How to Keep Your Ring From Spinning on Your Finger

• Why does my engagement ring spin?
• Do all engagement rings spin?
• Is there a temporary fix to stop a spinning engagement ring?

Why is My Engagement Ring Spinning?

Ring spinning is one of the biggest complaints from new ring wearers. If you don't have much experience wearing rings, a spinning wedding ring might sound like a foreign concept to you.

When someone says their engagement ring spins, they mean it doesn't stay upright. You're more likely to have this problem if you have a big ring set in your sights. A large gemstone or diamond engagement ring on a thin ring shank can cause a ring to spin. If you wear your ring daily, you'll find it gets old quick.

You could have the spinning ring problem if you happen to have large knuckles and small fingers. It's a very common reason. Many people struggle trying to fit a ring over their knuckle, so they go up a ring size. It may solve the issue of fitting over the knuckle, but the ring is looser once it gets to the base of the finger.

If your ring is spinning, don't automatically assume you need to go up a ring size or other permanent options. It's common for a ring to fit perfectly when purchased, and end up too tight during other times of the year. For many people, their fingers swell in the summer and shrink during the winter. Swollen fingers can cause a ring to feel uncomfortably tight.

Does Every Wedding Ring Spin?

Not every engagement ring or wedding band you come across will necessarily spin. The weight distribution is equal across plain gold wedding bands, so you won't have a problem with gravity dragging it down to the side of your finger. But that's not everyone's style.

Read also: Wedding Bands for the Working Man

If we're playing devil's advocate, you could still have an issue if your ring spins because of the knuckle problem. At that point, it's not the ring itself with the problem. Fortunately, there's also solutions for those with "problem" knuckles.

Whichever the reason why your engagement ring is spinning, there's a right solution for you.

How to Keep Your Engagement Ring in Place

There are multiple ways to keep your wedding ring from spinning. Some of them are a quick fixes that you can do at home for very little to no money, or they may require you to visit a jeweler. A jeweler can provide a removable, yet more permanent solution than just a quick fix. They can also provide a permanent fix that requires altering your existing ring fit.

Temporary Solutions to Stop a Ring from Spinning

Sizing Beads

Ring sizer beads are an easy fix to a spinning ring, but it means you'll have to see a jeweler. They will place two beads of solder at the bottom of your ring shank. They are also easy for a jeweler to remove and buff out any signs of the beads.

I don't recommend repeating the process as it will weaken the metal, similar to how too much resizing can do. Ring resizing beads should only be done if you're looking to keep the ring from spinning, not to go up a ring size.

Sizing Bar

You might hear a sizing bar also called a fold-over device. It's a U-shaped bar that goes across the bottom of your ring shank. It has a hinge on one side of the shank and a latch on the other. It's a great option if you're looking to go down multiple ring sizes without committing to a permanent solution.

The downside to this one is that it's not the nicest looking option. On the flip side, most people don't see the bottom of your ring shank anyway. You'll be the only one to see it when you clean your ring.

Ring Guard

Nowadays, you can find different kinds of temporary ring guards for wedding rings. Often times, you can walk into a mall jewelry store and get them for free, if they have them. The original ring guard design is very simple. It's a quick fix to those whose ring finger is just a smidge too small for their ring.

It's a piece of clear plastic that almost looks like a tiny transparent tube. You might hear it called a ring noodle. There's a slit in the ring noodle so you can push it over the bottom of the shank without taking the ring off. Ring noodles are available in different sizes and styles, making them ideal for going up sizes.

Like other short-term fixes, a ring guard could be bothersome as it's not a very comfortable fix. Personally, it kind of reminds me of having a rock in my shoe. This is a better option if you're needing your ring to stay in place for your wedding day or pictures. You should get a more permanent option after your special day.

Tape

Using tape to keep your ring from spinning is the oldest trick in the book. It's probably the cheapest and simplest too. You'll just need some tape to wrap around the bottom of the shank enough until it fits.

I don't recommend using tape to stop a spinning ring. It's really annoying to have to pick it off and keep applying every time you clean it. After 20 minutes of picking off sliver by sliver, it leaves a snail trail of sticky tape residue on the ring shank. A simple engagement ring cleaning process turns a bit more vigorous. Not to mention the tape also gets dirty and starts to peel up on the sides, which is usually scratchy to the bottom of your finger.

Permanent Fixes to Keep Your Engagement Ring from Spinning

Resizing

Going down a ring size is the most obvious option for a permanent solution to keep your wedding ring from spinning.

Read also: How Do They Size a Ring?

Don't be fooled by retailers offering you a lifetime warranty that covers resizing as much as you want. Technically, you should only resize your engagement ring 1-2 times at most. A ring should also only go up or down 1-2 sizes. Any more and it could damage the ring, stones, or wear down your ring shank. If they stretch your ring to far, the bottom of the shank is more likely to break. They may have to add more gold to thicken the bottom, which usually costs. 

Permanent Ring Inserts

With a spring insert, a U shaped piece of metal goes across the bottom. The bar is thin, flat, and flexible. It's a perfect option if you have issues with your engagement ring fitting over your knuckles. It stretches to fit over your knuckles and springs back into place while still keeping it tight on your finger.

Like ring sizer beads, this solution is only for spinning rings, not going up a finger size. It's not a minimalist solution either. The mechanism is obvious when you take it off and some don't like the way it looks.

Hinged Shank Ring

Hinged shanks require a pretty substantial alteration to your ring shank. It may also be called an arthritic shank. Instead of the eternal circular shaped ring, a jeweler modifies it with a tiny hinge. You'll be able to open your ring and put it on the base of your finger. A hinged shank is a great option for those who have trouble sliding rings over their large knuckles.

Euro Shank

Euro shanks are shaped differently than the average ring shank. Instead of the circle, the sides are flat, and form to the side of your finger. Clean Origin, one of our favorite lab-created diamond stores, has the Perfect Fit collection, which are all euro shanks.

Balanced Setting

This is one of the best solutions to stop a ring spinning if you haven't committed to a ring setting. Consider the proportion size of your ring head to the rest of the shank. If you choose a low profile cathedral setting instead of a taller one, your ring will be less likely to tip over. 

Read also: Should You Buy a Cathedral Setting?

Having your diamonds or gemstones distributed properly will help it stay in place. Avoid anything too bulky or too high-set. 

Stacking Rings

Adding another ring to balance your wedding set is a simple fix to help stabilize your spinning ring. Most people already have a wedding band on their finger, so you'd only need to add another band on top.

Though you can slip a ring on and off your finger, I still consider it permanent. That's because it puts a permanent dent in your wallet. It requires you purchase another ring for your finger, and not everyone can or wants to afford that. You should only choose this option if you can work it into your budget. There are much less expensive options if this one is a stretch for you.

Conclusion

It can get annoying quickly when your wedding ring spins on the daily. You spend all this time choosing the perfect engagement ring, only to find out it keeps ending up lopsided throughout the day.

As you now know, there's lot of different ways to stop this little nuisance. Every method has its pros and cons, so make sure to weigh them according to your situation. You also have a general idea about how much each process can cost without a company warranty.

Whether looking for a temporary fix or a permanent solution to keep a ring from spinning, there's a way to help you too.

Just stay away from the tape, please.