Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 16
No. 152

Can guys wear engagement rings too?

Unequivocally yes. I make more men's engagement rings now than I did five years ago, and the only thing still lagging is the display case at the average...

No. 153

Is it better to buy an engagement ring from a local jeweler or a chain store?

I’ll put it plainly: for most people, a local jeweler is the better place to buy an engagement ring. A chain store can work in one or two narrow...

No. 154

Can I find a good engagement ring at an antique shop?

Yes, and some of the best engagement rings I've ever worked on came out of antique shops in small towns, not estate cases at high-end jewelers. A good...

No. 155

Are pawn shops a good place to buy an engagement ring?

Mostly no. Pawn shops are a bad place to buy an engagement ring if you don't already know exactly what you're looking at, and most people don't. But there...

No. 156

What if she doesn't like the engagement ring I picked, can I return it easily?

No. Usually not easily. And if you bought the engagement ring from a national chain, the answer is still no, just with more paperwork and a restocking fee...

No. 157

How do I propose with a ring at home in a creative way?

Most creative at-home proposal ideas fail because they're built for an audience, not for the two of you. The best way to propose with a ring at home in a...

No. 158

Do engagement rings fit tighter in cold weather or is that a myth?

A size 6 ring at 35°F is still a size 6 ring, but your finger isn't. So no, cold weather does not make an engagement ring fit tighter. It does the opposite....

No. 159

How often does white gold need to be replated with rhodium?

Every twelve to eighteen months. That's the schedule I give clients for a daily-wear white gold ring, and I'd rather say that up front than pretend the...

No. 160

Why does my finger get a rash under my engagement ring?

Nine times out of ten, a rash under an engagement ring is contact dermatitis from moisture and soap trapped against the skin. Not a metal allergy. I'm not a...

No. 161

Is an engagement ring a good financial investment over time?

No. An engagement ring is not a good financial investment over time, and I say that as someone who makes a living selling them. I hear this question often...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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