Vol. I · May 2026
put a ring on it
An editorial on the small, circular things we keep
Archive · Page 7
No. 62

What do I do if she doesn't like the engagement ring I picked?

Last March a man named Daniel walked into my studio with a 1.01 carat round brilliant, GIA triple excellent, set in a 14k white gold six-prong solitaire...

No. 63

Will a diamond engagement ring scratch easily with daily wear?

No, not the diamond. A diamond engagement ring will show wear quickly from daily wear on the metal, but the stone itself is the last thing that will...

No. 64

Does an insurance appraisal match the ring’s resale value?

Daniel came in last spring with an appraisal for $11,400 on a ring he'd bought two years earlier. He wanted to sell it. The best cash offer he got, after...

No. 65

What’s the story behind the tradition of engagement rings?

The tradition of engagement rings is much older than most people think, but almost everything you have heard about why we give diamond solitaires is about a...

No. 66

Can I use toothpaste to clean my engagement ring?

No. You should not use toothpaste to clean your engagement ring. Toothpaste is for teeth, not for a ring that’s going to live on your hand for forty years....

No. 67

How can I see inclusions in a diamond with my naked eye?

Seeing inclusions in a diamond with your naked eye is harder than most people expect, and that's not a problem with your eyes. A stone has to be fairly...

No. 68

Should I buy a ring from a physical store or online?

I make most of my living fixing rings bought online. Last March, a client named Rachel walked in with a 1.4 carat oval she bought from a site with excellent...

No. 69

How do I know if a jeweler is reputable?

Priya walked in last March with a diamond ring she'd bought online from a jeweler with 4.9 stars and more than 600 reviews. The stone had a small chip on...

No. 70

Can I negotiate the price of an engagement ring?

Last March a man named Daniel sat down at my bench with a printed spreadsheet of diamond comps and a very polite smile. He wanted to negotiate the price of...

No. 71

How do I set a personal budget for an engagement ring that feels right?

The three-month salary rule is marketing. Not math. Pure retail fiction from the 1940s De Beers playbook, and I've watched it wreck more budgets than any...

A letter, every other Sunday.

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