topic Re: Resizing UP in Jewelry

Resizing UP

timeless — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:11:00 GMT

I have been a lover of jewelry for years and have many rings I bought when gold prices were around $300 an ounce.

Fast forward, and my menopausal fingers are about two sizes larger. I can't wear my pretties.

I have some I love and would wear often; however others, I don't like so much.

So, here is my question...

If you were in my situation, would you sell off the ones you don't like to raise money to resize the ones you do, or keep all of them no matter what?

Gold, (and silver) seem to have become an asset and so I'm confilicted on whether or not to sell now.

Re: Resizing UP

FancyPhillyshopper — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:31:37 GMT

I also used to buy a lot of gold jewelry when the price was low--I even used to gift gold jewelry to everyone. I would get fabulous bargains at the three different QVC outlets, as well from the TV.

However, these days gold jewelry seems to have become a real luxury!

A while back I got rid of most of my 10K jewelry (much from HSN), and lately I have also started reducing some of the rest of my collection.

My goal these days is to only buy items I really, really like and want, and they should be an UPGRADE to what I already own.

I also say, if I have to squint now to see the diamonds/stones, it is time to pass the items forward.

So, life is too short not to wear what you love--yes, do the resizing, yes, sell what you no longer wear or want. I take some photos, but after a while I realize I do not miss the items that much.

Now, if there is sentimentality attached to a piece (gift from a family member, keepsake, etc.), that may be a different situation.

Best wishes!

Re: Resizing UP

AuntMame — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:45:44 GMT

Before making any decisions @timeless I would get estimates on resizing the rings you love. And I would get estimates for selling the rings you don't love--not from jewelry stores, but from metals dealers with a reputation for giving good prices. Jewelry stores always give pitiable low prices for gold.

You may find that resizing the rings will be very pricey because when a ring is sized up more than a size or size-and-a-half they usually need to add gold.

I sold a couple 14K rings a year ago and didn't get much for them because the rings were small and thin and didn't have much gold.

I think gold prices will continue to rise, so you may want to hold out for a bit.

Re: Resizing UP

rockygems123 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:07:22 GMT

@timeless

Here in Denver the scrap gold and silver dealers are overwhelmed with metals and no where to melt as refineries are backlogged.

Have heard it's the same situation across the country.

Still wouldn't hurt to get an estimate on the wait time and what they're willing to pay.

Buy and wear what you love.

Re: Resizing UP

Sakuya — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:35:36 GMT

You may get a better price on ebay.

Re: Resizing UP

kaydee50 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:13:00 GMT

I would sell the ones I don't like and resize the ones I do. DH sold 2 rings that were 10K and got $600 for them, way more than he expected. I had 3 rings resized, 2 were 18 carat gold for a total of $500, well worth it to me.

Re: Resizing UP

kitcat51 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:27:13 GMT

Try taking your rings & the gold you can part with to a jeweler, they can buy the gold & use it to resize your rings...I did this when my favorite puffed gold heart was crushed, the gold covered the cost of making the heart & I got some money too.

Re: Resizing UP

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:22:27 GMT

@timeless wrote:
I have been a lover of jewelry for years and have many rings I bought when gold prices were around $300 an ounce.

Fast forward, and my menopausal fingers are about two sizes larger. I can't wear my pretties.

I have some I love and would wear often; however others, I don't like so much.

So, here is my question...

If you were in my situation, would you sell off the ones you don't like to raise money to resize the ones you do, or keep all of them no matter what?

Gold, (and silver) seem to have become an asset and so I'm confilicted on whether or not to sell now.

@timeless

Are you assuming that your current ring size won't increase, and the rings you re-size will still fit in a few years?

What if they don't?

My mistake ....

I had several gorgeous right-hand rings... you know what I mean. Size 7. Loved them but noticed they were getting tighter. I decided to start wearing lovely bracelets. I found that bracelets don't have the sizing problem we encounter with rings.

I also bought a couple of really nice rings in size 8, and that worked ... for a while.

Now, my knuckles have gotten a smidge bigger. Guess what?

The actual ring size is still size 8, but my knuckle is now a size 9 and the newer rings no longer slide over the knuckle.

