Design smarter. Stay Inspired. Create jewelry people can’t live without.

First time reading?

Hey, it’s Jenessa.

In today’s issue:

• Our Deep Dive: Gallery Rail Hacks — Smarter Designs That Don’t Block the View

•DEEP DIVE

Are Gallery Rails a Must-Have or Totally Optional? Let’s Settle It…

I love the “scroll hole time suck” that is TikTok.

Compared to Instagram—where it feels like everyone’s dressed up for a photo shoot—TikTok is like chilling in your sweatpants.

It’s casual, weird, and full of people who don’t take themselves too seriously—and that’s why I’m into it.

When you’re just starting to create content and put yourself out there, it helps to have a low-pressure, laid-back space to build your confidence.

The other day, I came across a TikTok from a jewelry designer talking about gallery rails.

According to her, every ring needs one. She said it was the first thing she learned at GIA, calling it “Jewelry Making 101.”

That’s an important job, and I understand where she’s coming from.

Gallery rails are helpful, especially for larger stones or trickier cuts like cushions and sapphires.

But it got me thinking… is a gallery rail a requirement for all settings?

My professional jewelry-making career began in 2006 when a brave 20-something version of myself loaded her Toyota Camry and moved from the Midwest to the West Coast to study industrial design.

I somehow managed to land a job at the largest custom jewelry studio in the nation, Green Lake Jewelry Works.

There, I spent seven years learning everything I could from some of the industry’s top professionals.

And guess what? Twenty years later, I’m still in the jewelry industry.

I’ve managed custom studios, trained designers, and currently work as a professional jeweler.

So yes, I believe in strong, thoughtful design—but I’ve also learned there’s more than one way to create a beautiful, lasting ring.

Sometimes, rigid “rules” can get in the way of creativity. A full gallery rail can block one of the most beautiful parts of a ring…

The through-finger view.

You know—that quick glimpse where you catch the diamonds crown, pavilion, and culet all in one peek?

It’s like building a beach house and putting all the windows on the side facing the street. Why block the best view?

So here are some innovative ways to skip the gallery rail—without sacrificing structure:

Some designers always use gallery rails, while others don’t. It depends on the store’s standards and the kind of risk it’s comfortable with.

There’s no single “right” answer here—it’s about understanding the trade-offs and making the right call for the piece.

So here’s my question for you…

Please take the poll and see the results in real time to find out how other jewelry professionals are approaching this in their businesses.

Until next week, let’s continue creating jewelry people can’t live without!