Ring resizing,
measured and quoted
before anything is cut
Sized up or sized down, in gold, platinum or silver, from any store and in any condition. The estimate is free and you get a straight answer about what your ring can take before any work is agreed.
Request a Resizing
Measured first,
quoted second
Resizing sounds like one job and it is really several, decided by what the ring is made of and what is set into it. Here is what actually happens.
Bring the ring in
Walk in or book a time. The ring is measured, the metal is identified and the stones and setting are checked for anything that needs attention while it is open.
You get a free estimate
A real number for your ring, before any work is agreed. If the ring should not be resized, or a rebuild is the better answer, you are told that here rather than after the fact.
The work is done and checked
Resizing is carried out by jewelers we work with and trust. The ring is cleaned and the stones are checked again before it goes back on your hand.
The two directions
are not the same job
Sizing down means a section of the shank is removed and the two ends are joined again, then the join is cleaned up so it disappears. It is the more predictable of the two because you are working with metal the ring already has.
Sizing up means either stretching the existing metal or adding a new piece of matching metal into the shank. Stretching is quick and it thins the band, which is fine for one size on a ring with some weight and a poor idea on a shank already worn thin. Adding metal keeps the thickness and takes longer.
That is why a quote is per ring rather than per size. Two rings that look similar can need two different jobs, and the only way to know which is to look at the actual ring.
Does your ring actually
need resizing?
Not every badly fitting ring needs the shank cut. Some need a different fix and some are fine and were measured on the wrong day. Here is how to tell before you spend anything.
- It spins on its ownA ring that turns so the stone ends up under your finger without you moving it is too loose. A stone that sits tilted to one side rather than straight up is the same signal.
- It comes off with no resistanceTest it when your hands are cold and dry, not warm. If it clears the knuckle without any pull at all, it is too big.
- It leaves a groove that staysA mark that is still there an hour after you take the ring off means it is too tight, whatever it feels like in the moment.
- You have to force it past the knuckleA ring should need a little persuasion over the knuckle and none at all once it is on. Pain is not a fitting.
The knuckle is the real constraint. A ring has to pass a knuckle that is wider than the base of your finger, so on some hands a little room at the base is not a fault, it is the only way the ring gets on at all. When that is the case, sizing beads or a small insert added inside the shank hold it straight without changing the size, and that is usually the cheaper answer. You get told which of the two your hand needs. If you are working out a size for a surprise proposal, our guide on finding her ring size without her knowing covers which methods are worth using and which settings leave you no room to be wrong.
Fingers are not one size. They can move by up to half a size between a cold morning and a hot afternoon, and heat, humidity, salt, exercise and long flights all push the same way. A ring that is perfect in February and tight in July has not changed, you have. That is worth knowing before paying to move a ring one size and then wanting it back.
Which is why measuring is free and worth doing properly. Mid-afternoon at a normal room temperature is the honest reading, not first thing on a cold morning and not straight after the gym. Walk in and get measured, then decide.
What the metal
changes about it
Yellow and rose gold are the most straightforward. The join is matched to the alloy so the color stays even, and once polished you should not be able to find it.
White gold is almost always rhodium plated. Working the shank takes plating off around the join, so a resized white gold ring usually wants replating to look right again. That is quoted with the job rather than added at collection.
Platinum is worked much hotter than gold and takes longer, which is reflected in the estimate. Silver is straightforward, though very thin silver bands distort easily and are worth a look first.
Watch bracelets are a different job, closer to removing links than cutting a shank. That is covered on our watch repair page. Resizing is one part of what the studio takes in, alongside chain work, stone setting and polishing, all listed on the jewelry repair page.
Real reviews,
from real repairs
Came to Astra for jewelry repair since my engagement ring stone had fell off, Astra repaired the prongs and stone beautifully and quickly for a reasonable price. Owners were very friendly and knowledgeable!
Took my Movado watch to Astra Jewelers in Montclair owners Stephanie and Eddie were wonderful. I thought my watch was not working properly and Eddie sent it out to a Movado watch repair man as it turned out it just needed a battery and a gasket that was improperly put in.They were very honest and didn’t try and charge me for other work that was not necessary Even showed me pictures of what was wrong. I would highly recommend Astra Jewelers to anybody. Stephanie and Eddie were awesome.
Needed to get my engagement ring resized and they were so quick, helpful and thorough! Had it back ASAP (even over the weekend). Can’t say enough good things
Excellent professional service - very nice people and extremely knowledgeable about their craft. Highly recommend!
Eddie and Stephanie are the best jewelers I’ve ever worked with! They are incredibly kind, patient, and truly take the time to sit down with you, listen to your vision, and understand exactly what you’re hoping to create. You can tell they genuinely care about making pieces that you’ll love and feel confident wearing. They are always open to conversation and revisions throughout the process, and they never once made me feel silly for asking questions, changing or refining my vision, or overthinking any detail. They’re also incredibly transparent throughout the process and keep you updated along the way, which made me feel informed and comfortable from start to finish. They made me feel completely comfortable throughout the entire process. Their work is beautiful and done with so much integrity, and I always felt valued as a customer. Their process truly feels customized to each person. There are no shortcuts or band-aid fixes—they take the time to make sure everything is done the right way. It was such a pleasure working with them on our rings and a pair of earrings for my mom. Every piece came out beautifully, and I’m so grateful for the care they put into everything. I look forward to continuing to work with them for years to come!
Lovely people to work with. Very responsive and helpful, even on short notice for a special occasion. An excellent experience. Highly recommend!
