Stuck Ring on Finger | Platinum, Ceramic & Silicone

Decades ago, if a patient sought professional help to remove a stuck ring on a finger, chances are the piece of jewelry was either gold or silver. In more recent years, that’s changed. Now rings are made from a variety of materials that traditionally haven’t fit the mold of fine jewelry. Among those include rings made of materials such as platinum, ceramic, and silicon. 

Although the materials rings are made of are more diverse than ever, a common theme exists: Rings are designed for a close fit and therefore can become stuck when finger swelling occurs. Common situations include injury to the hand or finger, pregnancy related swelling, even exercise or a salty diet can cause enough finger swelling for a ring to become stuck. Regardless of the ring material, a stuck ring needs to be removed safely and efficiently to relieve the wearers finger.

In this article, we'll look at removing rings made from three aforementioned unique ring materials. We'll explore:

• Each ring material & its removal considerations

• The easiest ways to remove a stuck ring on a finger 

• Traditional & advanced ring removal methods & considerations

• & Much more 

Platinum, Ceramic, and Silicon Rings: Unique Materials, Unique Removal Challenges

You don’t have to be a jeweler to know that rings these days come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. In other words, gold and silver rings are now but two options in a much broader selection of materials for rings. 

And, as materials that rings are made of are not all the same, the considerations for how you remove them when they become stuck on a finger can vary greatly if you don’t have proper tools on hand.

What does this mean for rings made of platinum, ceramic, and silicon? Let's take a ring-by-ring look at each.

Platinum Finger Rings

Platinum is often sought for fine jewelry, especially for engagement and wedding rings, for several reasons:

Its durability, dense nature, hardness (comparable to iron), and resistance to corrosion make it resilient for jewelry wear, maintaining its condition over time. The metal's natural white shine does not tarnish, and it’s hypoallergenic, which could also make it a preferred option for individuals with sensitive skin.

Despite its higher cost, its long-lasting beauty and minimal maintenance often make it a favored choice for those seeking quality and elegance in their jewelry.

Removal Challenges: Because of platinum's high density and strength relative to gold and silver, it is more resistant to traditional ring cutting tools which were designed for softer metals. Many other modern ring materials are even harder than Platinum, including stainless steel, titanium and tungsten carbide. Fortunately, modern tools like the Ring Rescue Dolphin Ring Cutter are able to safely and easily cut all of these metals in cases of ring entrapment, including platinum, titanium, and tungsten.

Ceramic Finger Rings 

Typically made from titanium carbide, ceramic rings offer a modern twist on traditional ring materials. Lightweight and with a smooth, glossy finish, ceramic rings come in a variety of colors, making them popular among those looking for jewelry with a unique, personalized look. It's hypoallergenic, which may make it a good option for those with metal allergies.

Ceramic finger rings are very hard and resistant to scratches, comparable to tungsten. However, unlike metals that can bend, ceramic's hardness makes it brittle, meaning it may crack or shatter if subjected to a sharp impact.

Removal Challenges: If a ceramic ring becomes stuck, it cannot be cut with a traditional manual ring cutter like soft metal rings can. Rather, it requires proper purpose-built tools that can safely cut through it. The Dolphin Ring Cutter is a great option for this type of ring.

Silicone Finger Rings

A newer material for rings, silicone rings are soft and flexible, allowing for a comfortable fit that adapts to various finger sizes and shapes.

The flexibility of silicone finger rings make them popular for hands-on professionals, particularly among healthcare workers, electricians, mechanics, and workers in other industrial settings. Silicone rings may not offer the elegance and allure of metallic rings, but they may be preferable in environments where wearing a metallic ring could pose a safety hazard.

Removal Challenges: This one is a little different – these rings do not have the same stuck ring issues as do rigid metal rings. Put simply, if stretching the ring or using lubrication to slide it off of the finger doesn’t work, a standard pair of medical grade scissors should suffice. 

