As Wedding Know How editors, we write about things that we love and we think you'll like too. We have affiliate partnerships and sponsorship and may generate some revenue from these at no cost to you.
A spinning engagement ring can be annoying, frustrating and sometimes downright painful. It’s one of those little-talked about aspects of wearing a ring that you only really notice once you start wearing one. But interestingly, it’s not something we think about when we purchase our rings.
However, there are many ways to solve this issue, some of which are temporary while others are more permanent fixes. Let’s take a look.
Why is a Spinning Ring Annoying?
For rings which look the same from all sides, spinning isn’t a problem. You won’t be able to tell whether the ring has spun or not, and it won’t affect your comfort. This applies to most wedding rings which look the same from all angles.
However, when some wedding ring designs, like half-eternity settings, or engagement rings that feature a center gemstone, spin on your finger, you can tell that they’ve moved around.
The center gemstone can flop to the side and sag, the stone can dig into adjacent fingers, which can hurt, and you won’t be able to stop thinking about spinning that ring back into place.
Why Do Engagement Rings Spin?
To find the right solution for your spinning ring problem, it’s good to diagnose why it’s spinning. If your ring is spinning on your finger, the reasons would probably be one of the following:
1. The ring is too big.
This is the most common reason for a spinning ring. You can tell if your ring is big by how it slips over your knuckle – does it slide right off without any pressure required? Also, is there a gap between your finger and your ring? If yes, it’s likely a size or two larger than it should be.
2. The top of the setting is too heavy.
For rings that are heavier at one end, the other end should have a thicker or wider base which helps it to hold on to your finger more firmly and prevent the heavy part from moving around. However, if the base of the ring is too thin and the ring hasn’t been designed to accommodate the heaviness of the top part, the ring will spin. Check the base of your ring and compare it to the top. Does it look too thin and unable to support the weight of your stone?
3. Large knuckles, thin fingers.
For most people, large knuckles are the culprits that cause their rings to spin. What happens here is that the ring size you’ve chosen fits your knuckle, but once it gets over your knuckle, it’s too big for your finger. But if you buy the right ring size for your finger, chances are you won’t be able to get it over your knuckle. Catch 22?
4. Your fingers tend to swell.
Fingers can swell for any number of reasons. Most people will experience some change in finger sizes over the course of a day, with the variation being about half a size. Some people have much more dramatic changes. The season can also affect your finger sizes, with some people’s fingers swelling during summer and smaller during winter.
How to Stop Your Ring from Spinning
There are many ways to fix this spinning ring problem, but these range from affordable and quick to expensive and complicated.
1. Choose a Setting That Helps Against Spinning
If you haven’t bought a ring already and are leery of the ring spinning problem, you could opt for a Euro shank which tends to stop a ring from spinning. Basically, a Euro shank is a ring with a flat or squarish bottom. This is only on the outer edge of the ring, with the inner circle being perfectly round. When you wear it, it feels almost exactly like a regular ring.
The rest of the ring can be of any style or setting preferred. Because the square edges are thicker and angular, the ring doesn’t turn easily in place. This is especially important if the ring has a large center stone and is top heavy.
Euro shanks can feel a little different, even uncomfortable at the start, but people say that they’re easy to get used to and tend to become very comfortable with time.
2. Inexpensive, Temporary Solutions
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, temporary solution, there are many products available that let you adjust your ring to reduce the spinning. However, these products need to be changed every now and then for hygienic purposes and aren’t a permanent solution.
- Tape: A quick and easy way to stop your ring from spinning is by tying some string or attaching sticky tape to the bottom part of the ring. This can stop the ring spinning for the time being until you find a more permanent solution.
- Ring Noodle/Guard: A plastic ring noodle, like this one, is a popular and inexpensive product that easily stops your ring from moving around. It’s also easy to attach to your ring and doesn’t damage your ring in any way. Because it’s transparent, you don’t see the ring noodle on your ring and as it’s typically made of medical grade plastic, there’s little concern of allergic reactions. The best feature of the ring noodle is that you can attach it to your ring after you wear it, so you won’t have the trouble of trying to tug your ring if you have large knuckles.
- Ring Wrap: The ring wrap, like this one, is a tightly curled piece of plastic that can be wrapped around the bottom part of your ring to the length required, effectively removing the gap between your finger and the ring. It’s comfortable to wear but note that soap and other gunk can get caught in the grooves, so you’ll need to change it periodically.
- Invisible Ring Adjuster: This is similar to the ring noodle, but the main difference is that it only fits on the inner part of the ring and can’t be seen from the outer edge. This makes it a more discreet option. Check it here.
