11 Ways to Keep Your Ring From Spinning

If your engagement or wedding ring keeps spinning on your finger, it’s not only inconvenient. It could also fall off.

There are many solutions to this problem — both temporary fixes that will keep your ring in place for the day, and permanent solutions that mean you won’t have to worry about it spinning any longer.

So let’s explore the common causes of a ring spinning and 11 methods that will keep it snug on your finger.

What Causes Your Ring to Spin?

Unbalanced Setting

An unbalanced setting is the result of a large gemstone on a thin band. The heavier weight on top can’t be supported by smaller bands, and this causes it to spin. 

You can adjust it all you want, but gravity kicks in and the gemstone will start to rotate.

The solution to this problem is to replace the thin band with one stable enough to hold the gemstone in place. Specifically, you’ll want a band with a thicker or wider base compared to the top. 

For example, check out this cathedral setting that holds a round-cut diamond.

Notice the wide shank and how it doesn’t come to a knife edge like you’ll find in other settings. 

It’s thick enough to hold a large gem.

You might have to search for the right style for you, but it’s better than the ring spinning or even falling off your finger.

For example, a common choice for an engagement ring is a 1.5mm band. It offers comfort because of the thin metal.

But that setting, combined with a two carat diamond, could result in an imbalance. 

Swollen Fingers

It’s common for your fingers to swell during the day and grow up to half a ring size. So it’ll fit differently depending on the time of day.

If the ring size was chosen during a time they were swollen, it’s not surprising it has a looser fit during the other parts of the day.

The difference is also more pronounced during certain seasons. 

In the winter, your fingers may shrink when they get cold, causing the ring to slide up and down. The opposite is true in the summer. Your fingers could swell and cause the ring to have a tighter fit.

It’s best to measure your finger or try on rings when your hand has been at a stable temperature for a period of time to avoid either extreme.

Size is Too Big

There are many methods used to estimate ring size:

• Wrapping a string around your finger, then measuring with a ruler
• Placing a ring you already own on a ring size chart
• Using a physical or virtual ring sizer

Though these can provide estimates, even the slightest miscalculation can leave you with a ring that spins. For instance, your ring might fit snug with a size 6, but a size 6.5 could cause it to spin.

While you can find custom sizes in between half sizes, you can generally find one that fits by moving up or down half a size.

That’s why the only way to find the right size is through trial and error. 

It’s best to have the opportunity to actually try on the ring you’ll be wearing so you can move up or down to a different size.

Because I ordered my wife’s engagement ring online, she didn’t try on the ring before I proposed. I turned out the once I ordered was slightly too big. 

So later that week, a jeweler that partnered with the online retailer resized it down half a size, and it fit perfectly. 

In many cases, this service is free if done by the original jeweler.

Large Knuckles

Large knuckles are the most popular reason an engagement or wedding ring spins. This is because you need a bigger ring size to fit over the knuckles, but then your finger narrows.

If it’s big enough to fit over your knuckles, it won’t fit tightly around your finger. 

If it’s too small to slide over your knuckle, you also won’t be able to wear the ring.

Check out the image below for an example.

Notice how tightly it fits when the ring is positioned at the bottom of their finger.

So this is an important consideration when choosing your ring size.

Find a size that balances sliding over your knuckle but also not becoming loose around your finger.

But if you’re unable to find that perfect fit, there are solutions specifically tailored to this issue.

How to Keep Your Ring From Spinning

1. Ring Guards (Noodle)

Ring guards (also known as ring noodles) are small plastic tubes placed over a ring that holds it in place. The primary advantage is that it’s significantly cheaper than resizing your ring.

Here’s an example of what’s arguably the least expensive solution.

You might think they’re apparent when wearing a ring, but that’s not the case. 

They’re often transparent, so it’s not noticeable unless someone’s up close.