How to Remove a Ring That’s Stuck on a Finger | 2 Options for Easy Removal

When a ring becomes stuck on a finger – regardless of the materials it's made from or the reason it's stuck in the first place – two things take priority: removing it safely and quickly.

The two tools comprising the Ring Rescue Kit – the Dolphin Ring Cutter & the Compression Device – bridge that gap.

The Dolphin Ring Cutter is sophisticated yet easy to use, providing an efficient and safe method for removing stuck rings. It is able to cut through the toughest metals on the planet (even titanium & tungsten carbide) with ease. This ring cutter cleanly slices through virtually any ring by a single operator, safely in minutes.

The Dolphin Ring Cutter has an integrated finger guard to protect the finger while also firmly securing the ring during cutting. It features the AssureCUT Disc for a precision cut, and Ring Lubricant is used on the cutting disc to facilitate the most efficient cutting process. The Dolphin Ring Cutter is automated - the operator simply pulls the trigger and the internal computer analyzes and controls the rate of the ring cut to avoid the ring getting hot, ensuring patient safety.

The Compression Device is simple and elegant. The cuff is placed onto the swollen finger and then inflated with air pressure, comfortably compressing the area around the stuck ring. This action displaces the swelling, temporarily shrinking the finger. After 5 minutes of compression, the cuff is deflated and removed, and with a skinnier finger, attempts at removing the ring are more likely to be successful.

One of the key benefits? This method of ring removal does not damage the ring while freeing it from the finger, which is great for sentimental and expensive rings.

Should ring cutting be required from a very swollen finger, the Compression Device can also reduce swelling first, which improves the ease of application of the Dolphin Ring Cutter finger guard.

Now Outdated Stuck Ring Removal Methods

Whether you’re a first responder or someone working in an emergency department, by the time you see someone with a stuck ring on their finger, they’ve probably already tried to remove it. Aggressive removal attempts often make the swelling worse when unsuccessful.

With modern ring styles being resistant to traditional ring cutter tools, improvised methods using repurposed hardware store tools were sometimes used for ring removal. However, medical standards exists for good reason, and fingers are important! For patient safety reasons, it is crucial to use appropriate medical tools for procedures including ring entrapment. Fortunately, purpose-built medical devices, designed for this specific challenge are now available with the Ring Rescue Kit. It’s best to avoid legacy non-medical strategies that can cause harm to the finger.

Non-Destructive Ring Removal Methods 

Destructive Ring Removal Methods

Modern Ring Removal Methods 

Considerations for Removing Any Ring Stuck on a Finger

Regardless of what material a ring is made of, some considerations universally apply when trying to remove it when it becomes stuck on a finger:

• Skin damage and lacerations — This risk is two-fold, concerning both the potential harm caused by the ring being stuck and the methods used for its removal. For example, pulling a ring forcefully can increase swelling, and can tear the skin or create cuts, especially if the ring has sharp edges or if the skin swells around the band. Attempting ring cutting with risk-prone strategies (such as Dremel-style high-speed rotary tools) is a particularly dangerous approach, whereby heat generated during cutting can lead to finger burns, and sudden loss of tool control can easily occur and lead to significant injuries.

• Circulation issues and swelling — A stuck ring can restrict blood flow, irritate the finger, and if left unresolved this can lead to increasing swelling. Prolonged constriction can cause numbness, tingling, or even more severe circulatory problems, making timely and careful removal all the more important. Severe cases of unresolved ring entrapment syndrome have even resulted in finger amputations.

• Damage to the ring, loss of sentimental value — Removal techniques that damage the ring beyond repair certainly can affect the financial and sentimental value of the ring.

Reducing Ring Material Concerns for Safer, More Efficient Removal

Removing a stuck ring from a finger is best done by a medical or jewelry professional that uses the most appropriate and safest tools to protect the finger, while also minimizing damage to the ring whenever possible.

But with the right tools, bridging the gaps between all these considerations is now very possible, regardless whether the ring is made from platinum, ceramic, silicone or any other ring metal. 

The Tools You Need in One Place

Explore our Ring Rescue Kit!