Guides
Guides to custom and heirloom jewelry
These guides answer the questions I hear most often in the studio, from what to do with a grandmother's ring to how long a custom piece takes. Each is written from four decades of making fine jewelry in New York, and each is meant to help you make a clear decision, whoever you choose to work with.
By Shari RubinsteinLast updated
If you would rather ask than read, book a private appointment. The FAQ gathers short answers in one place.
- Heirloom redesignHow to redesign your grandmother's ringA New York jeweler's guide to redesigning an inherited ring: what to keep, what can change, how the stones are assessed, and how to honor the original.
- Heirloom redesignResetting an heirloom diamond: what to know firstHow an inherited diamond is removed, inspected, and reset in a new ring: old cuts, chips, recutting, grading reports, and choosing a setting that protects the stone.
- DiamondsNatural vs. lab-grown diamonds for a custom ringAn honest comparison of natural and lab-grown diamonds from a GIA-trained New York jeweler: what is the same, what differs, and why she works primarily with natural diamonds.
- The processHow long does custom jewelry take?The stages of a custom jewelry commission, from first consultation to finished piece, with realistic time ranges and what can speed things up or slow them down.
- Heirloom redesignCan old gold jewelry be melted down and reused?What happens when you bring inherited or unworn gold to a jeweler: karat and alloy, why melting old gold directly is not always best, and the options for crediting or incorporating it.
- Choosing a jewelerHow to choose a custom jeweler in New York CityWhat to look for in a New York custom jeweler: who you will work with, how stones are sourced and graded, what should be in writing, and the questions worth asking at a first appointment.