Remove a Stuck Ring With The Shimmy & Spin Method

There are many ways to remove a stuck ring, but forget what you've read on the internet about dental floss and elastic bands, this tried and true method will get that ring off easy peasy!

Whether you've tried on an old favourite that no longer fits, or your fingers have swelled in the summer heat (wishful thinking!), there's only three things you'll need- ice, lubrication and a bit of patience. 

First, soak the hand in a bowl of iced water for about 5 minutes, or as long as you can stand it. The coldness will reduce some of the swelling around the ring and slightly numb the finger, making the process quicker and easier.

After being iced, the finger needs lots of lubrication to reduce friction and allow the ring to slide on the skin. There are many things you can use- good old Vaseline is a solid option, cooking oil or olive oil will also work well, or in a pinch you can try a good squeeze of body moisturiser. 
Try to shimmy the ring on the finger so that the lubricant reaches underneath the band, this will move us on to the next step.

Once lubricated, the ring should move more easily on the finger. Unless you're working with a plain band, slowly spin the ring so that the top with any design or gems is now on the palm side. Shimmy the ring slowly from side to side and upwards until you reach the first finger joint. 

At this point push upwards on the ring from the palm side as you spin it round again, allowing the ring to slide sideways over the joint inside of pushing the skin toward the top of the finger and making it bunch. After this first joint, the rest of the finger should be easy and will just require a little more side to side shimmying until you reach the top. Ta da, your finger is free!

 Do you have any other sure fire methods to remove a stuck ring in a pinch?

[Remember that hospitals and jewellers have equipment to cut a ring off if you've tried everything and the ring is still stuck. If your finger is numb, a strange colour, or you have another injury causing your hand to swell, seek medical help and don't try to pull on the ring.]

Adders & Asps

In ancient mythology the serpent represents transformation and force of life, and we still use the snake as a symbol of healing in the Rod of Asclepius emblem which denotes medicine and healthcare. Whether you have Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) or a love for the scaly creatures, you can't deny they're one of the most curious looking creatures in our world.

I've always thought of the snake as a symbol of strength and protection- to wear jewellery depicting a snake gives me hope that I'll have the poise and purpose that snakes possess even in the face of danger or uncertainty. 

But underneath mythology and symbolism there lies a beautiful reptile, and sometimes we don't need metaphors to uncover the beauty in natural forms. From a wrist cuff to a finger wrapping ring, a snake makes a captivating statement, and is the perfect outfit embellishment to shine in the summer sun.

Shown above: Persis wrist cuff (£7.50), Cobra ring (£6.50), Serpentine drop earrings (£5), Xanthe two finger ring (£8.50)

Rings of the Day- Moonstone & Topaz

It was about two weeks ago that I first tried out this topaz and moonstone ring combo and I've worn it a lot since. I've always liked moonstones as they're so magical to look at, but I've had trouble finding one that wasn't either teeny tiny or so large (and expensive) that it engulfed my hand.
Moonstones (sometimes known as selenite) form part of the feldspar mineral group and are most commonly found in Sri Lanka and India. Not all moonstones are created equal, some are a glowy milky colour while others are more translucently blue and have flashes of blue and spectrum colours when moved under light- known as adularescence.

This 20mm Moonstone and Silver Oval Ring* (£25.99 from TheJewelleryPeople.com) sits on a thick smooth modern silver band, and is adjustable to fit a range of finger sizes which is really handy. Pinched to fit my small-ish middle finger, the band overlaps which I think adds to the design, but with a bit of strength I'm sure you could force the open end underneath the other if you wanted to.
I think the flatness and width of the design contrasts really nicely against the blue topaz ring with its faceted stone and detailing on the thin band. The shade compliments the ethereal flashes of colour in the moonstone while the uniform translucence means it doesn't compete for attention on the finger.
I've been wearing these mainly with a cream coloured wool/alpaca cardigan from Matalan, which apparently has a bit of a dressing gown style but its the warmest thing I own and we all definitely need a bit of warmth at the moment!

TheJewelleryPeople sell some really beautiful modern silver jewellery from charms, to fossil and bone pendants, to gem set earrings. They also have a range of gold, silver and diamond body jewellery which would make a really nice change to the usual surgical steel or titanium and crystal. With First Class delivery starting from just £2.90, it's definitely worth checking out the website if you're looking for something new and beautiful to accessorise your outfits!