Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 66
No. 652

Can I get a custom ring as a gift for a milestone anniversary?

Yes. And honestly, I wish more people did. A milestone anniversary - 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th - is the rare occasion where a custom ring makes more sense than...

No. 653

What is the difference between a custom ring and a bespoke ring?

Not much, honestly. And yes, that's the first thing most clients want me to clarify. In the trade, the two terms get used interchangeably so often that...

No. 654

Can I use a family heirloom stone in a custom ring?

Short answer: yes, almost always. The longer answer depends on the stone, the setting you want, and whether your jeweler is willing to be honest about the...

No. 655

What design software tools can I use to create a custom ring?

I get this question a lot, usually from someone who's handy with Photoshop or a CAD program at work and assumes designing a ring is like designing a chair....

No. 656

How do I choose between platinum and palladium for a custom ring?

About seventy percent of the time, a client walks in and asks for platinum because they think it's the strongest, most durable metal for a ring they'll...

No. 657

Can I get a custom ring with a hidden halo?

Yes, you can. I've made about two dozen of them just this year. A hidden halo is exactly what it sounds like - a ring of small diamonds set beneath the...

No. 658

How do I customize the profile of a ring band?

You're asking about the part of the ring that actually touches the sides of your finger. The profile. Most clients don't think about it until they try on a...

No. 659

Can I combine different metal colors in one custom ring?

Yes, absolutely. And if you do it right, it can look like it was always meant to be that way. I've been doing this long enough that I remember when two-tone...

No. 660

What is the difference between a 3D printed and handcrafted custom ring?

The difference between a 3D printed and handcrafted custom ring is real, but it's not the one most people expect. It's not that one is better-it's that...

No. 661

Can I get a custom ring made with lab-grown diamonds?

Yes, and I build them regularly. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds - same crystal structure, same hardness, same optical properties. The only difference...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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