I explained to Joan that sizing the ring tighter wouldn’t solve her problem. First, she had a top-heavy ring that gravity was always trying to pull down, and Second, Joan had a big Knuckle to Finger Differential. What she needed was a "Butterfly Spring" for her pretty ring.
This video will help you to establish your knuckle to finger differential which helps your jeweler to determine if you need one of the large knuckle ring solutions and which would suit your finger and your ring style the best.
The Butterfly Spring
This Ring Needs a Butterfly Spring
A Butterfly Spring is thin strip of springy metal that fits onto the inside bottom of the shank of a ring. It flattens out when going over the knuckle but once the ring’s in place, it springs up and grips the finger to help prevent the ring from spinning.
How Did It Work for Joan?
Joan’s ring needed to be a size 9 to fit over her knuckle, but a size 7 once resting on the bottom of her finger.
Once I’d sized her ring to 9 with a tad extra to make room for the spring I soldered it in. Now with her Butterfly Spring in her ring, it slipped over her knuckle and didn’t spin anymore. Joan was thrilled! “I can wear my ring again!” she said.
You Have Other Choices if You Have Large Knuckles
Speed Bumps for a Little Bit of Ring Support From Spinning
Speed Bumps help if you have a slightly enlarged knuckle. See my blog post about Speed Bumps.
Butterfly Springs help if you have a larger knuckle to finger differential. They also help with top heavy rings that just won't stand upright!
Hinged Ring Shanks work when you have very enlarged knuckles. See my blog post all about Hinged Ring Shanks and Finger Mate Shanks!
“Wear it, don’t warehouse it.”
Hinged Ring Shank. This One is by Finger Mate Corp.
When you own jewelry that you don't wear that is sad. Often times if it is a piece you don't connect with, in which case let's re-design it. But when you love it and then you don't wear it, that is heart breaking. Check out these solutions to rings that swing around. Wear it don't warehouse it!
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla Gold
Big Knuckle Blog Round Up
Ring Spin or Ring Flop…One Possible Solution – Speed Bumps
Big Knuckles and Spinning Rings? Try the Butterfly Spring!
Solving Spinning Stacking Ring Problem with Speed Bumps
Finger Mate Hinging Shank for Rings for Enlarged Knuckles
How to Figure Out Your Knuckle to Finger Differential for Rings
I never even knew those options existed. You brilliant rascal, you! I am one of the big knuckled people of the world.
Kymberly, thanks for reading and sharing. Big knuckles and how they effect the fit of your rings is an issue for a lot of women. I’m hoping the word gets out that there are a number of potential handlings for this. Calla
How cool! Calla Gold, I know women who have enlarged knuckles, it’s like a death sentence for their rings which they quit wearing, including their wedding rings.
Your can-do Calla Gold attitude that you should wear your jewelry because it is yours and just try these solutions to spinning rings is really cool!
Such a neat quick fix. It’s not even super difficult. And it sure beats not wearing your rings!
You are just so right Alison! Thanks for telling me about your friends, hopefully they see this blog post.
The butterfly spring is like a miracle to some clients. By keeping the “up” part of their ring “up,” it also saves their gems from getting too banged around.
Calla
Who will install the butterfly spring. I got my rings at Kay jewlers and they just have balls to install and dont even know what they charge for it..
Ashley,
If you live near Santa Barbara, call me to install your butterfly spring. If you live out of the area, choose a jewelry store that does their own repairs and does custom work. Measuring you for the proper size for your butterfly spring is almost more an art than a science. If you find a jeweler you really like, they can contact me and I’ll give them some technical advice to help them do it correctly for you.
Calla Gold
Hello Calla Gold, Can butterfly springs be made out of platinum, too? I would like to get one for a platinum engagement ring. Also, how long does it take to have one put on a ring-having the butterfly spring sized, created, and set?
Thank you!
Harmony, I’ll respond in a private email. I need to ask you questions about size, width and other details about your ring to do a proper bid.
Calla Gold
Calla what about men’s rings? Can they have the butterfly spring put in? My fiance is going to have a heck of a time finding a ring that will fit because of his knuckle to finger ratio.
Welcome Kelsey,
Men’s rings can indeed have a butterfly spring put in. I’ve only installed two butterfly springs on men’s rings because so many men wear plain bands and it matters not if they spin.
But with a ring with a defined top or crown area, if your man has a large knuckle to finger ratio a butterfly spring may be the only viable way to help keep the crown area pointed to the sky!
Thank you for asking and giving me a chance to answer your excellent question.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hello Calla Gold,
For one with small hands, i seem to have a knuckle issue with rings. Nice to know about the butterfly spring, I like the name too!
Jackie
Hi Jackie,
The butterfly spring might help your rings stay upright on your small hands.
I’ll tell you one person who could use a butterfly spring, Mariah Carey on American Idol. She has a butterfly ring that flops ridiculously. She’s one butterfly spring away from a properly flying butterfly ring!
Calla Gold
Can the Butterfly spring be sodered on a Titanum mans band? My boyfriend has a plastic knuckle and his ring has to be big enough to go over the knuckle but that it is too loose for his finger and slides up and down.
Hi Kathy,
I am not able to solder on titanium. When I realized that titanium couldn’t be worked on I wrote this blog post:
https://www.callagold.com/wedding-rings/dont-buy-titanium-or-tungsten-wedding-bands/
I’m sorry to say that I cannot attach a butterfly spring to a titanium band.
I’ve never heard of a plastic knuckle, how does that work?
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
The plastic knuckle is a replacement for the bone that was crushed. It was done 40 years ago so technology is much better now I am sure.
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for letting me know. I’m glad they were able to come up with a solution to a crushed bone 40 years ago.
Calla
Hi Calla, do you know of any jeweler in the St Louis area who can install a butterfly spring?
Hi Julie,
I’ll look in my contacts and see who I know that does butterfly springs. Give me a bit of time and I’ll email you. Thanks for asking.
Your Butterfly Spring Jeweler,
Calla
Dear Julie,
Call John David Jewelers 314-997-4560
They do butterfly springs and come highly recommended by a trusted jeweler.
I think you’ll be quite pleased with it.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hi Calla,
I never heard of Butterfly Springs either – what a great solution! I need to learn how to do it – would you mind telling me how you make and install them?
BTW, I shared this on Facebook. For some reason your name didn’t”pop up”so I couldn’t tag you.
– – Nan
Hi Nan, Thank you for sharing my blog post. It didn’t tag me because though we like each other’s Facebook business pages since we aren’t “friends” on FB tagging is disabled. At least I think that’s why. The installing is a number of steps as each butterfly is custom made in width and length. But each ring needs to be evaluated as not all rings are candidates. But more complex is the measuring of the person’s finger to determine if this solution is the right one. And then how to size the ring before installing the butterfly spring so that… Read more »