Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 50
No. 492

How long does the design consultation process usually take?

About ninety minutes, give or take, and that's if the client already has a clear idea. If they're starting from scratch - no stone, no sketch, just a vague...

No. 493

What kind of CAD software is used for custom ring design?

Short answer: MatrixGold. If you're in a custom shop and the designer isn't on MatrixGold or its predecessor RhinoGold, they're on an older version of the...

No. 494

How do I incorporate birthstones into a custom ring?

Three ways to do it well, roughly two that won't look dated in a decade, and one I'll politely talk you out of. Let's start with the one I see most often,...

No. 495

Can I design a custom ring with a hidden message or symbol?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on what kind of message you mean, and where you want it. I've done this maybe thirty or forty times now, and...

No. 496

Are there any ethical concerns with custom ring materials?

There are, and most jewelers don't talk about them unless you push. I'll give you the short version first, then the long one. The short version: three...

No. 497

How do I resize a custom ring with intricate details?

You probably can't. Not without losing some of that detail, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either working with very simple engraving or hasn't...

No. 498

Can I design a custom ring to be stackable with other rings?

Sure. And you should. Stackable rings have been around a lot longer than the current trend cycle suggests - I've sized enough Victorian stack bands to know...

No. 499

How do I create a custom ring that looks antique or vintage?

Let me be blunt: most rings sold as "vintage-style" aren't. They're modern rings with a few decorative flourishes slapped on - millgrain here, a halo there,...

No. 500

Do custom ring designers offer virtual consultations?

They do - but there's a difference between a jeweler who offers virtual consultations as a convenience and one who offers them as a substitute for the real...

No. 501

Can I get a custom ring made with recycled metals?

Yes, and I'd guess about 60% of the custom work that comes through my bench these days includes a request for recycled metal. The other 40% don't ask, and I...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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