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

Can I design a custom ring without visiting a jeweler in person?

Yes, you can - and I do it all the time. About 60% of my custom jobs last year started with someone emailing me from across the country. But there's a gap...

No. 223

How do I clean a custom ring with intricate details?

About 80% of the damage I see on intricate custom rings isn't from wear - it's from cleaning. Someone hears "soak it in ammonia" or grabs a toothbrush and...

No. 224

Can I get a custom ring made with both gold and platinum?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on what you mean by "both" and how much you hate your future jeweler. I've made rings that combine gold and...

No. 225

How do I ensure my custom ring design is durable?

About fifteen years ago, a guy named Marco came in with a sketch. Gorgeous ring - a 1.5 carat oval center, floating in a six-prong basket that looked like...

No. 226

What if I don't like the final custom ring design?

This happens. Not often, but it happens. I've had maybe half a dozen clients in the past five years who looked at the finished ring and felt that tightness...

No. 227

How do I choose a setting for a custom ring with multiple stones?

I had a client named Priya walk in last spring with a 0.94 carat old mine-cut diamond and four matching 0.28 carat square sapphires-her grandmother's...

No. 228

How much does a custom ring consultation typically cost?

Zero. That's the short answer. A reputable custom jeweler won't charge you for the first consultation. If someone quotes you a fee just to sit down and...

No. 229

Can I add side stones to a custom ring later?

Short answer: yes, but with real-world limits I don't usually tell clients about until we're sketching. I had a client named Priya last spring - she'd...

No. 230

How do I design a custom ring that is comfortable for everyday wear?

I had a client named Priya a few years back. She came in with a photo of a ring she loved - a cathedral setting with a 1.5 carat oval center, two trillions...

No. 231

What should I consider when designing a custom ring for a large gemstone?

I had a client named Priya come in last year with a 9.5 carat Montana sapphire she'd inherited from her grandmother. It was a gorgeous stone - cornflower...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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