What My Clients Teach Me
I've been making jewelry for a long time. You'd think the lessons stop at some point. They don't. They just get more specific. When I started in this work, I...
Featured Post
Why I Keep My Studio Appointment-Only
The short answer is: so I can actually pay attention to you I get this question a lot. "Why can't I just walk in?" It's a fair one, and the...
Under the Loupe
How to Pick a Wedding Band That Works With Your Engagement Ring
The wedding band question comes up around month four or five of being engaged, usually after the dust has settled and the ring has stopped feeling brand new. People assume...
Why You Should Insure Your Fine Jewelry (And What That Costs)
I'll be direct: most of my clients don't insure their jewelry, and most of them should. I don't say that as someone trying to sell you anything. I'm not an...
Pavé, Prong, Channel, Bezel: A Plain-English Guide to Stone Settings
Clients come in and tell me they want a "halo" or "pavé" ring, and half the time they're describing something completely different from what those words actually mean. That's not...
What to Ask a Jeweler Before You Put Down a Deposit
A deposit on a custom piece is usually fifty percent. Sometimes more. Most people I work with are spending several thousand dollars at minimum, and a fair number are spending...
The Truth About Opals (And Why They're Braver Than You Think)
The first opal I ever set was a black opal from Lightning Ridge, and I was a wreck the entire time. Opals have a reputation for being delicate, and that...
Why Chain Store Engagement Rings Look the Way They Do
I'll be direct about this one. Chain store engagement rings have a very particular look. If you put twenty of them in a row on a tray, you could probably...
The Oval Diamond: Why It's Having a Moment (And Whether It'll Last)
The first time I made an oval engagement ring was probably 2014. Maybe 2015. Back then, ovals were the quiet choice — the shape clients asked about when they didn't...
Why I Love Working With Sapphires More Than Diamonds
I'm going to say something that will get me in trouble with half the industry: most of the time, sapphires are a better choice than diamonds. Not always. Not for...
What to Bring to a Custom Jewelry Consultation
Most people show up to their first consultation with me clutching their phone like a life raft. They've got forty Pinterest screenshots and a half-formed idea of what they want....
What's the Right Budget for a Custom Piece?
This is the question every client asks, and almost no jeweler answers honestly. So let me try.The real answer is: it depends on the piece, but I can give you...
Traveling With Fine Jewelry: What You Should and Shouldn't Do
I get this question constantly. Someone is heading to Italy, or Mexico, or just to Tahoe for a long weekend, and they want to know: do I bring my engagement...