Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 21
No. 202

What is the best way to store an engagement ring when not wearing it?

Most ring damage doesn't happen while you're wearing it. It happens after you take it off. The best way to store an engagement ring has less to do with the...

No. 203

How do I haggle for an engagement ring price?

Most people try to haggle for an engagement ring price the wrong way. They walk into a big-box store, point at the tag, and ask for 20% off like they're...

No. 204

Can I use a different stone for each side in a three-stone ring?

Yes. I've set a ruby on one side and a sapphire on the other, and it worked because the client cared about the colors more than the symmetry. Most...

No. 205

Are cluster engagement rings a good buy?

Last fall a woman named Elise walked into my studio with a cluster engagement ring she'd bought from a big online retailer. It looked fine in the photo. Up...

No. 206

How do I lock the ring box when proposing outdoors?

You don't lock the ring box. You secure the ring, and you make the box almost irrelevant. Most lockable ring boxes are a gimmick. The tiny combination dial...

No. 207

What if my partner hates the ring I picked?

Last March, a client named Daniel walked into the studio with a ring he hadn't looked at in two weeks. He'd proposed with a 1.4 carat oval, GIA E/VS2, in a...

No. 208

How do I verify a diamond’s laser inscription?

The laser inscription sits on the girdle, and you won't read it without at least a 10x loupe. It's not on the table. It's not something you can squint at in...

No. 209

What is a euro shank on an engagement ring?

Maya came in last March with a 2.1 carat oval solitaire that kept sliding to the side of her finger. The stone was top-heavy, the band was a standard 2mm...

No. 210

What finger does the engagement ring go on?

Left hand, fourth finger. In the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, the engagement ring goes on the left ring finger....

No. 211

What is the symbolism behind different engagement ring stones?

Most of the symbolism people bring up in consultations is invented by marketing departments, not by history. That's the first thing I tell clients who ask...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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