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If you’ve been following CMD for a while, you’ve probably noticed something shifting over here.
After years of doing traditional wholesale, large markets, and nonstop event schedules, I’ve been slowly moving toward something that feels far more aligned with where I want this brand to go next: smaller gatherings, more intentional connection, more personal experiences, and events that actually feel like us. Honestly? It's way more my speed.
So I thought it might be helpful to lay it all out. There are now quite a few ways to experience CMD in person, try on stacks, start custom conversations, or even host us in your own space.
The Ring Bar is essentially my entire world packed up and brought to life in person. It's a small physical bar handcrafted out of plywood and I now own two of them. One lives in The Bay and one is in my basement for drivable events. It lays flat and sets up in no time. It's also the cutest thing ever.
You get to try things on, stack rings in real time, experiment with combinations, ask questions, see the craftsmanship up close, and feel how the jewelry wears on your hand. There’s a huge difference between seeing jewelry online and experiencing it in person, especially when stacking is involved.
People often come in thinking they want one thing and leave completely surprised by what they fall in love with once they start trying pieces on. That’s the magic of The Ring Bar.
And these events have also become something bigger than shopping. They’ve become a place for conversation, connection, storytelling, styling, and often the beginning of future custom or reconstruction projects.
One of the easiest ways to experience CMD in person is during Open Hours at The CMD Shopin Asbury Park.
The shop itself is a little hidden gem tucked upstairs off street level. Outside of Open Hours, it’s typically open by appointment only.
During Open Hours, you can stop by without booking ahead, try on the full collection, build stacks, shop in person, and hang out with me and the team in a more relaxed, drop-in environment.
These days are especially great if you've never seen the jewelry in person before, want help building a stack, or are curious about sizing and styling. It's also where a lot of custom and reconstruction conversations get started. Found some golden goodies in your jewelry box? Let’s take a look! Or just pop in and give Migs a quick belly rub or to simply say hello. I love seeing you in real life.
My next Open Hours event will be this Saturday, June 27th from 11am-4pm. I hope you’ll drop by if you’re local or visiting the Asbury Park area! See all event details and get directions here.
I'm also offering early morning appointments this summer for beach season. Book an early time slot to talk through a reconstruction projectbefore you head down for a day by the ocean. I'm an early bird and honestly, I love any excuse to get to the beach too.
Then there are the Pop-Ups.
These have become one of my favorite parts of CMD lately because they allow me to bring The Ring Bar into spaces that already have their own personality, creativity, and sense of community.
Some recent favorites while I was out west included a pop-up at the ever-talented Linda Fahey's ceramics studio in San Francisco, a collaboration with my old friend and insanely talented interior designer Lauren Nelson, and a hell of a good 20th anniversary party at Space & Co, complete with a little garden soiree and a drink cart. I'm already scheming for the next.
I’m especially interested in collaborations that feel thoughtful, intimate, design-forward, and community-oriented. Think creative spaces, studios, and independent shops we genuinely love.
A beautifully designed home. A ceramics studio. A wine bar. A creative workspace. A restaurant. An interior design showroom. A wellness space. An outdoor gathering. A women’s group. A dinner party with incredible people. Honestly, some of the best ideas don’t fit neatly into a category.
Things I’m no longer interested in doing anymore are the traditional wholesale model, crowded trade shows, or giant convention centers. Those things helped CMD get where we are today, but these days I’m much more interested in experiences where people can actually connect on an intimate level.
And yes, I'll travel for the right collaboration. In fact, I just did a private pop-up in a Carroll Gardens apartment garden in Brooklyn. Vintage clothing, modern pieces, and the CMD Ring Bar all in one beautiful outdoor space. That's exactly the kind of thing I want more of.
This is the part where I officially ask for your help. Do you have a really cool space? A creative business? A community that loves jewelry, fashion, design, art, or craftsmanship? A women’s group or gathering that would enjoy a Ring Bar experience? A reason to bring people together? I would genuinely love to hear your ideas!
I’m currently looking for more aligned spaces and collaborators all over the country, especially experiences that feel personal, creative, warm, and memorable.
I’ll bring The Ring Bar, the jewelry, and the energy, and together we can create something magical.
One thing I’ve realized recently is that people have so much to say about the jewelry sitting unworn in their drawers. Customers bring things like broken chains, old engagement rings, inherited pieces, single earrings, outdated settings, jewelry from past relationships, or pieces that still hold meaning but no longer feel wearable.
And while true custom and reconstruction projects require dedicated one-on-one time to fully design properly, we can certainly start the conversation!
Bring your less-loved heirloom jewelry, old gold, inherited pieces, or mystery jewelry box collections, and I’ll take a look through everything with them in person.
Sometimes there’s a diamond hiding in there that deserves a completely new life, enough recyclable gold for a meaningful credit toward a future piece, or maybe you just need help understanding what you actually have.
These events are less about designing the final piece on the spot and more about starting the conversation about what's possible. From there, we can schedule individual appointments to go deeper into the actual reconstruction process. And I have to say, these conversations have become some of the most emotional and meaningful parts of my work lately.
If you’re looking for more focused time together, appointments are always available too.
You can work with me in person at The CMD Shop or virtually from anywhere. We can meet one-on-one or sometimes even in small groups.
Appointments are ideal for Special Occasion jewelry, wedding bands, custom work, reconstruction projects, and jewelry redesigns. Some people come in with a fully formed vision and others come in with a tangled pouch of jewelry and absolutely no idea where to start. Both are very welcome here!
I offer complimentary 15-minute consultations if you aren’t sure where to start or aren’t quite ready to put a deposit down yet.
And yes, many reconstruction projects can absolutely begin virtually if you aren’t local. I've worked with clients all over the map since the start of the pandemic. I've got it fine-tuned, so don't worry about a thing!
What I’m building now is less about retail in the traditional sense and more about creating spaces for connection through jewelry.
The internet is amazing, obviously. It’s allowed CMD to exist and grow in incredible ways.
But there’s something irreplaceable about gathering in real life. Trying things on. Telling stories. Passing rings across a table. Talking about old jewelry and future heirlooms and the lives attached to them.
That’s the direction I’m moving toward.
So if you have a space, an idea, a collaboration, or a community you think would love CMD, I’d truly love to hear from you.
Let’s pop this thing up all over the map!
Forever roaming,
Colleen
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