Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 42
No. 412

Can I get a custom ring made from a photo of a design?

Yes, you can bring a photo and I will almost always be able to make it. The question is what you're really getting when you do. A photo captures the...

No. 413

Can I get a custom ring with a unique gemstone cut that is not standard?

Yes, absolutely. It's one of the real joys of custom work. I get asked this about twice a month, usually by someone who's been scrolling through generic...

No. 414

What is the turnaround time for a simple custom ring vs. a complex one?

Simple: four to six weeks. Complex: ten to fourteen weeks. Anyone promising two weeks on a custom ring is either rushing the work or handing you a...

No. 415

Can I design a custom ring that incorporates family heirlooms?

Yes - and honestly, this is my favorite kind of project. About two-thirds of the custom rings I make involve a stone or a piece of metal the client already...

No. 416

What are some unique design ideas for a custom ring?

I get this question a lot - “What should I do that nobody else is doing?” - and my answer's usually a letdown: start with what the ring needs to do, not...

No. 417

How do I choose a setting for my custom ring?

The short version: start with what the stone needs, then go look for the band. You'd be surprised how many people do it backward. About three years ago, a...

No. 418

What questions should I ask a jeweler before ordering a custom ring?

Start with the one most people skip: "How do you handle a design I don't like?" A client named Marco came in last year with a sketch he'd been carrying...

No. 419

How do I ensure the quality of a custom ring made by an overseas jeweler?

You’re asking the right question, and the honest answer is: you can’t fully ensure it, but you can stack the odds heavily in your favor. I’ve seen enough...

No. 420

How do I care for a ring made with unusual materials like antler or meteorite?

I get this question maybe once a month now, usually from someone who bought a ring with a meteorite or antler inlay online and didn't realize what they were...

No. 421

How much does it cost to add side stones to a custom ring?

About $400 to $1,800. That's not a hedge - it's a bracket so wide because the variables aren't small. I've quoted both ends of that range in the last six...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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