A ring that keeps rotating so the stone ends up under your finger is one of the most annoying small problems in jewellery. You spin it back twenty times a day without thinking, and eventually you stop wearing it.

It is also almost always fixable, usually cheaply. But you need to work out which of the two causes you have first, because the fixes are different.

(If you arrived here because your ring is turning your finger a different colour, or the metal itself has changed colour, skip to the last section — that is a separate problem and we cover it below.)

Cause one: the ring is simply too big

The obvious cause. Fingers change size over the years — weight loss, age, medication, the seasons. A ring that was a firm fit five years ago can be half a size loose now.

How to tell: the ring slides over your knuckle with little or no resistance, and it moves up and down the finger as well as round it.

Cause two: your knuckle is larger than the base of your finger

This is the cause people miss, and it is extremely common. If your knuckle is significantly wider than the base of your finger, the ring has to be big enough to get past the knuckle — which means once it is on, it is loose where it actually sits.

How to tell: the ring is a real struggle to get over the knuckle, and then spins freely once it is on. Making it smaller is not the answer; you would not get it on at all.

Cause three: the ring is top-heavy

A ring with a large centre stone and a thin band has most of its weight above the finger. Gravity does the rest, and the stone rolls round to the palm side. The ring size can be perfect and it will still turn.

How to tell: the fit feels right, the ring does not slide up and down, but the stone always ends up in the same place — underneath.

The fixes, cheapest first

Fix	What it is	Best for	Permanent?
Ring guard / adjuster	A small plastic or metal clip that fits over the inside of the band	A quick trial, or temporary swelling	No — and it looks it
Sizing beads	Two small balls of metal soldered inside the band at the bottom	Large knuckle, small finger base	Yes, and reversible
Sizing bar / fold-down bar	A hinged bar that folds down inside the ring once it is on	Very large knuckles; arthritis	Yes
Spring insert	A sprung horseshoe fitted inside the band that flexes over the knuckle	Knuckles that change size, arthritic joints	Yes
Resize	The band is cut and metal removed or added	A ring that is genuinely too big overall	Yes
Adding weight to the shank	Metal added to the bottom of the band to balance a heavy top	Top-heavy rings that will not sit still	Yes

Sizing beads are the answer for most spinning rings. Two tiny beads inside the bottom of the band grip the underside of the finger and stop rotation, while leaving the top of the ring open so it still passes the knuckle. They are quick, inexpensive and can be removed later if your finger changes again.

A resize only works if the whole ring is too big. If your knuckle is the limiting factor, resizing smaller means you will not get the ring on. Have a jeweller measure both your knuckle and the base of your finger before agreeing to anything — it takes a minute. We have written more on what resizing involves in can you resize wedding rings and what a resize costs.

Adding weight to the shank is the specialist fix for a top-heavy ring. A jeweller thickens or weights the bottom of the band so the centre of gravity moves down. It changes how the ring looks from the side slightly, and it works.

Things that do not work

• Tape, thread and rubber bands. They trap moisture and dirt against your skin, and cotton thread wears through in days. Fine for one evening. Not a fix.
• Wearing it on a bigger finger. Solves the spinning, creates a different problem.
• Waiting for your finger to change back. It might, but a spinning ring is a ring that eventually comes off in a coat sleeve.

Designs that do not show the spin

If your ring keeps turning and you are choosing a new band anyway, some designs sidestep the problem entirely.

Full eternity bands look identical from every angle, so rotation is invisible. A stackable round cut full eternity band was £707 at the time of writing. Worth knowing: full eternity bands are difficult or impossible to resize, so get the fit right first time.

Bezel settings hold the stone in a rim of metal rather than on claws, which sits lower and shifts weight down. A bezel rose cut eternity band in sterling silver is both low-profile and evenly weighted.

Wide bands rotate less than narrow ones, because more of the ring is in contact with the finger.

When your ring turns your finger green — or changes colour itself

Different problem, different cause.

A green mark on your skin comes from copper in the alloy reacting with sweat and skin acids. It is harmless, washes off, and is most common with sterling silver and lower-karat golds in warm weather. Keeping the ring clean and dry helps; if it bothers you, a higher-karat gold or platinum will not do it.

White gold going slightly warm or yellowish is not tarnish and not a fault. White gold is yellow gold alloyed pale and then plated with rhodium. The plating wears through with time, revealing the naturally champagne-coloured metal underneath. Replating is a routine job at any jeweller.

Silver going dark is tarnish — silver reacting with sulphur in the air. A silver polishing cloth removes it in a minute. Ordinary soap will not.

Gold or platinum should not change colour at all. If a ring sold as gold has changed colour, it may be plated rather than solid. Check for a hallmark.

Frequently asked questions

How do I stop my wedding ring from spinning?

For most people, sizing beads soldered inside the bottom of the band. If the ring is genuinely too big all over, a resize. If the ring is top-heavy, weight added to the shank.

Is a spinning ring dangerous?

Not in itself, but it is a warning. A ring loose enough to rotate freely is loose enough to come off in a glove, a coat sleeve or cold water without you noticing.

Can any jeweller add sizing beads?

Almost all can — it is a standard bench job and takes very little time. We are happy to do it on rings we did not make.

Will sizing beads be uncomfortable?

Most people stop noticing them within a few days. They are small and sit under the finger where there is least sensation.

My ring only spins in winter. Should I fix it?

Cold weather shrinks fingers, so seasonal movement is normal. If it is only a slight wobble in January, a ring guard for the coldest weeks is enough. If it is coming off, get it dealt with properly.

Get it looked at

Spinning rings are one of the easiest things a jeweller fixes, and one of the most commonly ignored. If yours turns, take it in — the fix usually costs a fraction of what people expect, and it is a great deal cheaper than replacing a ring you lost.

We are in North Harrow and happy to look at rings from anywhere. Everything in our own wedding ring collection is hand-made in solid gold, platinum or silver with lab-grown diamonds, a free IGI certificate on centre stones, free insured UK delivery and 30-day returns.

More guides on this topic

• Which Way Round Do You Wear Wedding and Engagement Rings?