Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 29
No. 282

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. 283

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. 284

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. 285

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. 286

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. 287

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...

No. 288

Should I buy the diamond and setting separately?

Buying the diamond and setting separately is one of those ideas that sounds like a smart way to save money, but in practice it usually ends up costing more,...

No. 289

What exactly is a ring guard?

The $6.99 clear plastic coil at the drugstore is the version most people mean when they ask that question. It’s a spiral of flexible polyethylene that you...

No. 290

How do I stop my ring from spinning around my finger?

A spinning ring will drive you absolutely nuts. I've fixed this on hundreds of rings, and the root cause is almost comically simple: your knuckle is larger...

No. 291

What does "comfort fit" band mean?

It's the difference between a ring that slides over the knuckle without a fight and one that feels like it's filing down your finger. A comfort-fit band has...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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