Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 11
No. 102

Can I engrave a fingerprint or coordinates inside a custom ring?

Yes. I've done it more times than I can count-maybe a hundred and fifty times over the last decade. Fingerprints, coordinates, handwriting, a line from a...

No. 103

What are the best materials for custom rings for people with metal allergies?

About a third of the clients who come to my bench with a metal allergy story are actually allergic to the nickel in standard 14k white gold. Another third...

No. 104

Can I design a custom ring that is a replica of a vintage or antique style?

Yes, you can. I'd say about a quarter of my custom work starts with a client holding up a phone photo of a ring from 1920 or 1950 and saying "I want this,...

No. 105

What is the process for creating a custom ring with a tension setting?

I've done maybe forty tension-set rings in twenty-two years. That's not a lot, and that's the point - tension settings are not a standard catalog item....

No. 106

Can I use a non-traditional gemstone like opal, moonstone, or turquoise in a custom ring?

Sure. But there's a right way to do it and a wrong way, and most people who walk into my studio have been told the wrong thing by someone who doesn't set...

No. 107

What if I don't like the initial design concept for my custom ring?

This happens. More often than most jewelers admit. Walk into any custom studio and ask about this - the designer will say "we iterate until you're happy."...

No. 108

Can I design a custom ring with a complex filigree or engraving pattern?

Yes, you can. The real question is whether you should - and that depends on who's doing the engraving, what metal you're working in, and whether you...

No. 109

Can I make a custom ring using 3D printing technology?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on what you mean by "3D printing technology," and whether you're OK with the part where the printed object...

No. 110

How do I design a custom memorial ring to honor a loved one?

I've done maybe three dozen memorial rings over the years, and the ones that work best share a few things. They start with a specific object, not a vague...

No. 111

Can I design a custom ring that can be sized up or down later?

Short answer: yes, but not every ring, and not by much. The real question is how much room you're asking for, and whether the design can handle it without...

A letter, every other Sunday.

One essay, one object, one quiet recommendation — delivered slowly, the way these things ought to be.