How Much to Size my Ring? – With Matte Finish and Oxidation
I often get calls from people with unique rings who ask me for estimates on the ring sizing cost for their ring. It takes a while to run down the laundry list of factors that effect the ring sizing cost that applies to each unique ring.
In this entry of my “Costs of Ring Sizing” series I’ll discuss the ring sizing cost effect of working on rings with matte finish and oxidation finishes.
Ring #1 – 14kt White Gold with Matte Finish and Channel Set Diamonds Wedding Band. Cost to Size $135.00
This 14kt white gold band ring needed to be sized from 8.5 to 10.5. Diamonds aren’t sensitive to the level of heat conducted during this type of sizing so we were able to leave them in their setting.
Additional to the sizing we reapplied the special satin finish on the top portion of the ring. The final step was a rhodium plating to give it that bright white finish.
Since we were sizing two full sizes and it is a thick band we added a good chunk of white gold in the space we created to enlarge this ring.
Ring #2 – Sterling Silver Triple Row Textured Design Ring with Oxidation. Cost to Size $108.00
This very wide, sterling silver designer ring with pockets of detail and dark oxidation in the recesses, presented quite a challenge. We couldn’t just put a chunk of flat silver in and polish off the excess bits.
We had to form the three humps worth of extra pieces and add them in one by one in their respective sections.
In each added section we needed to add the detail to follow through with the existing design.
Then there is the nice dark oxidation finish that sets off the design and gives it that nice pop. Oxidation comes off with heat work necessary to sizing and has to be re-applied. Even though we were only sizing her ring a half-size larger, the unusual shape added time to the work needed. Additionally we re-applied the oxidation after a thorough polishing.
This is one of those sizing jobs that you don’t want to give to a jeweler who doesn’t do a lot of repairs. By that I mean, make sure that they plan to follow the contour of your design in the work that they do. Ensure as well that they will reapply the oxidation finish.
I mention this because every year I get rings that have already been “fixed” where the design turns into flat boring metal at the bottom with no detail. Uh, no, that is not how it’s done.
And while we’re talking about how it’s not done, I have gotten my share of “fixed” rings where the oxidation was never put back on, thus the whole look of the ring is changed. Once I put that oxidation finish back on the ring, it gets its groove, character and unique vibe back once more.
Ring #3 – Sterling Silver Oxidized and 18kt Yellow Gold with White Topaz Ring. Cost to size $95.00
This beautiful design presented the additional challenge of replicating the oxidation after the heat of sizing burned it off the lower section of the ring.
This ring has oxidation on the silver and the gold sections both. Some of the oxidation had worn off the upper ring before my client asked me to size her ring. She hadn’t worn it for a while as it didn’t look that good with the oxidation worn off.
The whole ring needs to be re-oxidized after heat work is applied during jewelry alterations and repairs.
Even if only the lower part of the ring’s oxidation is removed by heat we don’t just oxidize the lower part because it wouldn’t match the oxidation left on the upper part. Oxidation wears off slowly as you wear the ring, so it always needs to be reapplied fully when work is done on your oxidized ring.
Happily the white topaz wasn’t vulnerable to the bit of heat conducted during the sizing process and was able to be left in its bezel setting. We sized it from a 7 to a 7.75.
Ring #4 – Inherited Diamond Ring With Worn Out Florentine Finish and Black Rhodium. Cost to Size $130.00
This ring needed to get jazzed up for the bride to be. We decided to remove the worn cross-hatchy looking florentine finish on the outer portion of the ring and put on a simple matte finish.
Dark oxidation would have worn off too soon from the center section, but my client wanted that oxidized look, so we went with a black rhodium finish. It created a nice popping drama for the older fashioned style ring.
We sized her ring down two sizes. The white gold was thick and the ring well made. Once sizing was done we rhodium white plated it and finished the center section with black rhodium before the final matte finishing of the outer portion of the ring.
The matte finish points the eye to the dramatic center element very nicely.
More in the cost of sizing rings 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
How Much Does it Cost to Size my Ring – Gold and Silver
Ring Sizing – What Do You Pay More For and Why?
How Much Does it Cost to Size my Eternity Band Ring?
Ring Sizing, Weight Gain and Weight Loss
Ring Sizing Cost with Milgrain Edging and Carved in Designs
How Much to Have My Enamel Ring Sized?
How Much to Size My Ring – With Scratched and Dull Gems
How Much to Size My Ring – With Matte Finish and Oxidation
Happily Sizing Rings,
Calla Gold
I love how you value the original integrity of design, Calla. Doing it “right” might cost more in the resizing, but it also provides more future enjoyment of the ring.
Linda
Hi Linda, When I first realized that there was more to repairs and re-sizing was an early on experience I had as a jeweler. I met a new client who’d had work done on an inherited ring. She was heart broken because when her ring from her grandmother was sized they removed the inscription engraving and messed up the outer engraving. It didn’t seem that noticable to me, but her level of upset got me. I took it to a hand engraver I knew and he re inscribed the inner message which she luckily remembered and re engraved the design… Read more »
I really like these breakdowns and how you go out of your way to explain what factors affect ring sizing cost.
Thank you Lynn.