Where do I find adjustable rings?

September 11, 2024 3:57 PM

I don't wear rings because over the course of the day my fingers tend to swell and shrink enough that rings will either fall off or become too tight. In the past I would have searched on Etsy for jewelry, but these days it's pretty garbage. I'm not sure what to search for or where to search for a selection of simple, elegant rings that can be size-adjusted.

I'm interested in what the right terms might be for the style of ring that allows the wearer to adjust the size.

I'm also interested in supporting an actual artisan/human being/jeweler or at least a company with a reputation for ethical practices and quality products.

Jewelry styles I'm interested in would be simple, elegant, nothing gaudy, no expensive stones or diamonds or anything like that. I'm not looking for anything expensive - think simple silver stacking rings or signet rings. There's a million random sites that come up with Googling, but I'd rather get some recommendations for jewelry that people actually have positive experiences with.

posted by forkisbetter to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

You could try looking at spoon rings - the maker takes the handle of an old silver spoon and creates a ring out of it, with the original marking of the spoon as decoration.

There are a few different styles, some are fixed circles so not adjustable, but some will be like spirals where the two ends lie alongside each other and aren’t fixed, so you can adjust it by hand. Obviously thinner metal makes it more flexible and adjustable. Some look quite obviously spoon-like but others not so much. I still miss the one I lost a few years ago and have never quite found the right one to replace it!
posted by penguin pie at 2:50 AM on September 12, 2024 [1 favorite]

I own several versions of the wrap-around rings from Bottled-Up designs. They are really pretty, made from recycled old glass, and they are adjustable enough that I can wear them even if my hands become swollen. Mine are the ones with a leaf and a stone, and the mermaid’s tail with a stone. I love them.
posted by gemmy at 4:43 AM on September 12, 2024 [2 favorites]

Dolphin rings are a classic adjustable ring too. That is a rando google search, but you can see they have all price points and different esthetics.
posted by atomicstone at 5:14 AM on September 12, 2024

I've seen the term "Open rings" also. I would suggest using Pinterest to gather up a whole bunch of ones you like, and then it will tend to serve you more and more similar ones, and you'll find artists you like. Etsy is a good place to buy them but it's search engine is the.worst.
Will PM you the link to my "open rings" board to get you started. Not all of the ones you'll find in pinterest are still available to purchase, but a bunch are, and the key is to find the artists.
posted by bluesky78987 at 7:53 AM on September 12, 2024

I have a silver ring with a cut through the band. It was designed that way to slightly expand to get past the knuckle, but might work for you, and could probably be added to (some) existing rings. Check with a local jeweler?
posted by sageleaf at 8:11 AM on September 12, 2024

Slightly tangential to your specific ask, but quite possibly useful: check out "ring adjuster coils". I have the same issue and these work well for me. In fact, I probably have some extra -- PM me if you'd like me to check and send you some.
posted by concinnity at 8:38 AM on September 12, 2024

If you like animals, some of Michael Tatom's rings are slightly adjustable. Lots of people have ripped off his designs, but he's been on Etsy for a very long time, and has been a jeweler for 42 years. I have a ring made by him that I got about 10 years ago (more?). It's a lovely thing and I highly recommend his designs.
posted by oneirodynia at 9:49 PM on September 12, 2024

My husband and I wear rubber wedding rings

Apparently they look enough like metal that I was asked to remove it for a MRI
posted by Jacqueline at 10:35 AM on September 13, 2024

Try looking at silicone rings. They aren't tremendously stretchy but should have enough give to accommodate the kind of swelling/shrinking you'd get during a regular day. Silicone can be made to look like almost any metal and in a huge variety of colors.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 2:58 PM on September 13, 2024