Big (1.52) antique solitaire on the right hand?

[kaddidle]

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker, first-time poster. So a few months ago, my beloved grandmother passed away. She and I were very close, and I inherited a big solitaire she'd convinced my grandfather to buy as an investment. She wore it every day of her life, and starting when I was a little girl, every time I came to her house she'd let me wear it.

My grandmother was my life, and I miss her terribly. Since she died, I've worn it every day on my right hand, which understandably leads to some confusion. I am in a serious, long-term relationship so I don't mind people thinking I'm married, but I didn't know if this is a faux pas. But I love wearing it — every time I see it, it reminds me of her, and part of the reason she gave it to me is because she believes diamonds should live in the sunshine and she knew I would never store it away in a safe deposit box.

Thought you all might enjoy seeing it — it's a 1.52CT from 1951, E color, VVS1 (it took the jeweler an hour to find the inclusion!) and I think it's so special. My jeweler told me 1951/52 were the last years diamonds were cut by hand; my grandfather bought it from his best friend in NYC's diamond district.


But ... am I breaking some unwritten diamond etiquette/taste law?

 

[Dreamer_D]

It is gorgeous! The history is so special.

I don't think there is any rule about what you wear on your right hand. Do what you please!

People may mistake you for being engaged or married. If you don't want that (and I would not have wanted that when I was unmarried!) then you can make a little change to how you wear it.

Are you sentimental about the setting or just the diamond? If only the stone you could reset it into a more "RHR" style, like a three stone with gemstone sides, or another style.

If you want to keep it as it is, you can resize it for the middle finger on your right hand to make clear its not a wedding/e-ring. I find rings more comfortable on my right hand when worn on the middle finger anyway.

 

[missy]

Beautiful! And I would wear it just as you please. When my mother allowed me to temporarily wear my grandmother's ring (I was single at the time) I wore it every day on my right hand. I didn't care what others thought and anyone in my life knew I wasn't married at that time anyway. Who cares what people who don't know you think? Enjoy it this special diamond way you want and what a lovely way to keep your grandmother close always.

 

[dk168]

I wear whatever I like, whenever I like, on both hands, not bothered about any rules, written or otherwise.

OP, enjoy the ring and wear it which way you please.

DK

 

[kaddidle]

I wear whatever I like, whenever I like, on both hands, not bothered about any rules

I love the way you think!

 

[kaddidle]

When my mother allowed me to temporarily wear my grandmother's ring (I was single at the time) I wore it every day on my right hand. I didn't care what others thought and anyone in my life knew I wasn't married at that time anyway.

That's my thinking! I'm in a serious LTR anyway (in fact, we've debated whose grandmother's ring we'll use when the time comes. I love this one, but for sentimental reasons he'd like to use his family's) so it's not really an issue of scaring off guys. Thank you so much!

 

[Rena7]

Please wear it and remember your Grandmother. The ring is gorgeous.

 

[marcy]

I am very sorry about your grandmother. Your diamond is very pretty. I think you should wear it however you want to wear it. I like what your grandmother said about believing diamonds should live in the sunshine.

 

[AprilBaby]

I think it's stunning and a great memory of your Grandmom! Maybe reset it into a less eringy setting? An antique or modern bezel would be gorgeous!

 

[iota15]

They should live in the sunshine. That sums it up perfectly.

Beautiful stone, beautiful history. If you've got it, flaunt it!

 

[SandyinAnaheim]

I wear whatever I like, whenever I like, on both hands, not bothered about any rules, written or otherwise.

I've always done the same. I never got the memo with the rules

 

[dk168]

Oops, I forgot to say the only time I would bow to convention is for attending a more formal funeral, by wearing white metal, diamonds, black and white pearls only, with black/grey/white clothes, without coloured stones or metal.

It appears that nowadays, funerals are less formal, and the colour rule (clothes and jewellery) appears to have gone out of the window.

Apart from that, anything goes.

DK

 

[Ally T]

I am so sorry about the loss of your grandmother. I lost my Great Aunt at Easter, who was like a grandmother to me, and it can be horribly hard.