Astra Jewelers is truly a gem! Stephanie and Eddie are incredible: so professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely warm. They make you feel like family from the moment you walk in. They’ve created several custom pieces for me, and their sourcing is fabulous. They have such an amazing eye for design. Everything feels elegant, elevated, and timeless. The 3D renderings are incredibly helpful because you can really visualize the pieces and fine-tune every detail before they’re made. Throughout the entire process, Stephanie and Eddie keep you updated every step of the way, which makes the experience feel easy, exciting, and completely personal. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are exceptional. I’m completely obsessed with every piece! Everything they’ve made for me has exceeded my expectations. Astra has absolutely become my go-to jeweler, and I recommend Stephanie and Eddie wholeheartedly to anyone looking for something truly special.
Stephanie and Eddie are amazing - I will be working with Astra Jewelers for all of my jewelry from now on! When my boyfriend and I walked in for our appointment to discuss a custom engagement ring on June 13, a kind group of customers were leaving the studio and told us how much they enjoyed their experience with Astra and we’ll be happy here. And they were 100% right. During that first appointment, Stephanie and Eddie thoughtfully listened to what I wanted for my custom ring and offered ideas when I was not able to verbalize what I envisioned. They were so welcoming, easy to talk to, and made us feel like this very important chapter in my boyfriend’s and my lives are in the best hands. Following our appointment, Stephanie kept me updated via text about the artist doing the renderings, clarified my visions even more, and helped communicate my unique, non-traditional dream “nature-inspired” engagement ring to the artist. She was responsive and helpful with my disorganized thoughts over text, and within weeks we had the most beautiful, creative, uniquely-mine ring ready for pickup. Our experience with Astra Jewelers was incredibly pleasant, calming, and stressless. Stephanie and Eddie are the best people to collaborate with, the best people to get the job done, and just overall a wonderful couple. We cannot recommend Astra Jewelers enough!
Ring resizing,
answered
How much does ring resizing cost?
It is quoted per ring and the estimate is free and given before any work starts. Cost depends on the metal, how many sizes it is moving and whether anything else needs doing while it is open, like retipping a worn prong. A plain gold band going down one size is not the same job as a platinum ring with stones set around the shoulders, so a single published price would be wrong for most people who read it. Bring the ring in and you get a real number for your ring.
Can I get a ring resized the same day?
Sometimes, and we will not promise it before seeing the ring. Astra coordinates repair work through jewelers we trust rather than a bench in the back, so the honest answer depends on the ring, the metal and what else the piece needs. Tell us the date you need it for when you come in and you will get a straight answer at the estimate rather than an optimistic one on a website.
Can you resize a ring I bought somewhere else?
Yes. Astra takes in pieces from any store, of any origin and in any condition, not only jewelry bought at the studio. An inherited ring, an online purchase, a piece from a chain store that has closed, all of it is welcome and all of it is quoted free.
How many sizes can a ring go up or down?
Most plain bands move comfortably by one or two sizes in either direction. Beyond that the shank starts to get thin when sizing up, or the ring starts to lose its shape when sizing down, and the better answer is often to rebuild the shank rather than stretch what is there. Rings with stones set around the band have far less room than a plain band. You get told which situation your ring is in before anything happens.
Are there rings that cannot be resized?
Yes, and being told so is part of the service. Eternity rings set with stones the whole way around have nowhere to cut without disturbing the setting. Tension settings hold the stone by spring pressure, so changing the size changes the grip. Some titanium, tungsten and carbide rings cannot be worked at all because the material will not take solder. Rings with heavy engraving or a pattern that runs continuously around the band can usually be sized, but the pattern will not meet perfectly afterward and you should know that first.
Do you resize platinum, white gold and silver?
Yes. Platinum is worked at a much higher temperature than gold and takes longer, which is reflected in the quote. White gold is usually rhodium plated, so a resized white gold ring often needs replating afterward to look right, and that is quoted with the job rather than sprung on you at collection. Silver is straightforward.
Will resizing damage the stones?
It should not, and the check that matters happens before the work rather than after. Stones are inspected for chips and loose settings first, because heat and pressure will find a weakness that was already there. Some stones, opal and emerald among them, do not tolerate heat well and are removed or the ring is worked in a way that keeps heat away from them. If a stone is a genuine risk you get told before you decide.
How do I find out my ring size?
Come in and get measured, it takes a minute and costs nothing. Fingers change size through the day and through the year, so a measurement taken in a cold car in January and one taken on a warm afternoon are genuinely different. If you are sizing a surprise gift, bring a ring the person already wears on the right finger and that is usually enough to work from.
Can you resize a watch bracelet as well?
Yes, though that is a different job and it lives on our watch repair page. Watch bracelet sizing means removing or adding links rather than cutting and soldering a shank, and it is usually quick. If you have both a ring and a watch that need attention, bring them together.
Where are you and do I need an appointment?
Astra Jewelers is at 250 Bellevue Ave, 2nd Floor, Montclair, NJ 07043, in Upper Montclair. Walk in Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 6:00pm, or book ahead if you would rather have someone free to sit with you. It is a private studio on the second floor rather than a street level shop, and it serves Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Verona, Cedar Grove and the rest of Essex County.
FIND ASTRA IN UPPER MONTCLAIR
We are a second-floor studio on Bellevue Avenue. Appointments get you undivided attention. Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours.
Address
250 Bellevue Ave, 2nd Floor, Montclair, NJ 07043
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10:00am-6:00pm