Help getting and resetting an heirloom ring?

[ericksonla]

Hi everyone,

I''m to that happy point of needing an engagement ring but hopelessly in need of help! My girlfriend has made it fairly clear that she would like me to propose with her great grandmother''s ring. Her parents currently have the ring and I think they would like to see it used for this. So my question for you all is what etiquette there may be for me to follow in asking them for it? They live nearby so I was thinking of inviting them for dinner while my girlfriend is out of town (I''m a pretty good cook) and asking them then. Also, making things more complicated, it is set in yellow gold and my girlfriend has made it very clear that she wants it set in white gold or at least plated. I also have never seen the stone and have no idea how much it weighs or its quality. Any advice on any parts of this situation would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think that the plan to invite them to dinner is a great one. Make some speach about your love and wanting to propose and honour your gf''s wishes at the same time, and ask them for permission to use the grammas ring as your gf desires. They will hopefully

cry and be delighted.

I think resetting the diamond could be something that you and the gf pursue together after the engagement. It is *possible* that once she sees the diamond it will either sing to her completely or she might even change her mind about it being her e-ring. You never know! But choosing a setting could be something fun you do together. Anyways, that is what I would do... get the ring from the parents, take it to a trusted jeweler and have it cleaned and polished up so the setting looks great, get the prongs checked to make sure it is safe, and the propose with it as is!

Prior to the proposal you could also have the ring appraised by an independent appraiser so you know its value etc for insurance, and maybe have an idea of its color and size etc. You will want to insure it before you reset it anyways to make sure that it is covered in the veent of damage.

 

[512BB]

Think about getting the ring from her parents as part 1 of the Proposal. Do it like you would if you were proposing to her. Cooking for her parents sounds like an excellent idea. It might be a good idea to mention to them that she might want it reset, maybe get their take on it, but proposing with the ring as is would probably be a good idea. Yellow gold is pretty too, and might work better with a diamond of that age.