They make a gold ring bigger by a process known as ring shanking, which involves adding metal to increase the ring's circumference.
Ring Shanking Explained
Ring shanking is a common technique jewelers use to resize rings that are too small. Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Cutting the Band: First, a small section is carefully cut out of the ring's band.
- Adding Metal: A piece of new gold is then inserted into the gap. This piece must be an exact match to the existing metal in terms of purity and color.
- Soldering: The new metal piece is carefully soldered in place. This involves using heat and a bonding agent to fuse the metals seamlessly.
- Smoothing and Polishing: After soldering, the area is smoothed and polished to ensure a seamless look and a comfortable feel, so the added metal appears as a continuous part of the ring.
Why Ring Shanking is Necessary
Rings often need resizing for various reasons, such as:
- Weight Fluctuation: Changes in body weight can affect finger size.
- Aging: Fingers can change size naturally with age.
- Initial Sizing Errors: The ring may not have been sized correctly when first purchased.
- Gifted Rings: Sometimes, a gifted ring isn't the correct size.
Example
Imagine you have a gold ring that is slightly too tight. A jeweler would use the ring shanking method, following the steps described above, to add a small segment of gold, increasing the overall diameter and making it a comfortable fit.
