Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 37
No. 362

What settings make a small diamond look bigger?

A 0.40 carat round in a good setting can outshine a carat in a sloppy one. Priya walked in last October with a diamond her fiancé bought online-a 0.52 carat...

No. 363

What is the difference between platinum and white gold rings?

Platinum is heavier. It’s denser, more expensive, and it develops a patina that some clients love and others can't wait to polish off. For a ring that's...

No. 364

How do I insure an engagement ring?

Last fall a client named Nicole left my studio with a ring I'd just finished-a 1.04 carat old European cut, F/VS2, in a hand-fabricated 18k yellow gold...

No. 365

Can I design a custom engagement ring?

Yes. But not the way most people think. About 70% of the clients who walk into my studio and say “I want to design my own ring” mean they want to point at a...

No. 366

What is a lab-grown diamond engagement ring?

About 40% of the engagement rings I built last year had a lab-grown center. Last month, a client named Olivia came in with a 2.74 carat oval, F/VS1, IGI...

No. 367

How do I clean an engagement ring?

Once a week. That is how often I clean my own rings, and how often I suggest my clients clean theirs if they wear them daily. If you are only cleaning an...

No. 368

Can I buy an engagement ring without a diamond?

A 2.14 carat unheated Ceylon sapphire, deep cornflower blue, set in a 4mm 18k yellow gold band. That's the ring I made for a client named Daniel last...

No. 369

How many months' salary should I spend on an engagement ring?

Zero. The whole premise is a marketing trick that stuck. De Beers ran a campaign in the 1930s - the Depression, of all times - and somehow “two months’...

No. 370

Where do I start when looking for an engagement ring?

Here's where most people get it wrong. They walk into a jewelry store, look at a dozen rings under blazing halogen lights, and pick the one that looks...

No. 371

What is the best way to buy an engagement ring on a budget?

Budget doesn't mean cheap. It means you're spending with your eyes open. About 70% of the engagement rings I make start with a couple who has a firm number...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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