Anyone had a ring resized?

[yoopermom]

My DGM is on hospice. At her 80th bday party yesterday, she gave we three GDs her rings. I was gifted with what had been HER DMs diamond, reset into a cocktail type ring after that mom's passing. I'll be back in two weeks (at the latest, pending her health), and I REALLY want her to be able to see me wearing it. I've never had a ring resized, though, and I'm scared about trusting a jeweler I don't with a ring whose worth I don't know (it's not huge,but it is bigger than anything I currently own). So, short of dialing through the phone book (we live in a small town that only has six jewelers), how do I know if they're reputable, what should I expect and ask for, and how long should it take? I honestly am not fond of the setting, so will probably eventually get it reset, but want her to see it in this setting on my finger.

TIA!
Terri

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I had a ring resized a couple of years ago. I went with a chain store and had no complaints. I know they say you should have it appraised, etc. to make sure they don't switch out the stone, but no reputable dealer would risk that. I want to say that at the place I took it it took a little over a week.

 

[yoopermom]

That's my biggest fear, that I'll bring in a diamond and go home with a cubic zirconia. Thanks for sharing your experience, a week would be just fine.

Terri

 

[Art 1]

My wedding band had never come off in many years and I could no longer take it off. The jeweler cut it off and re-sized it for me, took maybe a half hour at the most.

 

[LukenDC]

How much does it cost to have a ring resized? A few weeks ago I took my college ring to be sized larger. The jeweler said that it would cost $150 and I was quite surprised by the cost.

 

[yoopermom]

$150? Ouch! That was more than what I was expecting...

Terri

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

That sounds about right. With my engagement ring, I ended up getting the protection plan that covers any resizing so that I would have to pay that much.

 

[Gigi22]

The re-sizing cost will partly depend on the no. of carats of gold in the existing setting, because you have to add gold with the same amount of carats. I suggest you ask a friend to recommend a reliable jeweller. Where I live, if you give a jeweller a diamond ring to size, the jeweller will test the stones in front of you, so they can correctly write up the receipt/work order for the ring while they work on it. You can always request that they check whether the main stone is a diamond, the jeweller will not be insulted. (They use a small machine, that shines a light into the stone).

 

[goofyernmost]

Yup...just picked my birthstone ring up yesterday. Had it resized from 10 to 12 and it cost $102.00. Nothing is cheap anymore.

 

[yoopermom]

That's so interesting, gigi, about shining the light into it to make sure it's a diamond. I would sure hope it is, but who knows?!? I'll definately make sure and get a detailed receipt.

Terri

 

[dbogen]

I had my wedding set resized about a year ago, I think it was about 25.00 a ring. We have a little jewler in the mall and they did it in about 1/2 hour. The chain store wanted to send it out and it would take a week. I didn't like it being sent out, I had an opal sent out once and I swear it came back with a smaller stone.

Ask around to all the jewlers, and go with your gut.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Does it need to be sized up or down? If down, could you just get a ring guard so it is wearable?

for you, I'm glad she gave you all the rings now, so that you have that memory (and she as well)

 

[Abbie]

If you know you will reset it at some point in the future, you might want to wait and do the sizing at that time, instead of a two step process. Would it look ok on a nice chain and wear it around your neck for your next visit? That would also give you a little more time to ask around and get a jeweler you feel comfortable with.

You must be very special to your grandmother for her to gift you with such a sentimental piece. I hope she has a peaceful passing and I'm sorry it is time to say goodbye.

 

[bananda]

i have to get all my rings sized down when i buy them. i have quite small fingers. the last one i bought was $16 to get resized, but its only silver, not gold.
if you're getting it sized up, it will cost more than sized down because they have to put more gold (or silver) into it.
i would advise getting it appraised. i know a lady who got a link from a bracelet turned into a ring. the jeweller replaces the diamonds and the baguettes. it was visible, the stones in the ring didn't sparkle as much and were a slightly different shape.

 

[yoopermom]

You must be very special to your grandmother for her to gift you with such a sentimental piece. I hope she has a peaceful passing and I'm sorry it is time to say goodbye.

Thank you, Abbie, I really appreciate the thoughts. She was the oldest in her family, and we three granddaughters were each the oldest of our siblings, so we're all quite a bit alike. She never had much financially, so it had to be hard to give up these three rings.

I've been wearing it all day on my pinky, and don't "hate" the setting, so will just get it resized (up, unfortunately), I think. I called every friend with jewelry that I know and got the same recommendation from everyone.

Thanks, everyone, for your opinions!
Terri