Blog

If you know CMD today, you probably know that I design everything from my shop and studio in Asbury Park, New Jersey, while every piece of CMD jewelry is handmade by my small production team in Trumansburg, New York. What you might not know is how we ended up with a production studio in a tiny Finger Lakes village in the first place.  Like a lot [...]

Kith & Kin began with a simple truth I’ve learned over and over again: none of us does this alone. Inspired by the people who show up, stay steady and link us back to ourselves, these six designs explore connection through interlocking forms, mixed metals and the invisible bonds between us. Here’s the story [...]

When you make jewelry by hand, there’s always something left behind: a narrow strip of gold, an offcut of silver, or a tiny remnant with more potential than you might think. At CMD, we save, sort and recycle our precious metal scraps, but sometimes a leftover piece inspires something completely [...]

The story of CMD starts long before the first piece of jewelry I ever made. I’m looking back at the women who shaped my work ethic, creativity, independence and approach to business, from my mom and Gram to the strong female leaders I worked for along the way. Their influence is woven into the way I design [...]

At CMD, quality isn’t just about choosing better materials. It’s about skilled hands, thoughtful design, small-batch production and making jewelry with the expectation that you’ll actually wear it. I’m breaking down why handmade jewelry costs more, what you’re paying for when you choose CMD and how [...]

A millimeter sounds tiny until you put it on your finger. From delicate 1mm bands to our wonderfully chunky 15mm Armor Ring, width can completely change how a ring looks, feels and stacks. I’m breaking down every CMD ring width, how width affects fit and how to choose the right proportions for your hand [...]

Becky came to me with an engagement ring that had a broken setting, a collection of loose diamonds from her original wedding stack, and the feeling that after more than twenty years, she was ready for something new. We started with one idea, changed direction completely, and ultimately built a stack [...]

Picture this: two Saturn-ruled signs walk into The Ring Bar looking for completely different things. Capricorn wants something substantial and grounding, while Aquarius is after individuality and a little cosmic sparkle. Meet two very different rings inspired by the signs themselves, and the astrology behind the designs. [...]

Inspired by one of Colleen's own hand-drawn hearts, the Spread the Love series began with a tiny symbol and a pretty big idea: love deserves to be worn, shared and passed around. Meet the ring, necklace and bracelet, and discover more meaningful little pieces from our Petite Symbols Collection. [...]

As 2024 draws to a close, all of us here at CMD are filled with gratitude and pride for the milestones we've achieved and the community we're growing. This year has been a journey of creativity, connection, and growth, and we owe it all to you. Thank you for all your support now and always. We poured our hearts into [...]

I first saw LP Giobbi perform at Burning Man in 2023, and a backstage conversation not long after eventually became The Way Back Home Collection. What started with music, mutual admiration and a whole lot of ring armor grew into one of my favorite creative collaborations, and eventually something [...]

Thinking about booking an appointment with me but not quite sure what to expect? You don’t need a perfectly formed idea before we meet. Bring me a ring you love, a few screenshots, heirloom jewelry you’re ready to reimagine, or simply the feeling that you want something new. I’ll show you what happens [...]

I’ve called my jewelry my daily armor for years. There’s something about putting on a substantial ring, stacking up both hands and feeling the weight of metal on my body that changes how I carry myself. Eventually, I decided to take that idea very literally. The result was one of the biggest, boldest rings I’ve [...]

I’ve always been fascinated by how much a finish can change the personality of a piece. Give me the exact same sterling silver or solid gold design in matte and shiny finishes, and suddenly they can feel like two completely different pieces of jewelry. I definitely have a favorite, but there really isn’t a right answer. [...]

I’ve never believed a great ring stack needs to match perfectly. I like round next to square, silver beside gold, something substantial paired with something delicate, and a little contrast to keep things interesting. Over the years, I’ve developed a few loose “rules” for building stacks, and most of them are really [...]