There are many reason why men can have a big knuckle (s)
People assume that it is only arthritis that leaves you with large joints. But it is very common, for the knuckle to be larger than the phalanx, or phalange– the finger joint. It could be genetics, or when a sporting injury has caused additional joint growth, through bone or tissue damage. Rugby players often end up with the 'big knuckle small finger' challenge through dislocation or other injuries to the joint.
For those looking for a solution, it is possible get a ring over a large knuckle. Read on;
How to get a wedding ring over a big knuckle after a sporting injury
A couple of questions to consider here;
1 - If you’ve got a sporting injury which has left you with a large knuckle joint, on your left hand has your injury has left permanent damage, or will (over time) your knuckle decrease in size? Your doctor and or surgeon should advise on this. Obviously, the ideal is that with rest and rehab, the joint will return to normal. In which case you can consider regular ring options. If prognosis is that your knuckle is not going to decrease in size, or that the joint is going to be prone to swelling, then a shaped or hinged ring option is the more realistic option.
2 - How you are going to wear this ring, and what your lifestyle is like? Whatever solution you choose, it isn’t recommended you play sports wearing a ring in case of further complications. Especially with hinged rings. So, are you prepared to take this ring off? A hinged ring is going to be an expensive option if you are having to repair it every few months!
What are my wedding ring options if I’ve had a sporting / rugby injury?
The size of your knuckle and finger, and how they behave will drive my recommendations here.
I usually send prospective clients off with a ring measuring tool, in order that they can check finger size at different times of the day. I am writing this blog in February, it’s cold and my wedding ring is twisting around my finger. This morning when I got up, it was snug. It is very common for fingers to change size during the day, so establishing the median of what knuckle is going to do, and finger will drive the best solution.
I’ve covered more information on different ring options in the article here, but in summary – the best wedding ring solutions for big knuckles I'd recommend are;
#1 Shaped wedding rings – square or trapezoid
Despite the shape descriptions, these rings do not look square or trapezoid on the finger. The advantage of these rings is two-fold; firstly the shape enables movement over the knuckle, and then ‘locks’ into place on the finger. The diagonals give the extra space to move over the joint. I think they are the best ring shape for big knuckles where the size difference allows, because they don’t require any componentry to wear. Which means that if you do wear them, they can get thrashed a bit, and be reshaped (even though I still DO NOT RECOMMEND wearing rings for sporting activities where the hands are in use!). The downside is driven by the finger size, they can feel a little ‘baggy’ underneath if you have a skinny finger and big knuckle.
#3 Hinged wedding rings
These are where there is a significant difference in finger size and knuckle – meaning that there will be discomfort in attempting to slide a ring over the knuckle. These open up 3-5 sizes, or do a complete 180 degrees so ensure that if you want to wear a ring, you can - they will fit any finger. The detail to note is that they are engineered items with componentry to ensure they open and shut. So they will require service check ups every 18 months to 2 years depending on your wear, They can’t be resized either, meaning that a significant change in finger size will require a new ring. It's not recommended to go with this option if you are about to embark on a serious weight loss / gain programme until you have stabilised your weight! Otherwise, a brilliant ring for guys with big knuckles.
What do these solutions cost?
A shaped wedding ring is handmade, so will be driven by the size of finger, width of band, depth of band, and the best shape for the knuckle. Therefore, it’s a bit ballpark, but when we make the ring, we normally produce a silver prototype first which can be worn and checked for comfort, before we make the ring proper. This means all in you are looking from around £850 if you are around a size O, and from £950 if you are around a size U for a 5mm ring
Hinged rings, I’ve written more about the engineering here. It’s worth keeping in mind, as this kind of ring is a performance item! Expect costs to start around £1,000 at 3mm width from a size O in 14kt, or £1,300 in 18kt and work upwards. In addition, keep in mind that depth plays apart, these rings need to hold the hinging components. So a realistic view could be that for a 5mm hinged ring in size T, depth could be 2.25mm (which is a heavyweight profile by international standards) could come in around £1,355 in 14kt, or £1,800* in 18kt.
A Note on The Cost of a Hinged Ring
The above seems like a lot, but a plain heavyweight band of this depth comes in around £1,270 in 18kt size T. It is a lot of metal. I would be inclined to recommend a narrower width, because the ring is going to feel more significant on the hand and 5mm will be chunky. Going down a mm can make the ring feel more wearable.
* For 10 years of marriage that is 0.49p a day.. It will have done a lot more mileage and have higher worth than your £1,800 car over that time!
Final Thoughts
You can wear a wedding ring even if you have a big knuckle from a sporting injury. The rings discussed here all provide options to go the distance. We don’t recommend going with a hinged ring for at least 6 months after a sporting injury which the joint stabilises. It is always worth consulting with your doctor or surgeon about the longer term healing process first, as every hand is different.
Interested in finding a ring solution for your big knuckle? Get in touch to discuss wedding rings with us.