Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 28
No. 272

What is a flush setting in rings?

3.2mm. That's the diameter of the diamond I set into a 5mm platinum comfort-fit band last Tuesday. The client, a mechanic named Ben, had been back twice...

No. 273

What should I do if the diamond falls out of the setting?

First, stop everything. Find the diamond. Use a flashlight, even in daylight - stones glint against the floorboard crack you’d swear wasn’t there. Check...

No. 274

How do I decide on the number of prongs for the diamond?

Daniel came in last Tuesday with a 1.04 carat round brilliant, G/VS2, GIA, triple excellent. He'd bought the stone online and wanted me to build the ring...

No. 275

What is a cathedral setting in rings?

A cathedral setting is the most architectural thing we do at the bench - and I mean that as a compliment. The shank sweeps up from the finger in two arms,...

No. 276

What is a double halo setting?

Priya came in last October with a screenshot from a celebrity Instagram post. The ring had a center stone surrounded by what looked like a snowflake of...

No. 277

Are rose gold engagement rings durable enough for everyday wear?

Short answer: yes. I make more engagement rings in rose gold than I did ten years ago, and I’ve yet to see one come back because the metal itself failed...

No. 278

How do I maintain an engagement ring over the years?

Rachel walked into my studio on a Monday afternoon and set a ring box on the bench. Inside was a 14k white gold solitaire with a prong bent sideways and no...

No. 279

How do I care for my engagement ring while traveling?

Most ring damage I see happens in hotel bathrooms. Not the gym, not the beach. Hotel bathrooms. The combination of hard marble counters, unfamiliar...

No. 280

What is a hidden halo design?

A hidden halo is a row of tiny diamonds, usually 0.02 to 0.04 carats each, set into the gallery or basket just underneath the center stone. You don't see it...

No. 281

Are there any tax considerations when buying an engagement ring?

Daniel called me from customs at JFK on a Tuesday, papers in one hand and a receipt for a $22,000 antique ring he'd bought in London. He'd already reclaimed...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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