Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 44
No. 432

What is the typical markup for a custom ring compared to its material costs?

It’s the question I get most often from clients who are trying to decide between a custom piece and something off the shelf. They want a number. They want a...

No. 433

What are the pros and cons of lab-grown diamonds vs natural diamonds for a custom ring?

I get this question at least twice a week now, usually from a client sitting across the bench with a phone open to a lab-grown site and a confused...

No. 434

How do I choose the right ring style for my finger shape?

I get asked this maybe twice a week, and I'll tell you what I tell every client: finger shape matters, but not as much as you think. A well-proportioned...

No. 435

What kind of warranty or guarantee should I expect with a custom ring?

Honestly, you should expect two different guarantees, and most jewelers only talk about one of them. Let me save you a headache: the first is a workmanship...

No. 436

Can I add birthstones or other personal symbols to a custom ring?

Yes, and honestly, it's one of the best reasons to go custom in the first place. A birthstone or a symbol that actually means something to the person...

No. 437

How do I measure my ring size accurately if I want a custom ring?

About 70% of the rings I resize come back because the client used a paper sizer from a website or guessed based on an old ring that fits a different finger....

No. 438

Can I design a custom engagement ring that my partner will love without them seeing it?

The short answer is yes, but you need to do it differently than the Instagram version of the story suggests. About sixty percent of the engagement rings I...

No. 439

What questions should I ask my jeweler before starting a custom ring?

About sixty percent of the people who walk into my studio have never commissioned a custom ring before. They're nervous. They've read the wrong articles....

No. 440

How do I handle custom ring orders with multiple gemstones?

The short answer is: carefully, one stone at a time, with a lot of up-front communication. The long answer is the rest of this. I do a fair number of...

No. 441

Can I design a custom stackable ring set?

Yes, you can. I've built dozens of them, and the stackable ring has been one of the most reliably satisfying projects I take on. A client named Priya came...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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