Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 33
No. 322

Can custom rings be made with lab-grown diamonds?

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds work just fine in custom rings. I set them regularly-probably about a third of the engagement rings I make now use lab-grown...

No. 323

How do I insure a custom ring?

The short answer: you get a standalone jewelry policy through a specialty insurer, not a rider on your homeowners or renters insurance. That's where I...

No. 324

What is the typical resale value of a custom ring compared to a branded one?

Short answer: a custom ring will almost never resell for what you paid, and a branded one will almost never resell for what you paid either. The difference...

No. 325

What are the best custom ring designs for men?

About 60% of the men who come to me for a custom ring don't want anything flashy. They want something that fits - their hand, their life, their work. The...

No. 326

Can I design a custom ring that matches my wedding band?

Yes-and most of the time the answer is simpler than people think. The real question is whether you want a true match (identical metal width, profile, and...

No. 327

How do I get a custom ring insured?

You don't insure the ring. You insure yourself against losing it. Big distinction, and one a lot of people miss until they're standing in a hotel bathroom...

No. 328

What is the resale value of a custom ring compared to a branded one?

Let me be direct: a custom ring usually has no meaningful resale value relative to what you paid for it. Neither does a branded one, in most cases - but the...

No. 329

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. 330

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. 331

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...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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