But I LOVE the ring, I LOVE that she let you wear it when you were young (as did my Aunt with the ring she left to me!) And I LOVE that you WANT to wear it! Who cares what other people think? I used to wear my grandmother's wedding ring & engagement ring on my right hand constantly, for years, and the only people it seemed to confuse were boys who were trying to ask me for a date but worried I was already married Wrong hand, guys! You are already in a committed relationship, so it really doesn't matter what people think. Enjoy it & love it like she would have wanted you to.

 

[kaddidle]

I lost my Great Aunt at Easter, who was like a grandmother to me, and it can be horribly hard.

But I LOVE the ring, I LOVE that she let you wear it when you were young (as did my Aunt with the ring she left to me!)

I'm so sorry to hear that. It is SO hard to lose those special women in your life, even if it is "their time." It sounds silly, but I just love having things that remind me of her around to look at — it reminds me that even though she isn't physically here, the relationship we had and the wisdom she gave me are forever.

 

[kaddidle]

Oops, I forgot to say the only time I would bow to convention is for attending a more formal funeral, by wearing white metal, diamonds, black and white pearls only, with black/grey/white clothes, without coloured stones or metal.

It appears that nowadays, funerals are less formal, and the colour rule (clothes and jewellery) appears to have gone out of the window.

Apart from that, anything goes.

DK

You know, I knew about the black/white/grey in terms of clothing, but I'd never heard it stated in terms of jewelry. It makes a lot of sense! Growing up on Miss Manners and Emily Post, I'm always slightly disappointed at how everything's always slipping. I was even taught that it's rude to wear a watch at night, as it implies that you're worried about time rather than the company you're with!

 

[Mayk]

I love your story and your grandmother's beautiful ring... Wear it anywhere you want and make sure it's gets lots of Sunshine!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I certainly think you can wear it any way you want! It is a wonderful heirloom! You may eventually choose to use it for your own engagement ring. You may want to wear it as it is for the time being. If I knew I would not use it for an e-ring, I would personally reset into another setting that looks less like and engagement ring.

 

[Travelgal]

Sorry to hear about your grandma, but what a great way to celebrate her everyday. I wear my great grandmothers solitaire engagement ring on my right hand ring finger. Sometimes people ask me when I am getting married and I am always excited to tell them that it's my great grandmothers ring from 1923. Then I politely say I am not getting married yet. If you are worried about scaring men off, just don't wear it at night or when you go out. Ii've always kept mine on and it's never been a problem when I explain it's significance. if you do choose to reset it, I highly recommend that you keep the original setting in case you ever want to go back to the original ring.

 

[Kelli]

LOVE the ring and the history, and wear whatever you like! If I had a honkin' heirloom stone like that I'd rock it too!

 

[Rhea]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother's passing.

I think you can wear your ring as you please! I love that it's on your right hand so you can see it everyday.

 

[Calliecake]

Your story about your grandmother is so touching. I can only imagine how happy it would make her knowing you're wearing her ring and remembering the wonderful times you shared.

 

[Monnyjay]

My condolences, I was very close with my gramms, too...I miss her every day. IMO: if wearing your grandma's ring helps you to feel connected to her by the fond memories, I say wear it on whichever finger that feels right

Ditto

 

[MissGotRocks]

Beautiful ring, beautiful story! Wear it with pride - you know what it means - don't let others mar that for you!!

 

[luv2sparkle]

I am so glad that you were the one to inherit that special ring. I know how much it means to inherit a ring from someone special. I had a beloved aunt who had a ring that I loved but it went to another niece. I was kind of devastated by that and it is probably the major reason I upgraded. I would still rather have had hers, even though it was a bit smaller than the one I upgraded to. Enjoy wearing it every single day and think of her. Wear it just as it is and who gives a flying rip what anyone else thinks or says. It speaks to you because of her and that is the only thing that matters. For that reason, I wouldn't even change the setting unless it was important to you. It's a beautiful ring with wonderful history.