Heirloom Engagement Ring or a New One? How to Choose (2026)
Should the center stone come from your family or be brand new? The five questions I ask couples before we decide, the stones I talk people out of using, and...
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
Can You Combine Multiple Family Pieces Into One Ring? What Works, What Doesn't (2026)
Yes, in most cases. Here is how I decide which stones and gold from several family pieces can become one ring, which can't, and the three situations where I'll tell...
Reset, Remount, or Start Over? A Decision Guide for Inherited Rings (2026)
Three paths exist for an inherited ring: reset the stone, remount it into an existing design, or start over from scratch. Here are the four questions I ask in the...
Can You Still Get a Custom Piece or Heirloom Redesign Done by the Holidays? (2026 Lead Times)
Yes — but the window is closing. Here are the real production timelines for custom pieces and heirloom redesigns before the holidays, and what to do if you've left it...
What to Do With Your Mother's Jewelry After She Passes: What I Check First (2026)
A jeweler's honest guide to sorting a mother's jewelry box after a loss: what's solid gold and what's plated, which stones can be reset and which can't, what to leave...
Who Should Redesign Your Inherited Jewelry? Chain Store vs. Designer vs. Independent Studio (2026)
Four kinds of jeweler will redesign an inherited piece, and they are not interchangeable. Here is what each one actually does, what it costs, when each is the right call,...
How Do I Ask My Grandmother If I Can Redesign Her Ring? (2026)
You want to wear it. She wants you to wear it. But asking feels like asking permission to change something she loves. Here is the sentence that works, and the...
How Much Does It Cost to Add Diamonds to a Ring You Already Own?
Adding diamonds to a ring you already own starts at $1,500, because holding new stones securely means rebuilding part of the setting. Here is the cost table, the three things...
How Much Does It Cost to Make a Pendant From an Old Ring?
Turning an old ring into a pendant starts at $1,500 and runs to about $3,500, depending on how much you reuse and how custom the design is. Here is the...
How Much Does It Cost to Redesign a Wedding Ring Set?
Redesigning a wedding ring set runs $2,000 to $8,000+, with most landing between $3,000 and $5,000. Here is the cost table by approach, what moves the number, and the question...
Can You Redesign a Ring Without Losing the Original Diamond?
Yes — in almost every redesign your original diamond stays yours, start to finish. Here is exactly how a stone is documented, tracked, and protected at the bench, and the...
How Much Does a Custom Engagement Ring Cost? An Honest Breakdown (2026)
Most custom engagement rings I build land between $2,000 and $12,000, with the majority between $3,000 and $6,000. The center stone is 50-70% of that number. Here is the breakdown...