Ring Too Tight? 3 Causes and Solutions

It’s nice when your ring is serving as a reminder of your loving partnership. Unless that reminder feels like it is cutting off the blood circulation to your finger. So, how should a ring fit? Here’s a clue: Taking your engagement ring or wedding band on and off should be a cinch, not a pinch. It should slide nicely over your knuckle, not engage in a minor skirmish each time you take it on and off.

Because your finger size is constantly shifting, a constantly perfect fit is a bit of a pipe dream. But you shouldn’t have to keep an ice bucket or a roll of dental floss on hand every time you want to take your ring off to do the dishes. If your ring is too tight, here are some common causes and practical solutions.

1. Improper Sizing

While it sounds odd, it’s more common than you think. You decide you want to buy a ring without trying it on because you “know your ring size.” Unfortunately, people assume they know their ring size because they measured it years ago and assume it hasn’t changed. Maybe that ring was never properly sized to begin with. Possibly because it was a guesstimate from someone trying to pull off a stealth proposal. Or maybe you never saw our handy guide on how to measure ring size at home. Maybe there was a mistake when you went to get measured by the jeweler. This can also be the source of the opposite problem: your ring is too loose. Always double-check your ring finger size before buying. Whether you get it done professionally or get a ring sizer and do it yourself, measure a few times at different points in the day to make sure you get the right size.

Solution:

However the mistake happened, don’t resign yourself to a lifetime of discomfort with a tight ring! This one isn’t that hard of a fix. Make sure you get a proper measurement and that you are truly comfortable after a resizing. Having your ring’s shank a bit too small is a common issue and a simple fix in almost every case.

Do note that certain materials just can’t be resized. A gold ring, since it’s a softer metal, can be resized to your comfort. However, for a metal like tungsten, ring resizing is effectively impossible. The harder the metal, the likelier it’ll just break when you try to resize it. Don’t be afraid of harder metals, though! The only difference is you’ll have to be more vigilant in your ring sizing. Get sized by a professional or two and maybe try an at-home kit as well. If all those numbers match up, you’re good to go.

2. Ring Damage

Maybe the ring itself was correctly sized, but it got bent out of shape. Rings are designed to be durable, and most things that would warp a ring would also do damage to a finger. But accidents do happen. This is a more common source if you have a prong setting or otherwise set center stone. For wedding rings, it’s a little tougher to damage, though definitely not impossible. However, if your ring gets snagged on the blanket that lays on your sofa, you can bend it out of shape. An occasional snag isn’t a big deal.

Source: Master1305 /Shutterstock.com

Solution: 

A jeweler might be able to restore the ring to its original shape, but there’s a good chance you will have to seek out a replacement. The good news is that Modern Gents offers affordable yet quality rings, so you don’t have to break the bank when shopping for a new ring!

3. Swollen Fingers

Usually the cause of ring tightness isn’t the ring, but rather your finger. Your finger can swell or shrink depending on the time of day, diet, altitude and temperature change. Most of those changes are a part of daily life, though something like a pregnancy can represent a dramatic period of time. You don’t have to have inflamed blood vessels (well, probably not. We’re not doctors, but that condition is incredibly uncommon) — hand swelling is quite normal for most people.

Finger swelling is much more common than you might think. It happens to most people in some form or another. Even just after exercise (though you shouldn’t wear your ring to work out), your fingers can swell. In most cases, it’s perfectly normal and shouldn’t be a cause for concern. If you have to wiggle your ring just a tiny bit to get it off occasionally, there’s no immediate issue. If it gets to the point where your ring feels really uncomfortable, that’s a different story though and should be addressed.

Solutions:

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• Alternate Ring: If you know that you are going to have a phase of life that will subject your finger to having a muffin top, consider getting an alternate ring. If you are embarking on a summer hiking through the Andes or staring down the final trimester, a silicone ring might be a more comfortable symbol of your love instead of a needlessly painful reminder settled at the base of your finger.
• Settle on a Slightly Larger Size: It’s generally better for a ring to be a bit larger than a little too small. While your ring will probably leave slight indent marks, it’s definitely too small if it’s restricting blood flow and leads to a stuck ring. If you are worried about a larger size slipping off if it is too loose, always keep your ring in a secure place. And there are a few hacks (such as tape and clear polish) to temporarily hold down the fort till the ring is snug again. Just make sure you aren’t putting anything on the ring that you can’t remove without damaging it.

You want your ring to give you a warm feeling, not a numb feeling that leaves you with a trip to the emergency room. You shouldn’t have to plunge your fingers into cold water or douse your hand in lotion to remove your ring after a long day. That’s one of the reasons Modern Gents is so committed to hassle-free returns and a wide selection of materials and sizes so you have plenty of options when it comes to getting the right fit.

Consult Our Handy Ring Size Chart

Header image source: CH.Pirasak /Shutterstock.com