Ring guards come in multiple sizes, so whether you need to adjust the ring down one size or three, you can buy a thickness that fits your needs. You don’t have to worry about it causing damage to your ring or diamond because it isn’t made of metal.

Rings guard will need to be replaced on occasion. But they often cost less than $10, so even buying a few per year is significantly less costly than buying a new ring.

A variation is a ring wrap. It’s a small piece of plastic that curls around the bottom of the ring. Similar to a ring guard, it fills the space between your finger and the ring.

The downside to both of these solutions is dirt and debris can become trapped inside. You’ll have to clean them often to continue wearing them.

2. Tape

You can also use tape to keep your ring from spinning. Take a piece of tape that’s about three inches long, and roll it tightly. You’ll end up with a cylinder of tape that’s about an inch long.

Place that piece of tape inside the ring to fill the gap between the ring and your finger. This isn’t a permanent fix, but if you need a quick solution for a night out, this will work. 

The problem is you’ll have to redo this solution each day, as you can’t trust the tape to hold for several days at a time. Additionally, taking the ring on and off will reduce the stickiness, and it eventually won’t hold.

3. Resizing

A permanent solution to keep your ring from spinning is resizing it. It’s often the most expensive way to do it, but it gives you peace of mind your engagement ring or wedding band won’t slide off your finger without you noticing.

To make it smaller, the jeweler removes a piece from the band and forms it back into its circular shape. It’s then soldered back together, cleaned, and polished.

It’s common to wonder if your ring will look the same after it’s resized. If your issue was only with its size and not appearance, you may be hesitant to have it reworked. 

You can be assured the ring will have the same aesthetic once it’s resized.

It should be noted there are certain types of rings that are generally not resized.

For example, tungsten is considered too hard to resize, and rose gold is known to crack. If your ring is made from those materials, you’ll likely have to go with another solution.

It’s also more difficult to resize if there are pave diamonds on the band, or it’s a channel setting.

To illustrate, take the setting below.

As you can imagine, it’s more difficult to fix when there are 10-20 accents involved.

The diamonds have to be removed and set back in the piece.

The same is true of some halo settings, depending on the way the halo surrounds the main diamond.

It isn’t impossible with either design, but the price will be higher compared to a solitaire setting.

4. Ring Sizing Beads

Ring sizing beads can be a permanent fix if the ring is slightly too big. It’s an especially effective solution if you have large knuckles and the ring spins when it’s placed all the way down your finger.

Jewelers add two small metal beads to the inside of the shank. They’ll rest on the inside of your finger and fill the gap that would normally cause the ring to rotate.

To see a real example, check out this ring that features two beads.

The advantage is they can easily be taken on and off by a jeweler. 

So unlike resizing, you don’t have to worry about permanently altering the ring.

The downside is they’re known to be uncomfortable if your fingers swell.

If you’re concerned they’ll be visible while on your fingers, don’t worry. When you’re wearing the ring, it’ll appear as if there are no sizing beads.

5. Hinged Shank

Many of the tips we’ve discussed won’t work if you have large knuckles and small fingers. Instead, you may need a hinged shank.

It has a tiny hinge on the base that allows you to open and close it. 

That way, you don’t have to slide the ring over your knuckle and onto your finger. You can just open the shank, and close it around your finger.

Here’s a side-by-side view of how it works.

The opening is sufficient to slide your finger through and then close.

If you’re worried you’ll have to replace your current shank with a new one, there’s also a solution for that. 

Jewelers can turn your shank into a hinged shank by replacing only the bottom part with the hinge. The top will remain the same.

It’s often called an arthritic shank because it’s especially helpful for those suffering from arthritis, which causes your joints to swell.

Similar to resizing the ring, it can be more challenging if it’s a ring with pave diamonds on the shank. 

The jeweler may be able to work around them and only configure the bottom, but this isn’t always the case with eternity settings that have diamonds wrapping all the way around.

