Grandmother''s wedding band

[little miss sunshine]

Over the weekend my grandfather asked me if I would have any interest in wearing my grandmother''s wedding band when I get married in July. She passed away in December after a prolonged battle with cancer. I was surprised and touched by his offer but after spending months on PS choosing my e-ring, I have to admit I had mixed feelings. My e-ring is a white gold, solitaire setting with a round .91 SI1, j, h&a round from GOG. I am worried that this band will not look right. It is yellow gold with channel set round diamonds about half way around. My e-ring band is 2.2 mm and this ring is probably about 4 mm.

I have heard of rhodium plating or "dipping" to make the ring appear to be white gold. I would definitely consider this, even if I had to re-plate/dip fairly often in order to be able to wear the ring. I really do like the ring and want to wear it as a tribute to my grandmother, but am not sure about the process to make it "white."

If you have any experience with either re-plating or wearing a family "heirloom" so to speak, let me know your thoughts...

 

[orbaya]

How lovely for your grandfather to offer up the ring. Would it be possible to accept the ring and wear it on your right hand? This way you can still have a piece of your grandmother with you, and you''ll have a wedding set that looks good together. It could be nice if you got married with your grandmother''s ring...I bet your grandfather would love that and then wear it on your right hand.

As fair as rhodium plating goes, I don''t have any experience with it for yellow gold, so I can''t help there.

 

[AmberWaves]

I was given my grandma''s (yellow gold, too) wedding band, but because it was such a special piece to me, I wouldn''t think of plating it. I''d rather have her wedding band the color she received it, since it meant more to me that some piece of her was there with me (yeah, the color of her band isn''t a big deal, but changing the color is like changing the whole ring to me). Is he offering you the ring to use that one day, or to keep? If it''s one day, I''d say to just leave it and wear it on your right hand. I guess the question is what is more important to you, that the ring matches your other jewelry or the sentiment?

I hope I don''t sound snarky, I''m on cold medicine and not quite explaining myself properly.

 

[Hera]

You can rhodium plate it but you may have to do it every so often depending on your body chemistry. It''s probably not the best solution for a lifetime of usage. Therefore I would recommend you maybe wear it around your neck on a pendant, or like another said on your right hand. And while it''s very special, I don''t think there is anything wrong with altering the ring in order to keep it.

 

[jewelerman]

What a wonderful thing for your grandfather to do!He must really care for you alot.When a beautiful gesture like this is extended it dosnt matter what the ring looks like as much as its accepted with grace so that feelings arn''t hurt and the experiance is a postitive one for you and your grandfather who just lost his spouse. Changeing the ring in any way could be misconstrued as that the gift is not good enough and must be changed. Get married with the ring and include it in the ceramony, and that will honor both your grandparents.After the ceramony, wear the ring on your right hand or a yellow or white chain.Tell your grandfather that you may not wear it every day and kept for special occations.

 

[LegacyGirl]

I think that is very nice of your grandfather and I love the suggestion to wear it on your right hand.