How Much Does it Cost to Size My Ring? Gold and Silver
Every day I’m asked the cost of sizing a ring. It does vary from ring to ring, but I understand that you need information. So I’m going to tell you about five rings I sized recently and what they cost.
The Cost of Sizing Gold and Silver Rings Using Gold and Silver Metal Costs
As I write this blog post gold is selling for $1288.20 per ounce. Gold prices fluctuate and they are a factor in the cost of sizing a ring. Sterling Silver today costs $17.53 per ounce. Slight difference in the cost there! Check daily metal prices.
The cost of the metals is only one of the factors in sizing costs. The time spent, the complexity of the design, care taken to protect gemstones and polishing your ring back to new looking are all factored in together when writing up your bill for sizing.
Five Rings, Their Work Done and Their Work Cost
Ring #1 – 14Kt gold nugget style tapered ladies ring, cost to size $117.00
This ring was sized up from a size 7 to an 8.5, one and a half sizes larger. We had to add gold by building a tiny bridge of gold the same thickness and width as the existing ring.
We used the open flame soldering method. There were no gems to worry about or design elements that needed special care. There was just a chunk of gold and a good chunk of time taken to do the sizing.
Ring #2 – a Sterling Silver two flower sapphire ring sized to 7.5, cost to size $35.00
The reason for the low price to size this ring is the fact that the ring is made of sterling silver which is way less expensive than gold. Another factor is its very thin shank.
There is less labor time needed for very thin shanked rings. Another factor is that it started out as a size 6.75 so it didn’t need to be made hugely larger.
A final favor was that this ring had sapphires in the top design. Sapphires are more heat resistant than fragile gems like opal, emeralds and tanzanites. The design had the gems quite separate from the main shank of the ring, so heat that would conduct was unlikely to make it to the gems.
Ring #3 – a 14Kt White Gold Three Heart Diamond Ring sized to 7.75, Cost to Size $99.00
This ring being set with heat resistant diamonds didn’t need special treatment to shield the gems during the sizing process. The shank was pretty thin and we were sizing from a size 6 so it was a straightforward job.
After polishing the ring, we rhodium plated it. This is an industry standard step on all white gold ring repairs. This rhodium plating process costs $30.00 – $35.00. The heat of the work removes the previous rhodium plating and it needs to be reapplied. Read about Rhodium Plating.
Ring #4 – a Sterling Silver, Amethyst and Peridot Ring sized to 7.75, Cost to Size $39.00
This ring was a simple sizing from size 7. We were careful of heat conductivity with the gems. The shank was not super thick.
The big concern in any ring sizing is the gemstones, as open flame solder, the easiest method of sizing, can damage gemstones.
Ring #5 – a Sterling Silver and Moonstone Ring sized to 8, Cost to Size $58.00
This ring has a domed shank that is thick. Because of the shank’s dome shape it was more time consuming to build the new section of shank to insert. We sized this ring from a size 5.5.
Final Notes on Ring Sizing
When your ring is returned to you there should be no visible sign that it was worked on. The only exception to this may be if there is a symmetrical design all the way around your ring, or if an older gold is combined with newer gold causing a slight color difference.
At the end of each sizing, the ring is polished to make it look nice and new. It is necessary as the process of sizing makes the metal look funky.
I plan other example posts on ring sizing costs so you can compare your ring with the ones shown to get an idea of what your ring may cost to have sized.
More of my Costs of Ring Sizing Series:
The Cost of Sizing a Ring Smaller
The Cost of Sizing a Ring Larger
Why Sizing Your Pearl Ring Costs More
How Much Does it Cost to Size My Ring Platinum and White Gold
Ring Sizing – What You Pay More For and Why
How Much Does it Cost to Size my Eternity Band Ring?
Ring Sizing Cost with Milgrain Edging and Carved in Designs
Ring Sizing Jeweler,
Calla Gold
Calla Gold! This is so useful. Keep the pictures and examples coming. I do understand that each jeweler charges different prices, but knowing the neighborhood to expect is really helpful.
You claim you’ll do it again with other examples, I hope you do. This is great stuff.
