Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 27
No. 262

What is the difference between a natural and a lab-created colored gemstone?

The stone on my bench right now is a lab-created sapphire, 2.08 carats, a deep royal blue. It grew in a furnace over about two weeks, not deep in the earth...

No. 263

Can I change the center stone of an engagement ring later?

Yes. Usually. But the first thing I tell someone who walks into the studio with this idea is to bring me the ring and the stone - together - because what...

No. 264

How do I keep the ring from spinning on her finger?

Most ring-spin issues are sizing problems disguised as design problems. If the band is even a quarter-size too large, centrifugal force and gravity gang up...

No. 265

What are the pros and cons of buying a ring from a chain store vs. local jeweler?

You're going to regret buying from a chain store about eight years in. That's not a pro or a con, it's just what I see walk into my shop for resets. Last...

No. 266

What if the ring is too big and I can't resize it before the proposal?

Daniel called me on a Wednesday afternoon. His voice had that particular tightness: the proposal was Saturday afternoon, the ring was 1.5 sizes too big, and...

No. 267

How can I tell if an engagement ring is well-made?

Last spring, a client named Daniel walked into the studio with a ring he’d bought online - a 1.5‑carat round, D/VS1, set in what was supposed to be a simple...

No. 268

What is the safest way to travel with an engagement ring?

The safest way is simple, and I'll tell you because nobody else does: wear the ring. Right through security, through the flight, through the taxi line. Not...

No. 269

What happens if I lose a side stone from the ring?

I see this about three times a month. Someone walks in, slides a ring across the bench, and one of the little diamonds is just gone. First thing I say is...

No. 270

Can I buy an engagement ring without a grading report?

Yes, you can. I've seen it go beautifully and I've seen it go badly, sometimes in the same week. Last fall a client named Chris walked in with a ring he'd...

No. 271

How do I propose if the ring hasn't arrived in time?

Daniel called on a Wednesday, three days before the proposal. The ring wasn't done. The casting had a tiny inclusion we only caught at the polishing stage,...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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