Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 60
No. 592

Can I incorporate a family heirloom stone into a custom ring?

Sarah brought her grandmother's ring into my studio last fall. The stone was a 1.18 carat old European cut, slightly off-round, with a small chip on the...

No. 593

How do I match my custom ring with an existing wedding band?

About 60% of the custom engagement ring jobs I take on have the same starting point-not a stone, not a budget, but a wedding band the client already owns or...

No. 594

What is the difference between custom and bespoke rings?

In the trade, "custom" and "bespoke" get tossed around like they mean the same thing. They don't. The difference matters if you're about to spend real...

No. 595

Can I design a custom ring without visiting a jeweler in person?

Yes, you can - and I do it all the time. About 60% of my custom jobs last year started with someone emailing me from across the country. But there's a gap...

No. 596

How do I clean a custom ring with intricate details?

About 80% of the damage I see on intricate custom rings isn't from wear - it's from cleaning. Someone hears "soak it in ammonia" or grabs a toothbrush and...

No. 597

Can I get a custom ring made with both gold and platinum?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on what you mean by "both" and how much you hate your future jeweler. I've made rings that combine gold and...

No. 598

How do I ensure my custom ring design is durable?

About fifteen years ago, a guy named Marco came in with a sketch. Gorgeous ring - a 1.5 carat oval center, floating in a six-prong basket that looked like...

No. 599

What if I don't like the final custom ring design?

This happens. Not often, but it happens. I've had maybe half a dozen clients in the past five years who looked at the finished ring and felt that tightness...

No. 600

How do I choose a setting for a custom ring with multiple stones?

I had a client named Priya walk in last spring with a 0.94 carat old mine-cut diamond and four matching 0.28 carat square sapphires-her grandmother's...

No. 601

How much does a custom ring consultation typically cost?

Zero. That's the short answer. A reputable custom jeweler won't charge you for the first consultation. If someone quotes you a fee just to sit down and...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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