I Asked What You Wanted to See More of. Here's What I Heard.

A few days ago, I posted a video on Instagram asking you something that's been on my mind for a while. With so much of our recent content focused on Custom & Reconstruction projects, I wanted to make sure I was giving you an accurate picture of everything happening at CMD.

Because here's the thing: While I've been sharing these incredible transformations, I've also been designing new collection pieces, revisiting longtime favorites, thinking about materials, and making some pretty big decisions about where I want to take CMD next. All of those things are happening at the same time, but I know they haven't always received equal attention.

So I asked you. Do you want more Reconstruction stories, more Everyday Jewelry, or more solid gold Special Occasion Jewelry? Is there anything you would love to see available in 10k solid gold? And what do you wish I would design that I haven't made yet?

When I posted about this on Instagram, many of you commented and gave me a lot to think about already, and I want to share some of what I heard.

First, You Do Love the Reconstruction Stories

I knew these projects mattered to the people bringing their jewelry to me, but reading your responses reminded me how much they can mean to everyone watching, too.

A lot of you said the same thing, that watching a tired old piece turn into a brand new sparkler never gets old. And plenty of you told me you love hearing the stories behind the jewelry, even if you don't have a Reconstruction project of your own right now.

One of you wrote, “It's so inspiring to see all the tired pieces be made new,” and added that you can't wait to do a project of your own.

That means a lot to me, because Reconstruction has never been just about making a new ring out of an old one. It's about working with materials that already have a history and finding a design that makes sense for the person wearing them now. And I love that you see that.

If you've been following these stories and wondering what might be possible with jewelry you already own, you can learn more about our Custom & Reconstruction process or book a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation with me here.

But You Also Reminded Me How Much You Love the Everyday Stuff

This was probably the part I most needed to hear.

So many of you told me that while you love seeing the Reconstruction projects, you're also wearing your regular CMD pieces every single day, including the rings you've been stacking for years, the earrings you reach for without thinking, and the braceletsand necklaces that have become part of how you get dressed. Our client Bruno named “everyday armor, forever pieces to last a legacy, and reconstructed magic” as some of the reasons for coming back to CMD.

Some of you asked for more gold-fill and sterling Everyday Jewelry pieces, and a few of you named your earrings and gold stacking rings as the ones you wear most. Others said you love seeing the more elaborate, higher-end work but want those simpler, familiar pieces to remain part of the collection. I hear you!

I've always believed jewelry should be worn. Not saved for a particular outfit or occasion, but lived in, layered, mixed, and made your own. That's a huge part of why I started designing in the first place, and it hasn't changed.

The new Pipeline Bracelet is a good example of that thinking. It's a piece designed to become part of your everyday rotation, with the kind of simple, architectural detail I love.

There's room for more of that at CMD, and I have a lot of ideas up my sleeve. You'll have to stick around and stay tuned!

And You Don't Want Me to Stop Pushing the Design

Something else came through in your comments. You love seeing what happens when I take a design somewhere unexpected.

Hilary mentioned the Deep End Ring and how exciting it is to see the influence of Reconstruction work finding its way into the collection, saying it can bring “some of that fantastic design magic to the folks who don't have heirlooms to use.” Another of you said it's inspiring to see “unique dream pieces.”

The more complex Custom & Reconstruction projects have been teaching me a lot. They've had me working with different proportions, materials, stones, and construction methods, and some of those ideas naturally find their way into pieces I want to share with everyone. That's what excites me most about where CMD is heading.

I don't think Everyday Jewelry and Special Occasion Jewelry need to exist in completely separate worlds. Sometimes the same design idea can become a simple piece you wear every day or something far more elaborate in solid gold and diamonds. To me, they're different expressions of the same design language.

So What Does That Mean for the Collection?

I've been thinking about this for a while, and your responses have helped reinforce something I was already feeling. I want to make fewer pieces, but make every piece count.

That doesn't mean I want CMD to become exclusively high-end jewelry, and it certainly doesn't mean I'm walking away from the Everyday Jewelry designs that so many of you have collected and loved for years. (Although we have been, and will continue to discontinue a good chunk of them as we make room for what's to come!)

I do want to be more intentional about what I add. I want to keep creating approachable, beautifully made pieces in sterling silver and gold-fill. I want to continue expanding what we can do in solid gold, diamonds, and more unusual materials and stones. And I want the collection to feel connected, even when the pieces themselves are very different. What matters to me is that every piece has a reason to exist.

One More Thing You Reminded Me Of

A few of your comments stayed with me because they weren't asking for a particular product at all.

Some of you told me you love seeing the person and the process behind the work. A few of you mentioned the conversations we've had, the pieces I've helped you choose, and the way your CMD jewelry has become part of your life. One of you said most of the pieces they've collected are ones I personally recommended. And another reminded me that the thought, process, and quality behind the jewelry are something you won't find anywhere else. I think about those things more than you might realize.

It's easy to get caught up in everything that happens behind the scenes. Designing, production, appointments, photography, emails, events, and all the little decisions that go into keeping this business moving. But the connection I have with you is one of the things that makes all of it worth doing. I don't want to lose that as CMD continues to evolve. Angi said it in a way I won't forget, pointing to “the openness, humility, curiosity, and joy you bring to your craft.”

I'm Still Listening

I didn't ask these questions because I had already made up my mind. I asked because I genuinely wanted to know what you're excited about, what you're missing, and what you'd love to see next. And I hope you'll keep telling me.

If there's a piece you wish existed, tell me. If there's something you want to know about how I design or make jewelry, ask me. If you've been wondering whether an old piece of jewelry could become something new, I'd love to hear about that, too.

I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment below with your thoughts. You can watch the original Instagram videoand join the conversation, even if you haven't commented yet.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some sketching to do!

Colleen

Published November 1, 2026
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