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

Can I design a custom ring with a specific cultural or religious symbol?

Yes. I've done this maybe forty times in the last decade. The short answer is that you can absolutely have a cross, a Star of David, a hamsa, an Om, a...

No. 23

How do I maintain the finish of a matte or brushed metal custom ring?

A client named Priya came in last fall with a brushed platinum band she'd had for about fourteen months. It looked like she'd been scrubbing it with steel...

No. 24

What are the benefits of a comfort fit custom ring?

I had a guy come in last year - Marco, a surgeon - who'd worn the same 6mm flat-profile platinum band for twelve years. It was a perfectly nice ring. He...

No. 25

How detailed can engravings be on a custom ring?

Engravings can go a lot further than initials and dates. I've done rings with full botanical drawings - leaves, stems, roots - that wrap around the entire...

No. 26

What is the typical turnaround time for a custom ring with complex details?

Six to ten weeks. That's the honest range, and if a jeweler promises you two, they're either rushing something or they're not telling you about the...

No. 27

Can I get a custom ring as a gift for a milestone anniversary?

Yes. And honestly, I wish more people did. A milestone anniversary - 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th - is the rare occasion where a custom ring makes more sense than...

No. 28

What is the difference between a custom ring and a bespoke ring?

Not much, honestly. And yes, that's the first thing most clients want me to clarify. In the trade, the two terms get used interchangeably so often that...

No. 29

Can I use a family heirloom stone in a custom ring?

Short answer: yes, almost always. The longer answer depends on the stone, the setting you want, and whether your jeweler is willing to be honest about the...

No. 30

What design software tools can I use to create a custom ring?

I get this question a lot, usually from someone who's handy with Photoshop or a CAD program at work and assumes designing a ring is like designing a chair....

No. 31

How do I choose between platinum and palladium for a custom ring?

About seventy percent of the time, a client walks in and asks for platinum because they think it's the strongest, most durable metal for a ring they'll...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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