6. Stacking

One of the simplest ways to keep your ring from spinning is to lock it in place with another ring on top. If the other ring fits tightly, it can keep the spinning ring in place.

It’s referred to as ring stacking.

It’s not a permanent fix, and you may not want to draw attention away from your engagement or wedding ring by stacking it with another ring. 

But if you need a quick solution, this can work for a short time and at least prevent it from falling off.

It’s customary to wear your wedding ring on top of your engagement ring. If the wedding ring is snug, it can keep your engagement ring from spinning.

7. Euro Shank

Euro shanks (also called flat shanks) are distinguished by their flat base. In addition to its unique appearance, there’s also a practical side to its design.

The thick edges are more angular, which better locks it around your finger and keeps it from spinning.

And as you can tell from the example above, you aren’t limited in how you can embellish the piece based on your choice of a euro shank.

The disadvantage is it can sometimes be more uncomfortable to wear than a fully rounded shank. In this case, you might have to choose between the comfort of the style in general versus the discomfort of it feeling loose on your finger.

8. Permanent Spring Insert

Permanent ring inserts can be placed inside the ring and act as a spring that gives room when you take it off and holds it in place while it’s on. 

They’re shaped like a horseshoe and cover the bottom 75 percent of the shank.

The spring opens when you move it over your knuckle, but tightens back in when it’s at the base of your finger. So if you have large knuckles, consider this option.

It’s known to be more comfortable than sizing beads and is a more affordable option than resizing it.

9. Invisible Ring Adjuster

Invisible ring adjusters are similar to ring guards and noodles. They fit on the inside of your ring and reduce it one or two sizes.

As you can see, it’s transparent.

Wrap the adjuster around the ring, and then test its size.

If it’s still too big, you can add more adjusters to ring, and if it’s too small, unwrap a couple loops until it’s the right fit. They’ll hold the ring in place so it won’t spin.

This isn’t the right solution is the ring is only slightly too big. If it’s off by a half or one size, invisible ring adjusters alter the size too much.

10. Sizing Bar

The last recommendation for keeping your ring from spinning is to have a jeweler add a sizing bar, also referred to as a fold-over device.

Here’s the gist of what it looks like.

A U-shaped bar is soldered across the base of the ring. 

It has a hinge on one end and a latch on the other. You don’t have to slide the ring over your knuckle. Instead, you open the latch and then swing it shut around your finger.

It functions similarly to a hinged shank.

A significant advantage is the ring can be reduced several sizes. Other solutions only work if the size is one or two sizes too large, but if the ring is more than that, a sizing bar could be the right option.

11. Replacement

As a last resort, you’ll have to replace the ring. 

Most engagement rings settings are between $200 and $1,200. Solitaires in 14K gold are toward the lower end of that scale. 

For example, here’s a 1.5mm solitaire setting.

In 14k white gold, it’s $570. But in platinum, it costs $800.

Settings with diamonds along the band can cost well over $1,000, especially if they’re in platinum.

Wedding rings are often between $100-$500.

If you’ve chosen a jeweler with a return policy and are inside the window, it’s generally an easy process to replace. 

But know that some jewelers only allow you to return one ring before the policy is no longer valid.

Which Solution is Right For You?

An engagement ring or wedding band spinning around your finger isn’t only annoying. It increases your chances of the ring sliding off your finger and being lost forever.

The first step in solving this problem is understanding its cause, whether it’s a result of:

• An unbalanced setting 
• Swollen fingers
• The ring being too big
• Having large knuckles

From there, explore temporary and permanent options available to hold the ring place. 

Although temporary solutions can solve the problem quickly when you’re in a bind, I recommend eventually finding a permanent solution, such as resizing the ring, a hinged shank, or a spring insert.

If none of these solutions are the right fit, you’ll need to replace the ring with a new one.

You’ll have the peace of mind your ring will be held tightly in place, so you can focus on showing off your jewelry instead of trying to hold it in place.