CUSTOM FINE JEWELRY IN CARRBORO, N.C.

Never off the shelf, always
true to heart

Your custom jewelry journey starts here.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to create a custom engagement ring for the love of your life. Maybe you want to turn an heirloom piece into something modern and new. Or maybe you just want to have a treasured necklace repaired. Whatever you need, the goldsmiths and designers at Rings True are here to help you make your dreams a reality.

Meet the Team

Our team will expertly guide you through the aesthetic and practical considerations of various styles of jewelry in a delightful, collaborative process of discovery and design.

Founder
Over the past 40 years, Rings True founder Karl Linger has done a little bit of everything, from creating rings for Tiffany & Co. and servicing jewelry recovered from the RMS Titanic to building the setting for one of the world’s largest diamonds.
Throughout his career, Karl’s dream was to open a jewelry atelier where goldsmiths work directly with clients to craft heirloom pieces that will be passed down for generations. Since 2015, Karl has been doing just that, first in Raleigh and, for the past several years, at our studio home in the heart of Carrboro, North Carolina. Karl works with our custom clients to create timelessly crafted, deeply personal designs that will stand up to the test of time.
Stop by our studio to take a peek at Karl’s most recent creations, or schedule a Custom Design Consultation with us so Karl can help you build the piece of jewelry you’ve always dreamed of. Trust us—you couldn’t be in better hands.

Goldsmith, Designer
In addition to being a new dad, Zack is one of our jewelers and is our resident sketch artist for bespoke jewlery!
A North Carolina native, Zack attended Eastern Carolina University (ECU) to study Fine Arts with a concentration in Metals. Upon meeting our founder, Karl Linger, in an advanced stone setting class, a bond was formed that helped jump-start Rings True as we know it today.
Zack has been a pillar of the Rings True family since 2018. He diligently and meticulously works with clients to incorporate personal elements into custom jewelry in an imaginative yet classic way. With his help, we can make your dream jewelry a reality.

Designer, Studio Manager, Gemologist
If you’ve stopped by Rings True over the past few years, you’ve definitely met our studio manager, Zoë!
She has worked as an over-the-road big rig driver and a content creator for Uniquities, but before she joined the Rings True team, Zoë used her fashion background in her role as Business Manager and Retail Buyer for Sofia’s Boutique.
These days, Zoë does a lot more than just manage our studio—she’s one of our designers and our in-house gemologist! She is currently completing a course of study to become a graduate gemologist through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Zoë creates stunning custom designs for our clients from the initial mechanical sketches through the gemstone selection and approval process. She also manages the flow of all our custom jobs as they move through the studio.
Whether you’re looking to redesign an heirloom piece, build a brand-new piece of custom jewelry or get an insurance appraisal, Zoë will be your point of contact every step of the way!

Caroline

Caroline Lawless is a SAG-E actor, screenwriter and director. She holds a B.A. in Graphic Design from Emory & Henry and is currently pursuing a certificate in Film and TV Industry Essentials from New York University (NYU) with a focus on cinematography and production.
Carolines background in art and cinematography made her the perfect fit to fill the role of our shop documentarian. She is the mastermind behind our marketing and branding, always coming up with fun ideas to document our process and rouse the imagination! Carolines attention to detail and appreciation for beauty makes her the perfect person to capture and convey all that goes on behind the scenes in our studio! She is the genius responsible for our social media content creation and overall online presence - she keeps us up to date with creative posts and videos sure to spark joy and stir intrigue! Check out our Instagram and Facebook to see Carolines work!

Caroline is the visionary force representing the spirit of Rings True - she helps us tell our story so we can share it with you!

Will

Will comes from a family of Jewelers! He has worked in the industry for over twenty years. He has worked for multiple jewelers across the country, and is a bit of a traveler! We feel very fortunate to have him as a new addition to our team. His experience and attention to detail is a major asset for our business.
Will handles all of our repairs. He makes sure everything our repair work is completed diligently and delivered punctually! Will assists in our inventory production, setting gemstones in new earrings or pendants so our sales team can represent new and beautiful creations to our clients! In addition to both repair and inventory, Will helps us with our custom creations.
If you come in to have one of your pieces repaired, chances are Will will be the one to assess your item and outline a pathway to make your jewelry look brand new again!

Sebastiano

Sebastiano is our goldsmith in residence - he is quickly learning to create Custom Jewelry, beginning with adding beautiful new inventory items to our cases.
Originally from Italy, Sebastiano recently left home in search of an opportunity to learn to create Fine Jewelry. In his time with us he has demonstrated his talent and passion for the craft. We are inspired by his zeal for the trade and determination to make his dreams come true. We are fortunate to have such a motivated and enthusiastic addition to our Rings True Family.
Sebastiano has proved himself to be a true natural, taking on the goldsmithing trade with fervor and grace.

Sebastiano has a passion for metalwork, and an eye for beauty. The combination of these factors made him a seemless fit into our Rings True Family. His drive for perfection and positive determination give him the perfect set of skills to master the art of Fine Jewelry Making.

Sebastiano assists in the production of our inventory offerings - next time you stop by the shop you are sure to spot some of his hand fabricated hoop earrings on display!