Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 31
No. 302

How do I match the ring style to the proposal setting (e.g., beach vs. city)?

I had a client last August-Elena-who was planning a proposal on a sailboat off the Amalfi coast. She was dead set on a delicate 0.8mm pavé band with a...

No. 303

What paperwork do I need for insuring a custom engagement ring?

The short list: an appraisal, a receipt or bill of sale, good photographs, and your policy paperwork. The slightly longer list, which I give every client...

No. 304

What are the current trends in engagement ring designs for this year?

The word “trend” makes me wince, but I understand the question. Clients come in holding saved Instagram folders, and I spend a lot of time untangling what...

No. 305

Is a rose gold engagement ring durable enough for everyday wear?

Rose gold is a perfectly reasonable choice for an everyday engagement ring, and I make more of them now than I did ten years ago. It's durable. It ages...

No. 306

How do I ask her parents without giving away ring details?

Last fall, a client named James walked into the studio two weeks before he planned to propose, ring box in his pocket, visibly rattled. He'd just had the...

No. 307

How do you wear an engagement ring with a wedding band after marriage?

Most of the time, however they land. If the rings fit well together, wear them in whatever order feels natural. If they don't, you've got a few options, and...

No. 308

How do I safely travel with an engagement ring before the proposal?

Last October a client named Ben flew from Seattle to Boston with a 2.7 carat oval diamond in his carry-on. He’d wrapped the ring in a sock, stuffed it in a...

No. 309

What do I do if the engagement ring gets stuck on a swollen finger?

Daniel walked into the studio on a humid July afternoon with his left hand held up like a wounded bird. The ring-a 2.8mm comfort-fit 14k white gold band-had...

No. 310

How often should I have a jeweler inspect the prongs?

Lauren came in on a Thursday morning last March, holding her engagement ring a little too carefully. The center diamond, a 0.90 carat round, was still in...

No. 311

Is a half-carat diamond engagement ring considered too small?

No. A half-carat is not too small, and I wish fewer clients felt like they needed to ask. The question itself is a weird artifact of the last fifteen years...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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