Stackable rings and tips on creating interesting stacks using rings you already own

Stackable rings! 
Wide, narrow, with gemstones or without, minimal or ornate, most of us love wearing them.  Among our rings, there are the special ones that we are reluctant to ever take off: the wedding and engagement rings.  At the opposite end of the spectrum, are the statement/cocktail rings, those that we would not consider wearing all day long but are exactly what we want to wear for a special occasion!  Over time, stackable rings have become my favorites because they can morph from everyday go-to jewelry to an elaborate ring.  This blog post will focus on the most common examples of stackable sets of rings – the ones I call flat stacks. In the next blog post, I will venture into how we can stack to make a stunning statement ring!  As some of you already know, I am all about flexibility, change, and versatility. To me, rings present endless options to have fun.

How it all started
Judging by my own experience, I’d say that most of us wear stacks of rings that were bought as sets and do not change them much over time.  Also, I believe that very few think about stackable options when they buy a new ring.  My view changed a few years ago, when, in the summer of 2013, I became interested in learning silversmithing techniques.  Because no classes were available right away, I started by teaching myself how to transform precious metal clay into rings.  And it turned out that the first rings I created were perfectly stackable!  About a month later, I took my first silversmithing class with Kristin Diener and I made my first sterling silver ring using traditional metal-working techniques.   When Kristin suggested I solder the band on my ring off center, I had a revelation:  because the setting was high on the band, I could slip a bunch of rings underneath, thus changing the look of my new ring quite easily.  Excited, I silversmithed a few more rings with stones set in high bezels and I started combining them to create rings that looked more substantial and elaborate.  From that moment on, I started designing rings with that in mind! 

Does old jewelry = boring jewelry?
I used to have old jewels stashed away in little box – and I am sure I am not the only one!  In my case, that box was not even a nice jewelry box, just one that fit in the shallow drawer of my closet and was pushed to the back, out of the way.  I never opened it unless I felt a pang of melancholy for the old days…usually when trying to organize that drawer and talking a stroll down memory lane felt like a good excuse to delay getting anything done.
 
It was during one of those walks into the past that I realized that I could insert some of my old rings into stackable ring sets and in that way, breathe new life into those all but forgotten rings, thus transforming them from little more than mementos into new jewelry that I was excited to wear once again.   As a result, my current go-to stash for a flat stack consists of several rings I have gathered over the last 14 years and even includes some of my wedding rings.  (Yes, that is correct – I have 4 rings from our wedding in 2003 and one other that was designated a few years ago as a wedding ring.)  On any given day, I mix and match these rings with some of the edgy geometric rings I am so fond of and I am no longer surprised when I come up with a new combo that is just perfect!

Have fun!
If like me, you have a set of stackable rings in the back of your drawer that you do not wear any longer, consider changing the configuration to make them look different and fresh.  Mix into the set a flat or round band, maybe even a gemstone – it will make both the band look more elaborate and the silver stack will take on a shine it did not have before.  Try adding a gold ring in between silver bands or a ring with a stone at one end of the set.   Here area a few things I think are important to consider when making a new “stackable ring:”
 

1. Comfort.  If the stack is comfortable, I am ready to go!  I already know which combos will work, but if I am creative and add new rings to the mix, it may take some trial and error.  I may change the bands, the order in which I place them, or even move them on a different finger until I get the right look and fit.  I may not know how wide and thick the mix of rings will feel like until I try it on.  Once in a while, I like the look of the stack so much that even if it is not very comfy, I still wear it, knowing that at some point, I may take one of the rings off. 
2. Rings will feel tighter when stacked, similar to how a ring with a wide band will feel.  I like my rings pretty floppy…or maybe that’s an artifact that after a ring passes my rock climber’s knuckles, it will be fairly loose at the base of my finger.  Regardless, rings that by themselves are looser on a finger will be better candidates for stacking on the same digit.
   
3. Ring size does not matter that much!  Feel free to mix different size rings, because the stack will stay put as long as the last ring in the stack is the right size for your finger.  I even use a 7.5-size ring in a stack that ends with a 6.
4. Length of your fingers.  Shorter fingers will look better with a narrower stackable ring, so I wear shorter stacks on my ring finger and longer ones on my index and middle fingers.
5. Is it winter or summer?  Humid or dry?  My fingers are thinner in winter during dry weather, so a stack that I wore at a New Year’s party may not fit me on the 4th of July.   I see that as an opportunity to try new things!

What’s next?
My next blog post will be about high stacks, statement rings, and cocktail rings, so stay tuned! Until then, I am hoping that you will dig through that box containing old jewelry and rediscover how you can re-purpose some older pieces into new ones that you love.  As always, have fun and if you enjoyed this post, you can subscribe to this blog where I share my thoughts about jewelry, style, and how to be sassy, classy, and bold.  Be well,
 
Cristina Radu/zMoxy