Engagement Ring Solutions for Large Knuckles

For large knuckles we propose a number of wedding ring solutions. Keep your ring from slip-sliding around, and ensure easy removal for cleaning and safekeeping. Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash.   Large knuckles require specialized solutions for wearing wedding and engagement rings. Are you scared that next time the lotion won't work? Worried that a paramedic might cut your ring off? Here I offer some solutions for the tight squeeze of a stuck ring.  

Simple Solutions for Large Knuckles

For that first time you find your ring stopping before your knuckle, begin by rubbing some hand cream around the ring. Do your best to relax your entire hand, allowing your fingers to bend slightly. By bending your finger, you prevent the skin on the knuckle from wrinkling and bulging up around the band. Next, place the thumb of your opposite hand against the band at the base of your finger. Once you feel the gap open up between the ring and your finger, gently wiggle the ring back and forth as you slowly slide the ring forward over the knuckle. (source) If this fails to work, next try the dental floss trick. The flat waxed kind works best. Cut off a piece about a foot long. Use the metal nail file attached to a pair of finger nail clippers to tuck a piece of the floss underneath the ring. Focus on pushing it through on the underside of your ring where your skin is tighter around your finger. Next, wrap the dental floss around your finger in front of the ring, keeping the lines of floss close to each other. Keep wrapping until the floss covers your knuckle. By compressing the knuckle, you create a smooth path to pass your ring across. Now, take hold of the end you tucked beneath the ring and start unwinding it. The ring should follow the path of the floss and move forward across the knuckle as you progress. Of course, you'll be nervous about putting it back on after watching your finger turn blue. So what can you do to prevent this from happening the next time you put it on?  

Preventive Measures

Ring Guards & Ring Noodles

These easy, low-cost solutions for large knuckles involve a few dollars and a bit of silicone. A simple search on the Internet offers plenty of options. Anything from a snap-in plastic guard to flexy silicone noodles provide for easy on and off, as well as nearly invisible comfort. Although similar products made from metal exist, we recommend using silicone or plastic. This ensures maximum comfort and protection for the metal and any engravings on the inside of your wedding or engagement ring.

Sizing Beads (Pips)

Sizing beads offer a fairly simple solution for large knuckles. A knowledgeable jeweler solders small beads, sometimes raised curving lines of gold, on the inside of your wedding or engagement band. These pips slide smoothly over large knuckles, while at the same time gripping the base of your finger so your ring stays nice and snug. (source) Since every finger is unique, correct placement of sizing beads typically requires a few adjustments. Be sure to discuss this ahead of time with your jeweler in order to determine your budget. Jewelers also call this modification speed bumps. In addition to providing a solution for large knuckles, speed bumps also prevent top heavy rings or rings with thinner shanks from spinning freely about the finger.

Butterfly Springs

Butterfly springs provide another jeweler-installed solution for large knuckles. The mechanism involves the addition of a flat or caliper-shaped piece of gold soldered to the inside bottom of the ring. These work well for those who wish to size their ring large enough to slide easily over the knuckle. The thin piece of metal presses flat against the ring band as it passes over the knuckle. Then it pops back up, snug against the smaller area at the base of your finger. Butterfly springs and sizing beads both represent permanent alterations to your ring. If your ring features an engraved message, opt for the sizing beads, as they are less likely to obscure the words.

Hinged Ring Shanks

Although hinged ring shanks prove the most expensive fix, they also offer the most comfort, security, and longevity of all the solutions for large knuckles. Several variations on this theme provide a range of options to solve the problems of the tight squeeze and spinning rings. In general, hinged ring shanks provide a lock-and-catch mechanism similar to chunky bracelets. Sometimes the entire ring opens up like a wristwatch, providing a no-slide option for those whose knuckles are painful from arthritis. Other styles expand on a hinge and then lock into place after you slide them over the knuckle. Either way, this mechanism must be installed by a professional jeweler with the expertise necessary to preserve the integrity of your ring. Since this fix is costly, we recommend it primarily for those whose knuckles are painful from arthritis and for those who require greater than 2 ring sizes larger for the band to fit over the knuckle. If you'd like to explore these options for yourself, give us a call. We'd be happy to take a look at your rings and help you decide which option fits your specific needs. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews