Every now and then, someone walks through the door who feels like a kindred spirit. Just over a month ago, a woman named Cori — who had been following CMD on Instagram for some time — made the trip all the way from Connecticut with her partner, hoping to visit The CMD Design Studio & Shop in Asbury Park. They hit some traffic and arrived just after 4pm (I had just closed) on a day I had posted open hours, but when Cori called to ask if I would be able to stay a bit late. I was more than happy to accommodate. After all, I was humbled that they drove over four hours to pay me a visit.
 

✨ (PSA: If you’re hoping to visit The CMD Shop but can’t make the posted hours, just reach out. If I’m able to be flexible, I absolutely will!)
 

The first thing I noticed about Cori was her energy — stylish, edgy, thoughtful. And those glasses. She came in with a bold vision, looking for something nontraditional to mark her upcoming marriage. It seemed her long time partner understood her so well, it was adorable to watch their interactions while she shopped. At first, she thought she might want a mixed-shape stack — but after trying on a few combinations, she decided an all square design was perfect. We crafted something entirely her own: a five-ring square stack that told a deeply personal story in five layers.

What makes Cori’s ring set so special isn’t just the bold shape and metal combination — it’s the legacy behind the sparkle. She told me about seven diamonds from her mother that she was hoping to incorporate into her stack. After we finalized the design, she had her diamonds carefully removed by a local jeweler and FedEx’ed to our NY studio — a process we always recommend for reusing family stones. We worked those heirloom diamonds into a one-of-a-kind CMD stack that honors the past while celebrating the future.
 

Cori’s final set includes (from top to bottom):

A matte silver square Zodiac Ring (2.5mm wide) featuring 12 diamonds (these ones were ours)

A matte 14k gold square Asbury Ring (6mm wide) featuring a 3mm diamond and six of her family diamonds scattered on three faces of the square ring.

A 3mm wide black oxidized silver square ring for contrast and edge

A 1mm wide sterling silver square ring for balance and spacing — it’s so subtle yet striking between the rose and oxidized bands

A matte 14k rose gold square Leo Ring (4mm wide) featuring the largest of her family diamonds front and center

 
The result is stunning — full of depth, texture, story, and soul. Creating special sets and repurposing family diamonds is such a privilege and is one of my favorite parts of being a designer. It’s like we are writing a new chapter with heirloom pieces that can be passed down to the next generation. I’m endlessly honored to help people mark life’s most meaningful chapters through custom jewelry.

Whether you’re envisioning your wedding stack, giving new life to family stones, or dreaming up something else bold and personal, I’d love to work with you. You can always book a one-on-one appointment with me, either in-person or virtually, to start crafting your own CMD story.
 

I’m Still Adventuring Out West… Next Stop: Half Moon Bay!

As you read this, I’m still out west soaking up the fog, sea air, and NorCal magic. This coast holds so much CMD history — it's where it all began for me — and it still feels like home. My next stop on the journey is a special one…

To get to Abode in Half Moon Bay, I always savor driving down the winding Route 1 past Pacifica, hugging the cliffs and scanning the ocean for whales. It’s the kind of drive that fills your lungs and clears your head. And when you reach Half Moon Bay, it’s like stepping into a dream. The air is crisp with salt and eucalyptus, and everything seems to glimmer a bit more.

I’ll be popping up at Abode for two full days of sparkle and stack-building, and I’d love to see YOU there!
 

Ring Bar Pop-Up at Abode

Friday, July 18th + Saturday, July 19th, 2025
11am – 5pm (both days)
417 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA

 
Come build your Dream Stack, try on some CMD Armor, or just say hi. I can't wait to see you and share my work with you.

xo,
Colleen