Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 3
No. 22

Should I get the ring appraised before or after buying?

After. Appraise after buying, not before. An appraisal is a document for your insurance company, not a purchase-price check. Most people get this backwards,...

No. 23

How do I take care of an antique engagement ring?

Last spring a client named Eleanor brought in her 1920s platinum filigree engagement ring, convinced she'd ruined it. She'd been taking care of it the way a...

No. 24

How do I know if a ring is too tight?

Most people walk around with a ring that's too tight for about two years before they do anything about it. I know because I see their fingers. Last March a...

No. 25

Can I resize a titanium engagement ring?

No. Not the way you size a gold or platinum ring. Titanium is a different animal at the bench, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either trying to sell...

No. 26

How do I know if my engagement ring is too tight when my fingers swell in summer?

A ring that fits perfectly in January can feel like a vice by the second week of July, and most people will see their fingers change by anywhere from a...

No. 27

What is a comfort-fit engagement ring band?

Inside a comfort-fit engagement ring band, the metal has a slight dome on the inner surface. That's the whole distinction. A standard band is flat on the...

No. 28

Is it bad luck to see the engagement ring before the proposal?

No. Seeing the engagement ring before the proposal isn't bad luck. I've been at the bench for 22 years, and I've made somewhere around 300 engagement rings....

No. 29

What is a chevron wedding band to pair with the ring?

Last fall a client named Priya walked in with a low-set oval engagement ring and a problem. She'd bought a straight wedding band online, and when she slid...

No. 30

Can I negotiate the price of an engagement ring at a jewelry store?

I quoted a ring at $6,400 on an ordinary Tuesday and sold it for $5,900 twenty minutes later because the client asked a smarter question than “what’s your...

No. 31

What does 'eye-clean' mean when buying an engagement ring?

I'd take an eye-clean SI1 over a poorly cut VS2 every time. The term gets tossed around the trade more than it should, and most clients have no idea what it...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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