3. Resizing Your Ring to Fit
This is a permanent solution for a too-big ring, and most retailers will provide one free resizing within a certain period of time from when you bought your ring.
If you don’t have this option, you can still have your ring resized by a different jeweler, and because this isn’t a complicated procedure, most jewelers can do this for you. However, some rings can’t be resized because of their design, such as tension or full eternity settings.
Also note that if your problem is large knuckles, then ring resizing might not be the right solution because you may not be able to get the ring down over your knuckle.
4. Adding Ring Resizing Beads to Your Ring
If your ring is only a little big, you can have your jeweler add some resizing beads to minimize the gap between your finger and the ring and to provide some friction to stop the ring from turning. Resizer beads are little metal balls that are attached to the inner part of the ring. They’re typically comfortable, but if your finger is prone to swelling, they could feel uncomfortable.
5. Permanent Ring Inserts
Permanent ring inserts are fixed to the inner part of the ring and behave like a spring. They are flexible and give when you put on or take off your ring. But once you wear your ring, they return to their normal shape and stop your ring from spinning.
The problem with the permanent inserts is that they can only be made with gold, as platinum doesn’t have the right flexing movement. In addition, they will cover up engravings, if any, on the inside of your ring.
6. Hinged Shank Rings
Gold hinged wedding band by Christine Bossler. Check Price Here.
Hinged shanks are quite expensive to have attached to your ring, so this isn’t the best option for most people. Here, the ring doesn’t look different from other rings, except that the shank contains a little hinge that allows the band to open and close to let your finger in and out.
You can have a hinge fixed to an existing ring or have a bespoke ring made with a hinge for you. Do some research before you hand over a valuable ring to be hinged, as this process requires skill on the part of the jeweler. Find a skilled jeweler with a good track record.
If you have arthritis that affects your knuckle joints, hinged shanks are an excellent solution.
How to Stop Stacked Rings from Spinning
If you’re having trouble with your stacked rings spinning, there are several solutions you might consider:
1. Get the Right Size
The most common reason rings spin is because they’re too large for your finger. Consider getting your finger properly sized by a jeweler and adjust the size of your rings accordingly.
2. Use Ring Adjusters
Ring adjusters, also known as ring guards or ring sizers, are small, often clear, pieces of plastic or silicone that fit on the back of your rings to make them fit more snugly.
They’re a temporary, cost-effective solution and can be easily found online or in a jewelry store.
3. Consider a Wider Band
Wider bands, because they cover more surface area, tend to spin less than thinner bands. If your stack consists of multiple thin rings, consider adding a wider band to the stack to help stabilize it.
4. Add a Ring with Texture
A ring with a textured band can help add some friction and prevent the other rings from spinning too much. It can be a fashionable and functional addition to your stacked set.
5. Consider Ring Spinning Stoppers
These are small metal pieces that are attached to the inside of the rings. They can be adjusted to apply light pressure on the finger, preventing the rings from spinning.
It’s a more permanent solution and may need a jeweler’s assistance to install it correctly.
Tips for Buying a Ring That Won’t Spin
Shopping for a ring that won’t spin can make your jewelry wearing experience more enjoyable and worry-free. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Get sized correctly: This is the most important step. Make sure to have your finger accurately sized by a jeweler. It’s also a good idea to measure at different times of the day and when your hands are warm, as fingers can swell or shrink slightly under different conditions.
- Consider the width and weight of the band: A wider band usually offers a more secure fit and is less likely to spin, as it covers more surface area on your finger. The same principle applies to the weight of the ring. Heavier rings tend to stay put more than lighter ones.
- Look at the ring’s design: Rings with a flat or broad design on one side (like signet rings or rings with large stones) are more likely to spin due to uneven weight distribution. If you’re worried about spinning, opt for rings with a symmetrical design or weight distribution.
- Think about the shape of the band: Some rings are designed with a slight curve on the inside of the band, a design also known as a “comfort fit.” This style reduces the contact area with the finger, making the ring less likely to spin.
- Try on multiple sizes: If you’re between sizes, try on both and move your hand around with the ring on. Choose the size that moves the least.
- Consider a smaller size for stacking rings: If you plan to wear multiple rings on the same finger, consider getting the ring that sits on top a size smaller. This can help to secure the other rings and prevent them from spinning.
Remember, every hand and every ring is unique, so it might take a bit of trial and error to find the perfect, spin-free fit.
Wrapping Up
While a spinning ring is annoying, it can easily be stopped with one of the 6 solutions outlined above. To choose the best option, first consider why your ring is spinning and then choose either the best temporary or permanent solution according to your budget.
