GEMS Education
How to Handle Loose Rings In The Winter: Expert Tips & Tricks
Apr
Winter is here and while navigating colder temperatures and snowy streets, you may also find that your favorite rings are fitting a bit looser than usual. Why? Because cold weather can cause your fingers to shrink slightly, causing your rings to feel loose and increasing the risk of losing those precious pieces.
In this comprehensive guide, we’re going to cover practical and safe ways to ensure your rings stay snug and secure on your fingers this winter (and all year long). Whether it’s a cherished wedding band or a statement fashion ring, we’ll show you how to keep your rings where they belong, safely on your finger.
Understanding Why Rings Become Loose in the Winter
Have you ever noticed that as the temperature drops and the snow starts to fall, your rings become a bit loose? Winter conditions can be harsh on our favorite pieces as precious metals and gemstones become more susceptible to damage. Not only do we need to bundle up, but we need to give our jewelry extra care. Read on so your jewelry shines bright all winter long.
Temperature and Your Fingers
Cold weather can cause your fingers to shrink, this is the body’s natural response to cold temperatures. Blood vessels constrict to conserve heat, leading to slightly slimmer fingers, and causing your rings to feel loose and even slip off. While this is a natural, common occurrence, it is also one to be aware of because we want to prevent ring loss.
Moisture and Metal: Preventing Tarnish and Corrosion
During the winter, it is common to experience fluctuating temperatures. You go outside where it’s very cold, then you go inside where it’s nice and toasty. These temperature changes can lead to condensation on jewelry, which accelerates tarnish on metals like silver.
To combat this, make sure your jewelry is dry before storing it. Also, regularly polishing and cleaning your jewelry can help maintain its shine.
Keeping Gemstones Safe and Sparkling
Gemstones require special attention during winter. First, be careful not to expose your gemstone pieces to extreme cold for prolonged periods of time, as sudden temperature changes can cause some stones to crack.
Another winter issue is low humidity, which can dry out certain gemstones such as pearls, making them fragile. Even durable gemstones like garnet can suffer from surface damage due to dryness and static, which attracts dust.
Top Tips for Preventing Ring Loss in Winter
Get a Better Fit. There are a few ways to make your ring fit more snuggly when your fingers shrink, read on to find out more!
Try ring adjusters. These small, silicone sleeves can be easily added onto the band of your ring to provide a tighter fit. Generally inexpensive and easy to use, they are also virtually invisible, making them an excellent winter ring care option.
Consider sizing beads. This is a more permanent solution that involves a professional jeweler soldering small beads inside the band of your ring. These beads help the ring grip your finger without permanently resizing the ring, offering a flexible ring fit solution.
Switch hands. If you normally wear your rings on your left hand, when those temperatures drop, try switching hands. Did you know? The fingers on your right hand are about half a size bigger than the fingers on your left hand.
Caring for Your Hands
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Combatting dry skin and keeping your hands well-moisturized can actually help with ring fit. Dry, cold air not only causes dry, itchy skin, but it can make your skin less pliable, causing rings to slip off more easily. So feed your skin’s thirst and keep your rings snug.
Keep your hands warm! When outdoors, wearing gloves or mittens (but carefully, we don’t want to snag those settings!) not only keeps your hands warm but also helps keep rings on your fingers. Gloves can act as a safety barrier, preventing rings from sliding off unnoticed.
Storage, Maintenance, & Cleaning
To care for your rings in the winter – or anytime, make sure to store it in its original packaging, or a similar soft cloth pouch. This will help avoid scratching and other damage, which will help preserve its sparkle.
Additionally, it is important to keep your rings clean. Cleaning your rings is similar to cleaning all your diamonds and other fine jewelry. First, take a small bowl and fill it with warm water and mild dishwashing soap. Now, let your rings soak for around 15 minutes and gently brush them using a soft bristle toothbrush. Then rinse with clean water, allow to air dry, and you’re done!
Long-Term Solution: When to Consider Ring Resizing
It’s important to know your ring size during different times of the year. If you find the fluctuations are frequent and seasonal, then one of the temporary options discussed above may suit you best. However, if you find your ring is consistently loose and slips off regardless of the season, you may want to consider permanently resizing your ring.
Determine Your Ring Size
The first step is to find your ring size. The most accurate way is to go to a professional jeweler, but if you prefer to stay home, try one of these popular methods using an existing ring, a string, or a measuring tape. Wrap the string around the finger or use it to measure the ring, carefully mark it, then take the string and measure it against a ruler. Or you can wrap a measuring tape around your finger.
And don’t forget, you can order tools online like our free Virtual Ring Sizer.
The Role of Professional Jewelers in Ring Sizing
There are a few things to understand when it comes to resizing. While many rings can be refit, this is not an option available to all rings either due to intricate designs, the metal used, or the use of diamonds and gemstones. For example, eternity rings, which feature dazzling diamonds all the way around the band, can be very difficult to resize.
A professional jeweler can provide advice on the best type of resizing based on your ring’s design and material.
DIY: Tips for Adjusting Your Ring Size at Home
In addition to purchasing ring adjusters or using ring beads, these popular at-home methods below are used to adjust one’s ring size. They are easy and require very few materials.
Tape Method: Wrap a small piece of tape around the bottom of the ring’s band to temporarily reduce its diameter. But make sure that the tape is hypoallergenic so you don’t irritate your skin.
String Method: Similar to the tape method, you can wrap a thin string or even dental floss around the band to provide a temporary size adjustment.
Don’t Let Cold Weather Dull Your Shine
Loose rings don’t have to be a problem this winter. We’re here to help make sure you have the right knowledge and tools so that your rings fit snugly and securely, no matter the weather.
Remember, the key to preventing ring loss is temporary adjustments for immediate needs, professional resizing for long-term solutions, and proper care and maintenance. So stay warm this winter and keep on shining.
