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...
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
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...
How to Stack Rings Without It Looking Like a Mistake
Ring stacking is one of those things that looks effortless when it works and a little chaotic when it doesn't. The difference isn't really about money or having more rings....
What Makes a Stone "Eye Clean"?
"Eye clean" is one of those phrases that sounds like industry jargon but is actually pretty simple. A stone is eye clean if you can hold it up about ten...
What to Do With Jewelry From a Relationship That Ended
I get this call more than you'd think. It usually starts with "I don't know if this is weird to ask, but..." and then there's a pause, and then someone...
Why Platinum Prongs Last Longer Than Gold
There's a question I get asked more often than I expected: "Why is platinum so much more expensive than gold?" And underneath that question is usually another one: "Is it...