Some of the most rewarding pieces we make are the ones people say can't be built. Convertible rings are one of them. They transform from an engagement ring into a pendant, allowing the same piece to be worn on your finger or around your neck. We've now designed and manufactured three convertible rings, and each one challenged us to solve a different engineering problem. Along the way, we learned what works, what doesn't, and why these pieces are far more complicated than they appear.
What Is a Convertible Ring?
A convertible ring is designed to be worn two different ways. On your hand, it looks like a traditional engagement ring. Slide a chain through it, and it transforms into a pendant that sits flat against your chest. There aren't any removable parts to keep track of or a separate pendant setting to purchase. Everything is built directly into the ring itself.
The idea isn't new. Before jewelry collections grew to what they are today, convertible pieces let one item do the work of two or three, converting from ring to necklace or necklace to brooch. What's changed is the engineering: modern 3D design lets us build the mechanism precisely around the stones instead of forcing the design around the mechanism.
The First Convertible Ring
The first time I saw a convertible ring was at a booth during the JCK Las Vegas convention. I never imagined we'd end up making one ourselves. So when a client asked if we could design one around a diamond she already owned, I reached back out to the company that originally inspired me. They told me it couldn't be done. Her diamond was too small, there wasn't enough room to build the mechanism behind it, and the only solution was to use a larger center stone surrounded by additional diamonds. In their eyes, it wasn't possible. Ironically, everything they explained about why it wouldn't work gave us exactly what we needed to figure it out ourselves.
"Around your man, you could look loyal, but around your girlies, you could look single."
How the Mechanism Works
Every convertible ring we make relies on three key components. Each one has a different job, but they all have to work together for the ring to convert smoothly and securely.
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The bail: The hidden channel the chain slides through. It has to be large enough for the chain to pass through smoothly, but compact enough to tuck neatly inside the ring when it's worn on your finger. On our first convertible ring, the bail became the starting point for the entire design. We even added more diamonds around the center stone to create the space needed to hide the mechanism without changing the look of the ring.
This is the bail. View Video here → 
This is the bail tucked in. View Video here → -
The latch: The latch is what connects the pendant to the ring and locks everything securely in place. We designed it so that when the ring is worn, your finger naturally rests against the latch, adding another layer of security. It's a small detail, but it means the pendant can't accidentally come loose while you're wearing it.
This is the latch. View Video here → 
The latch in action. View Video here → -
The post/band: The final piece that keeps everything stable. After our first convertible ring was finished, we noticed a slight wobble in the connection. Our diamond setter, Mr. Lee, solved it by designing a small post that slides into the pendant and locks everything firmly in place. It worked so well that every convertible ring we make now includes that feature from the very beginning.
This is the post. View Video here → 
The post in action. View Video here →
The Second Covertible Ring: Why These Take So Long to Get Right
Every convertible ring presents a different engineering challenge. Our second convertible piece, a pendant that transforms into an engagement ring, went through 11 design revisions and was manufactured four separate times, requiring more than 20 hours of bench work before the stones were even set. By the end of the project, we realized every convertible ring comes down to answering two simple questions.
Does the pendant sit straight? At first glance, it looks like the center diamond would pull the pendant forward. We heard that concern more than once while developing these pieces, but in practice, it doesn't happen. The reason comes down to density. Even though the diamond looks like the heaviest part of the pendant, gold is actually denser than diamond. That means the gold structure hidden behind the center stone weighs more than it appears. Combined with a chain opening that's angled toward the center, the pendant naturally stays balanced and hangs straight on the neck.
Does it wobble? Every moving part is another opportunity for unwanted movement, especially where the band meets the setting. Even after the ring is built, small changes during finishing can affect how tightly everything fits together. That's why craftsmanship matters just as much as engineering. Our diamond setter, Mr. Lee, solved the wobble on our first convertible ring by designing the small post we still use today. By the time our second convertible piece came back from his bench, the mechanism was even stronger than when we first designed it.
The Third Floral Convertible Ring: No Bail at All
Our third convertible ring built on everything we learned from the first two. This time, there was no bail at all. Instead of hiding a loop inside the pendant, the chain slides directly through the openings in the floral head setting.
When the client first requested it, I didn't think it was possible. She wanted a floral head setting that could be worn as a pendant in both vertical and horizontal orientations, two things we had never combined before. As we worked through the design, we realized the openings between the petals were the perfect place for the chain. The emerald-cut center stone made the solution even better. With a floral setting on each of its four corners, the chain can slide through in either orientation, allowing the pendant to hang naturally both ways. If it weren't for one small latch, you would never know it converts at all.
The best part was that it worked on the first build. Our first two convertible rings each went through three to four revisions. We refined the latch, added the post, and learned how manufacturing affected the fit. By the time we started this ring, we had two proven templates to build from. That's how this process is supposed to work. Every convertible ring makes the next one better.
Who Convertible Rings Are For
When we started sharing these rings online, one group stood out more than any other: healthcare workers. Nurses, doctors, and anyone who wears gloves throughout the day told us they loved the idea of being able to wear their engagement ring as a necklace instead of leaving it at home.
The same idea applies to many other professions. Chefs, bakers, mechanics, and anyone who regularly works with their hands often can't wear a ring safely or comfortably. A convertible ring gives them another way to keep it with them. It's also for people whose lifestyle has nothing to do with work. Some simply don't like wearing rings every day. Others fidget with their jewelry and worry about losing it, or have sensory sensitivities that make wearing a ring uncomfortable. A convertible design lets them wear the same piece in the way that feels most natural.
Want a convertible ring of your own?
Tell us what you have in mind, and we'll design a piece you can wear both ways.
Want to see more of our work? Browse the engagement collection, or follow the process on Instagram.