HELP!!!

[Former_Member]

Hi All,

My son, a Purple Heart recipient from Iraq and future daughter-in-law, who stuck with him through it all, are finally settling down and getting married. They are looking for someone who makes wedding rings and are having a lot of problems. She has a type of Rheumatoid Arthritis that causes a lot of swelling in her hands and needs a ring that will be large enough for her to wear. (She's saying a 9.5 but probably needs a 10 or 11). The jeweler they were interested in gave her a lot of grief about her hands being so big... so much so that she was in tears last night.

Anyway, I told her I would ask around. If you would, or you know of someone who would, be interested in taking the job, please PM me here and I will set you up with the kids. They're looking for fine quality, handmade rings.

Thanks!

Cathy

[Former_Member]

He must be a new Jeweler to be so callous. Thats not that large a finger size. Done a few zillion of them myself in that size. I'm not doing orders now though and i sent all my gold in to scrap :-) Sticking with silver these days.

Good luck and I'm sure a few Jewelers here will reply to you. Thanks for joining the group

[Untwistedsister]

I have a good friend with arthritis and she has this gorgeous diamond ring that opens up to put on and then closes to fit comfortably without turning. I will ask her what the ring is called and maybe she will remember where she had it done. I will see her tomorrow.

[EyemaginationRSB]

Cathy there are rings available to be made that are hinged to get over large knucles because of arthritis of broken knuckles. I haven't made one yet but since i have been silversmithing over 40 years now I could do it. Convo me if you like.

[Former_Member]

I put one together for my husband at one point, who has similar but non-RA issues with his hands, but it was a wire ring - basically a double wrap of wire and worked it around a bit to be adjustable. I kinda got the idea from an aboriginal wire bracelet that my dad brought back from Africa that's amazingly adjustable - I'll have to dig around & see if I can find a picture.

[Former_Member]

I don't post a lot of my rings yet, but there is nothing wrong with a larger ring size. I actually have more trouble with tiny sizes myself, but I wouldn't make a fuss about it.

[Lovethebugs]

They are called finger fit shanks if I remember correctly. You can also get a custom made ring using a finger fit shank too. My goal is to be a jeweler but I am not one yet, I do however follow a very good one on youtube. Here is one of his videos on making a ring using the finger fit shank. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6A8nCqRcxY

[AnneLondezGlass]

Are you looking for a jeweler here on Etsy ? I have no connection with any but there are a couple whose work I admire, let me know if you want me to point them out.

[FacetsbyKathryn]

Check out this shop. Christine does fabulous work in addition to being the president of the Michigan Silversmith Guild.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/39787681/sterling-circle-post-earrings
Check out the guild

[FacetsbyKathryn]

Please disregard my previous post. Her shop name is ChristineBossler and she does fabulous work especially wedding bands. She is also president of the Michigan Silversmith Guild. Check us out at http://misilversmith.org/

[Former_Member]

What a callous person, no one should ever be treated like that. There are lots of medical conditions that can cause swelling of the hands, it is not a reason for a 'professional' jeweller to start being an idiot.

I just thought I'd add that rings made using a soft (rounded) square mandrel are generally much more comfortable to wear, especially for people with sensitive hands. The finger is not naturally round anyway so the soft square rings are much more ergonomic :)

Rounded square ring mandrel:

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Rounded-Square-Ring-Mandrel/112356?Pos=2

This is listed as a men's ring but it shows the shape:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85860828/mens-ergonomic-wedding-band-7mm-finger?

[Former_Member]

closed