You have four real options: resize the original rings, add a sizing insert, wear them somewhere else, or buy a second set in the size your hand is today. Resizing is usually the right first call for a plain gold or platinum band. It stops being practical when the change is large, the band is set with stones all the way round, or the joint is now wider than the base of the finger.
Why a ring that fitted for decades stops fitting
A ring has to pass over the middle knuckle to reach its place on the finger. That joint is often where the fit changes. The Arthritis Foundation notes that in hand osteoarthritis, bony lumps can form on the middle joint of the finger (called Bouchard's nodes) or on the joint near the fingertip (Heberden's nodes). It also reports that by age 85, about half of all women and a quarter of all men will experience the stiffness and pain of hand osteoarthritis. Source: Arthritis Foundation, Osteoarthritis of the Hands.
The result is a specific problem. A ring small enough to sit snugly at the base of the finger will no longer go over the knuckle. A ring large enough to go over the knuckle spins or slides once it is on. Weight change and fluid retention can shift finger size too.
Option 1: resize the rings you already own
For a plain band, resizing is a routine job and usually affordable. The cost depends mostly on the metal, and going up a size costs more than going down because metal has to be added.
| Metal | Sizing down | Sizing up |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | $30 to $50 | $40 to $70 |
| Gold | $40 to $80 | $80 to $150 |
| Platinum | $80 to $120 | $120 to $200 or more |
Typical US jeweller prices, per ring, from The Carat Cut's 2026 resizing cost guide. Your local jeweller's quote is the one that counts, and a wedding set is two rings, so budget for two jobs.
Resizing gets harder in three situations. A band with stones all the way round, a full eternity band, generally cannot be resized at all, because there is no plain metal to cut. Pavé bands can usually move only half a size to one size before the small stones are put at risk. And a change of several sizes strains the metal and can take more than one step, which raises the price.
If your rings are solid gold or platinum and the jeweller says the job is straightforward, resizing keeps the original metal, the original stones and the history. It is worth getting a quote before you consider anything else.
Option 2: a sizing insert, for the knuckle problem
When the ring must be large enough to pass the knuckle but then spins, a jeweller can fit something inside the band instead of cutting it. Sizing beads are two small metal balls soldered inside the base of the band, typically $40 to $60. A spring insert is a horseshoe shaped spring fitted inside the band, typically $100 to $200. Both are from the same Carat Cut guide. They leave the ring itself intact, which matters if you may want to pass it on.
Option 3: wear them another way, or keep them safe
One option is to move a ring that no longer fits to a finger it does fit, such as the little finger or the other hand, or wear the band on a fine chain. Another is to keep the originals for a child or grandchild, and stop wearing them day to day. Nothing about wearing a replacement requires parting with them.
Option 4: a second set in the size you are now
You may want a wedding set on the ring finger every day, in a size that fits over the knuckle without spinning, and without paying to alter pieces that may be worth more kept as they are. A second set does that job, and it is a different purchase from the original.
Mariqe's version pairs two rings: the Eterna solitaire ring and the Eternità half band. Prices below were checked on 29 September 2026. Mariqe runs sales, so the product page is final.
| Eterna solitaire | Eternità half band | |
|---|---|---|
| Stones | One round moissanite, 1ct (6.5mm), 2ct (8mm) or 3ct (9.1mm) | 15 round moissanite stones at 0.05ct each, 0.75ct total |
| Grade stated on the product page | Colourless (D), VVS1, excellent cut | Colourless (D), VVS1, excellent cut |
| Metal | 925 sterling silver with platinum plating, or 925 sterling silver with 18k gold plating | 925 sterling silver with a white plated finish |
| Setting | Six prong | Prong set across the top half, band 2.05mm |
| US sizes | 4 to 10.5, in half sizes | 4.5 to 10.5, in half sizes |
| Price | Silver: $79 (1ct), $98 (2ct), $148 (3ct). Gold plated: $99, $128, $168 | $197 |
Two practical notes. The half band comes only in the white finish, so for a matching pair choose the silver (platinum plated) solitaire. And a silver solitaire with a 1ct stone plus the half band comes to $276 at the prices above.
What it is not: it is not solid gold or platinum, and the stones are moissanite, a lab grown gem of its own, not diamond. Moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65 against a diamond's 2.42, and a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale against a diamond's 10, so it is well suited to daily wear. The plated metal needs the same ordinary care as any plated jewellery from any brand. See sterling silver with plating versus solid gold. Each stone comes with a GRA report and a unique certification code, which is a record of the stone, not an independent valuation. Our GRA certificate guide explains what it does and does not tell you.
Getting the size right this time
The size that matters is the one that passes your knuckle comfortably. Mariqe's ring sizing guide asks you to take a ring that already fits the finger you want, measure its inside diameter in millimetres, and match it to the chart. If you are between sizes, the guide recommends sizing up. If the old ring is now too small, measure a different ring that does slip on and off that finger, not the one you are replacing. You then have 30 days from delivery to ask for an exchange if the size is not right. How Mariqe returns and exchanges work sets out the steps.
What this means for you
Start with a jeweller's quote on the rings you already own. If they are plain gold or platinum bands and the change is a size or two, resizing is usually the simplest and most personal answer. If the band has stones all the way round, if the knuckle is the problem, or if you would rather keep the originals exactly as they are, a sizing insert or a second set in today's size both work. You can also do both: keep the originals safe, and wear a set every day without thinking about it.
Eternità Half Band Ring
Fifteen round moissanite stones, 0.75ct in total, on a slim 925 sterling silver band with a white plated finish, in US sizes 4.5 to 10.5, $197 (checked 29 September 2026), backed by the Lifetime Moissanite Warranty.
See sizes and pricesFrequently asked questions
Can a wedding ring be resized to fit over an arthritic knuckle?
Often, yes, but a ring sized to pass an enlarged knuckle can then spin at the base of the finger. Sizing beads or a spring insert fitted inside the band are the usual fix, and neither requires cutting the ring.
Can an eternity band be resized?
A full eternity band, with stones all the way round, generally cannot be resized because there is no plain metal to cut. A half eternity band has plain metal underneath, so it can usually be adjusted. A pavé band can typically move only half a size to one size.
Do the Mariqe solitaire and half band come in the same sizes?
The Eterna solitaire comes in US sizes 4 to 10.5 and the Eternità half band in US sizes 4.5 to 10.5, both in half sizes, so any size from 4.5 to 10.5 is offered in both. The half band comes in a white finish only, so the silver solitaire is the matching choice.