Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 48
No. 472

Can I order a custom ring with a hidden halo or other secret details?

Absolutely. I build hidden halos and secret details into custom rings all the time. In fact, about a third of the engagement rings I make right now have...

No. 473

Can I create a custom ring using recycled metals?

Yes. And I'd argue you should, provided you're working with a jeweler who actually knows what they're doing with it. There's a difference between a jeweler...

No. 474

How do I design a custom stacking ring set?

About three years ago, a client named Priya walked in with a stack she'd bought online - three thin bands, all same width, all same finish, all sterling...

No. 475

Can I engrave a fingerprint or coordinates inside a custom ring?

Yes. I've done it more times than I can count-maybe a hundred and fifty times over the last decade. Fingerprints, coordinates, handwriting, a line from a...

No. 476

What are the best materials for custom rings for people with metal allergies?

About a third of the clients who come to my bench with a metal allergy story are actually allergic to the nickel in standard 14k white gold. Another third...

No. 477

Can I design a custom ring that is a replica of a vintage or antique style?

Yes, you can. I'd say about a quarter of my custom work starts with a client holding up a phone photo of a ring from 1920 or 1950 and saying "I want this,...

No. 478

What is the process for creating a custom ring with a tension setting?

I've done maybe forty tension-set rings in twenty-two years. That's not a lot, and that's the point - tension settings are not a standard catalog item....

No. 479

Can I use a non-traditional gemstone like opal, moonstone, or turquoise in a custom ring?

Sure. But there's a right way to do it and a wrong way, and most people who walk into my studio have been told the wrong thing by someone who doesn't set...

No. 480

What if I don't like the initial design concept for my custom ring?

This happens. More often than most jewelers admit. Walk into any custom studio and ask about this - the designer will say "we iterate until you're happy."...

No. 481

Can I design a custom ring with a complex filigree or engraving pattern?

Yes, you can. The real question is whether you should - and that depends on who's doing the engraving, what metal you're working in, and whether you...

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