Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 23
No. 222

What should I engrave on an engagement ring?

Most people overthink engraving. I've watched couples stall for weeks over what to engrave on an engagement ring, and half of them end up with a date and...

No. 223

What are the engagement ring trends for 2024?

Most engagement ring trend lists for 2024 are guessing. I've been at the bench for 22 years, and the engagement ring trends for 2024 that actually matter...

No. 224

What is the difference between a natural and a treated diamond?

Last Thursday a client named Mara came in with a 2.03 carat emerald-cut diamond and a lab report from 2006. The stone was natural. The color grade didn't...

No. 225

Are salt and pepper diamonds good for engagement rings?

I've set maybe a dozen salt and pepper diamonds in engagement rings over the last three years. I've also talked two clients out of them. They're real...

No. 226

What should I do if a tiny diamond falls out of my halo setting?

First, take the ring off and stop wearing it. A missing halo stone is not a wait-and-see situation. The little stones around a center stone share prongs,...

No. 227

How often should I take my ring to a jeweler for a prong check?

Every six months. Not once a year, not "when you remember." For a ring you wear daily, I want it on my bench every six months. The check takes ten minutes,...

No. 228

Can I wear my engagement ring in the shower without loosening the stones?

You can wear your engagement ring in the shower without loosening the stones, but I'd still rather you took it off. The water alone won't loosen properly...

No. 229

What's the best way to store my engagement ring at home when I'm not wearing it?

The bathroom counter is the worst place in your house for a diamond. I tell clients the best way to store your engagement ring at home is a simple padded...

No. 230

Does using alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently weaken the ring's metal?

Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently will not weaken a ring's metal. I've answered this 30 times since 2020, often while a client holds out a hand...

No. 231

How do I explain to friends that my diamond is lab-grown without feeling judged?

The judgment isn't really about your lab-grown diamond. It's about the story people tell themselves about what a diamond is supposed to be. Once you...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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