finger
ring. And the proper fitting of a ring for comfort in wearing it, or
to prevent its loss, which frequently would be looked upon almost as a
calamity, is something that can be attained by careful adjustment to
the proper size. Many fingers taper forward. In other fingers, the
knuckle is very large and the third joint much smaller than the
knuckle. Where the finger tapers from the joint at the hand to the tip
it is frequently difficult to make a ring hold properly. But this can
be done by wearing a tiny guard ring. In cases where the finger is much
smaller between the third and fourth joint' the ring will turn around,
which is not only uncomfortable but makes the ornaments fail to show
properly. This can be prevented by having the hoop penannular in shape,
or by the addition of an internal spring.
To
prevent the rubbing together of two rings worn on the same finger, and
the resulting attrition, which in the lapse of years sometimes wears
down a gold ring until the hoop becomes so thin that it may crack, a
simple device has been patented. This is a narrow circlet which may be
made of ivory or any other suitable material. It has a thin vertical
flange just high enough to interpose between the rings that are to be
kept apart, and two horizontal flanges to pass beneath the hoops of the
rings.
To
protect two rings from rubbing against each other, an exceedingly
narrow gold circlet is worn between them. Where there is risk that a
hard stone in one ring will come in contact with a pearl in the other,
or a diamond with any other stone, necessarily softer, one or more very
small beads are welded on that part of the hoop nearest to the setting.
In cases where a treasured ring has worn almost to the thinness of
paper, it is possible to strengthen it by adding gold at either side of
the hoop.
