Inherited ring(s) and now what to do with them

[dasheekeejones]

Hi, I posted here before asking if I should cut a marquise in half and no, I'm not going to do it. But I had a question.

Since my mom passed away, I have inherited her jewelry. Her engagement/wedding band (marquise w/ baguettes), 2 of my grandmother's art deco rings (beautiful opal and filligree and a saphirre side stone engagement ring). And my mom's beautiful (but no idea what stone it is yet) pink (tourmaline?) and diamond ring from 1953. This pink one is my favorite.

My husband has also been very generous with the jewelry. My most prized pieces are my engagement ring (princess solitaire) and my latest tacori (this: http://www.tacori.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/HT-2229-A_multi.jpg) but with a pear shaped London Blue Topaz as a center stone (it's our son's birthstone).

So...I have all the rings I need. We have one son and aren't planning for anymore children so I was wondering down the line if I pass, where are these rings going? I don't want another piece of jewelry and for a right hand ring, my mom's pink or the Tacori are my go-to favs.

But regarding my mom's engagement ring. It's a BEAUTIFUL stone and I honestly thought about it being reset as an east-west w/ baguettes. But part of me wonders if I should trade it in to upgrade my princess band into something similar to a Tacori band (I like art deco/vintage style).

The history of my mom's ring is it's from 1961 and my dad got the money for it in a dice game. (typical Italian dad back in the day). They had a really rough/dysfunctional/bad marriage so there is a lot of negativity w/ my mom and that ring. But I also see when they were first married, they were happy and this ring symbolizes it.

My husband said since my mom hated the ring and the marriage, to sell it and upgrade my ring. But I feel guilty.

But, to me, having three really nice/expensive rings to trade off is really silly and a waste.

So what's the best idea:

1. reset it into an east-west marquise setting and wear it as a 3rd option? (even w/ the bad mojo)
2. sell it and upgrande my princess band to something Tacori/vintage like so I can wear it daily
3. Do nothing with the marquise and leave it in teh safe

 

[AnnaH]

Sorry for the loss of your mother.
Keep what you will enjoy wearing, sell the rest, and do what you want with the proceeds. No need to feel guilty. If you think about it, your mom would probably say the same. You will still have some nice pieces to pass on to any future granddaughter(s).
If you find you just don't want to part with something, the stones could be used for a pendant or other pieces of jewelry that you might wear.
Pics are always nice. Someone might have some good suggestions about repurposing the stones.

 

[artdecolover71]

only you know in your heart what you can live with...and sorry for your loss.
I would sell it or reset it personally.
hugs and good luck with the decision.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It is hard to see this far forward now, but it is quite possible that you'll have granddaughters someday. But your jewelry can be their heirlooms regardless of whether you keep these pieces or not. I'd keep the ones I love or that I have fond memories of, but I would have no problem selling the rest.

You can list on LoupeTroop and put a thread in Pre-loved here if you decide to sell.

 

[dasheekeejones]

Thanks. My father passed away a year later so I think emotionally, I just feel attached/guilty. But at least thinking of selling them doens't sound out of the question. I honestly thought I would get a few "are you kidding me???" replies regarding the idea of selling.

For granddaugthers, understand that notion. But I rather give them something I love and pass on the good vibes.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I absolutely agree! It will mean the most to them to have pieces that they saw you wear and love! And this is coming from one who has two daughters and a 2 year old granddaughter and another on the way!

 

[vintagelover229]

I'm sorry for the loss of your parents.

I personally think you should at least keep the diamond set from your mom-if possible you might be able to have the shank removed and part of the edged rounded out and a bail added to make it a nice diamond pendant. Or you could use the stones and reset it into a pendant that way it's close to your heart and you could wear it often.

Or earrings-have dangles made up of all the small diamonds and then use the big diamond-and the other stones to create a pendant.

Lots of options if you decide to keep them. But you might just hold onto the diamond set as is-and keep it for your son to propose with. Who knows who he will meet and what $$ will look like for them when that time comes. I know my BIL would like to propose but he doesn't have the $$ to buy a ring for her. The one ring he could have afforded (it was perfect) feel though and to help find another that nice at that price-well-will be impossible. I'm hoping that his grandma (who has cancer sadly) who has her MIL set-her set and an upgraded set from her marriage will some how find it's way to him-another set to my MIL (who doesn't have a diamond at all) and my SIL who also would like to get engaged but also can't afford a diamond ring either.



So there are lots of options for you. If you don't know right now tuck them away until you know for sure what you want to do. No rush!

 

[distracts]

So there are lots of options for you. If you don't know right now tuck them away until you know for sure what you want to do. No rush!

Ditto this... you can keep thinking about it until you're sure. I don't know how long it's been since your parents passed, but you may need to wait a few years until your emotions settle before you can figure out what to do with the rings.