Tracey
Hi Tracey,
Since I know you’ll be watching, I will for sure do other ring sizing cost posts with examples of other types of rings.
Sizing jeweler,
Calla
This was very informative….I think all of us (ladies) have a least one or two rings that need to be sized sitting somewhere in the back of our jewelry boxes!!!
Hi Tracey,
I agree. I’ve met many women socially who upon finding out I’m a jeweler confide in my about the rings that don’t fit them any more that they’ve been meaning to deal with.
And being me, I call them and we size them!
Calla Gold
Calla, this is so helpful. I had my wedding and engagement rings resized a few years ago — before I met you. I probably would have done it sooner, if I had known the price range. Thank you again for being so helpful and writing such an informative article!
Linda
Thank you Linda for telling me this was good information for you. I’ve definitely run into folks who aren’t sizing a ring because they are afraid it’ll cost $300.00 or something expensive like that. Now there are complex rings out there that might cost $300.00 but they are the exception not the rule.
Calla Gold
It’s nice to be able to get a general idea on the ball park costs of resizing a ring. There certainly are a lot of factors to consider, but even then, it seems quite manageable to resize, and revive, a favorite ring. And as you say, “Wear it, don’t warehouse it.”
Hello Renee,
You are absolutely right. It is so worth it to size your rings to fit you rather than warehouse them for some unknown future time!
Calla Gold
Thank you Calla! The cost of sizing a ring was an absolute mystery to me. I’ve never had to have it done and frankly thinking about giving my ring to a stranger to size it freaks me out a little. I also was thinking it could be like $200.00 to size a ring based on something a friend said a couple of years ago. Luckily I am in Santa Barbara and to tell the truth my ring fits way tighter than it used to and sometimes when I want to take it off on a hot day, it’s just not… Read more »
Linda,
I’m pleased to shine some light and certainty on ring sizing pricing for you and your friends.
Calla Gold
My fiance actually proposed with the ring his mother had. So it’s important to us both. Her ring finger happens to be larger than mine. How much would down sizing cost? The ring is 6-7 and my finger is 5-5.5
Shadae,
Congratulations on your engagement. Do you live in the Santa Barbara area? I’d need to ask you questions about the design of your ring, thickness of the width and depth of your ring, whether it was yellow gold, white gold and if so what karat or platinum. Please email me your phone number so we may answer my questions and get you a ballpark price for sizing your special ring.
I’m a quick email away calla@callagold.com.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I need to size down…what do the jewelers do with the gold. Do they simply remold it to smaller size, or do they take the gold away?
Hello Donna, Thank you for your question. If it is a large sizing with a big chunk taken out they will often return it. If it is a minor sizing the piece taken out is tiny and is credited against your bill for the work. You’ll notice if you sent two rings in to be sized and one went one size larger and one went one size smaller that the ring being made smaller would cost noticeably less. Once a jeweler has a bunch of little lumps of removed gold they will usually take it to a refiner to recycle… Read more »
I have a gold ring with diamonds set like a bouquet of flowers I guess you could say, the ring is two pieces and fits together like a puzzle, the shanks are thin but the ring it self is a little big for my finger and I’ll need to have it sized down to a 6. I’m wondering if you could maybe give me an estimate on how much that will cost, any help would be appreciated, please contact by email, thank you. The ring was a gift to my fiancé from some one else as well, so we don’t… Read more »
Jessica,
I will email you.
Calla Gold
I have a white gold sapphire and diamond ring that I had to get cut off my finger it’s a size 8 but my fingers are now a size 11 how much would that cost to get repaired and ‘re sized?
Hi Nicole,
It’d help me to see your ring. The top view so I see how the settings survived the sawing off process and a view of the saw part. Email me at calla@cox.net. I’ll give you an estimate.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
i have a Sterling Silver men’s ring size 13 and I need to get it sized to a 16 I was trying to figure out how much that would cost me. If you would please contact me by email:gummybear83112@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Hi Selena,
Will do. I’ll email you requesting a few pictures to see what kind of a ring it is if it has gemstones and the design elements that might be affected by that extreme a sizing.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla