My aversion for adjustable band rings probably started with trips to the dentist. At the end of the experience, I was always allowed to pick a ring from the treasure chest of odds & ends which are appealing in a way that only small plastic toys can be to children. I already knew what I was going to pick — a thin plastic ring base with a glittering faux gemstone front & center.
Of course, the horrors of the dentist trip were quickly forgotten when the treasure chest came out — and replaced with another horror of a different kind — I could never find my ring size! The smallest of the ring bases were always hopelessly too big for my (probably size 2) fingers, and no amount of pinching & squeezing & adjusting ever ended in a perfect fit. Even at the smallest setting, the ring ends overlapped horribly & the ring sat lopsided on my too-tiny finger. Even at a young age, I knew that didn’t look good.
But I wouldn’t give up — I would carefully select the smallest ring I could find as my “prize” and squeeze it smaller until it eventually broke. I was determined: every dentist trip would mean I was 6 months older & maybe, just maybe, I would have 6 month’s bigger fingers.
Unfortunately for me, by the time I was old enough to properly fit these trinket rings the novelty of painted plastic had worn off & I had already decided I hated adjustable rings, anyway. But I had definitely fallen in love with rings!
Now that I design my own jewelry, I’m faced with the dilemma of adjustable rings once more. I can hold a grudge against dentist rings, but I can’t ignore the versatility & the appeal of an adjustable ring base: simply epoxy on anything & you’re good to go! They make great novelty rings & are perfect for a little pop of color. They are also a good fit for use with plastic, wood or stone (since you can’t solder those!)
I’ve been on a kick with my adjustable ring bases & a certified boatload of polished agate slices.. which will be coming soon to my shop, sometime this June.
I think the best adjustable rings are the ones where the adjust-ability is incorporated into the design itself. Or, should I say: the truly best adjustable rings are those that you can’t even tell they’re adjustable, like this With Wings floating statement ring in oxidized brass (below). Made in your size, all it takes is a simple squeeze to tighten for the best fit. This is definitely not your standard adjustable ring 😉
This open front style ring is slightly adjustable & totally awesome.
Another style of adjustable ring that I am a fan of is the overlapping wrap design, which allows you to adjust the ring without destroying the look. Overlapping twist designs such as this vintage spoon ring (below), show off the versatility of the design. As you can see with this one, the same ring would look quite different in a size 9 than in a size 5 (shown).
Rings that are not closed can be easily adjusted with a little squeeze.
My best selling rings feature a brass wire band — made entirely by hand & sized exactly to fit your finger. This design, of course, takes a little bit (okay, a lot ;)) more time to create than simply attaching an adjustable ring backing, but I think the effect is worth it.
Solid brass bands are long-lasting, comfortable, & there’s no risk of pinching. Better yet, they’re attached with solder — not adhesive like most adjustable ring bases — so there is no risk of your ring falling apart!
But they do take time to produce & you know how much I hate to keep you waiting.. so I’m working on expanding my READY MADE ring section, which should soon be chock full of rings in all sorts of sizes, ready to ship. Win, win, right?
These are on special (sorta!) all June: one lucky shopper will WIN 5 mystery soldered statement rings in her size, just by purchasing a ring through my shop! I’ve picked a special date/time this month, and whichever ring order is placed closest to the winning time scores a fist full of Brilliance Found jewelry. As if you needed more motivation to buy, right? 😉
Which do you like best: adjustable bands or set size? The six-year-old in me is still full of grudges, apparently 😉
You can enter each piece of jewelry up to 3 times, with 1 picture = 1 entry. Each submission will be numbered in the order they arrive & we’ll have a random draw at the end of the month for the big winner! We’ll be announcing the winner December 31st, 2010.
And the prize? Our biggest one yet!
the Art of Brilliance Found Jewelry 