In retrospect, I would have gone with knock-out bracelets sooner .... but who knows how much fingers will swell with age?

Hope this helps.

Re: Resizing UP

AuntMame — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:47:23 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@timeless wrote:
I have been a lover of jewelry for years and have many rings I bought when gold prices were around $300 an ounce.

Fast forward, and my menopausal fingers are about two sizes larger. I can't wear my pretties.

I have some I love and would wear often; however others, I don't like so much.

So, here is my question...

If you were in my situation, would you sell off the ones you don't like to raise money to resize the ones you do, or keep all of them no matter what?

Gold, (and silver) seem to have become an asset and so I'm confilicted on whether or not to sell now.

@timeless

Are you assuming that your current ring size won't increase, and the rings you re-size will still fit in a few years?

What if they don't?

My mistake ....

I had several gorgeous right-hand rings... you know what I mean. Size 7. Loved them but noticed they were getting tighter. I decided to start wearing lovely bracelets. I found that bracelets don't have the sizing problem we encounter with rings.

I also bought a couple of really nice rings in size 8, and that worked ... for a while.

Now, my knuckles have gotten a smidge bigger. Guess what?

The actual ring size is still size 8, but my knuckle is now a size 9 and the newer rings no longer slide over the knuckle.

In retrospect, I would have gone with knock-out bracelets sooner .... but who knows how much fingers will swell with age?

Hope this helps.

I noticed this with my mom as she aged. Her ring size increased slightly by a mere size or two, but her knuckles grew to be huge. I think she was ultimately a size 4 but with her knuckles she needed a size 6-7 at the very least to get them on and off. When she wore the rings, they slid all around on her narrow fingers like hula-hoops. It caused me to rethink resizing my own rings as I grow older. I decided not to resize any of my rings in the future except for my wedding and engagement rings.

That's an excellent idea to go bigger into bracelets than rings as one ages!

Re: Resizing UP

Big Joanie — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:21:24 GMT

I had the same situation ... the jeweler used the

gold I didn't want to re-size the rings I did ...didn't

cost too much ...

Re: Resizing UP

Still Raining — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:36:15 GMT

If the problem is due to swollen joints, there has been at least one good thread about solutions.

Good luck in your search.

Re: Resizing UP

Fressa — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:54:03 GMT

I have a similar situation. My fingers can swell and shrink about a size and a half. It is so frustrating and you stand the chance of loosing one. I had a ring guard made from a couple of the skinny rings which I use every day. I had a few rings sized for that finger and that fit in that ring guard. I wear it every day. I had a couple rings re-sized to fit specific fingers so I don't have to worry about loosing them. Now...Im trying to decide which ring/s to keep and resize up and which to sell (hopefully) to the jeweler for partial payment for the resizing.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Resizing UP

timeless — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:47:24 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

I'm with you on whether or not my size will go up!

So many pretties that I want to wear now, but to size up is soooo costly.

NOT to mention, maybe now is not the time to show off what we have anyway???

Re: Resizing UP

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:11:48 GMT

@timeless @Fressa

Some of my favorite "right wrist bracelets" now are Honora pearl stretch bracelets.

Not only are they beautiful, but there's NO CLASPS to wrestle with.

Re: Resizing UP

AngelPuppy1 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:33:15 GMT

@timeless

If there were ones that I didn't want to wear any more, I would sell them to make money to pay to have the other rings re-sized.

Re: Resizing UP

Shanus — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:58:18 GMT

@timeless Of course you can sell the ones you don't wear, but sizing a ring is not that expensive.

My right ring finger has a larger size by 1/2 and I have those rings that come in a whole size fitted to go up a half.

Re: Resizing UP

timeless — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:49:41 GMT

In response to knuckle issues...I don't have that as of now.

Mainly, my fingers are puffy. Some days more than others.

Re: Resizing UP

timeless — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:53:04 GMT

@rockygems123

Oh, yes, I'm aware that they're overwhelmed with people who are "cashing in" on the high prices for gold/silver!

Wow, right???

Perhaps it isn't the time to do anything with my rings.

Re: Resizing UP

IMW — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:30:03 GMT

Absolutely. You will enjoy wearing your "newly" sized rings.