Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 61
No. 602

Can I add side stones to a custom ring later?

Short answer: yes, but with real-world limits I don't usually tell clients about until we're sketching. I had a client named Priya last spring - she'd...

No. 603

How do I design a custom ring that is comfortable for everyday wear?

I had a client named Priya a few years back. She came in with a photo of a ring she loved - a cathedral setting with a 1.5 carat oval center, two trillions...

No. 604

What should I consider when designing a custom ring for a large gemstone?

I had a client named Priya come in last year with a 9.5 carat Montana sapphire she'd inherited from her grandmother. It was a gorgeous stone - cornflower...

No. 605

Can I get a custom ring with a milgrain or filigree detail?

Yes. You can. But there's a difference between getting a ring with those details and getting one where they look right. I've seen both, and I've ruined a...

No. 606

How do I design a custom ring that incorporates birthstones?

The first thing I tell clients about birthstones is stop treating them like a set. You don't have to use every family member's stone just because you can....

No. 607

What is the typical deposit required for a custom ring?

Usually fifty percent. That's the short answer, and it's the one I'd give across the bench. But the real answer has edges, and those edges matter. The...

No. 608

How do I decide between a round or cushion cut for a custom engagement ring?

This is a question I get about twice a month, and the honest answer isn't about one being "better." It's about what you want the ring to do on the hand....

No. 609

What are the latest trends in custom ring designs?

I get this question at least twice a week. And I usually pause before answering, because what most people mean by "trends" is what they saw on Instagram or...

No. 610

What are the ethical sourcing options for custom rings?

I get this question a lot. More than I did ten years ago, and that's a good thing. The short answer is that there are several real options, but they come...

No. 611

How do I design a custom ring for a man?

Men's ring design starts from a different place than women's, and most clients get it backward. They walk in thinking about style first - brushed finish,...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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