Jewelry in Memory

[oddoneout]

Has anyone ever had a piece of jewelry made in memory of someone/something(an event)? I''d be curious to see pics and read the stories behind the pieces.

 

[diamondringlover]

I have pendant that was made for my 30th birthday, my husband's step mother who was dying of cancer had it made for me, I dont have any pictures of it as I have never took pictures of it, its pretty in a interesting sort of way....I would take pictures, but I am just to tired to do all that work right now...sorry, but I do look forward to everyone elses pretties.

 

[diamondringlover]

OK so it wasnt that much work, I have been wanting to take pictures of it any ways...it is 14k yellow gold, there are 2 circles, one is bigger then the other, the smaller circle spins around, it is set with a small ball bearing that lets it spin and it has a very tiny diamond around 2 or 3 pts that isnt the best quality, but I wouldnt change it, me and Ann were very close and I still miss her, she died in 1991...so here is my necklace, I find myself spinning the small circle when I am anxious or worried about something, the necklace gives me comfort.

 

[soocool]

Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of this but a woman I know had her daughter''s hair incorporated into a pendant after the girl died from leukemia at age 12 (about 4 years ago), I had never seen such a beautiful piece of jewelry before and I still remember how she wore it close to her heart.

 

[jstarfireb]

I haven''t had one made, but I have a similar story. One of my best friends from high school was a huge Tori Amos fan and got me started on Tori as well. One day she came home from a concert with a necklace that had "Raspberry Swirl Girl" engraved on a round washer ("Raspberry Swirl" is a great Tori Amos song). She was really disappointed when she lost the necklace. I happened to find it for sale online a few years later, so I bought it and sent it to her. We lost touch for a bit, but then a few years after that, she called me to say she was diagnosed with leukemia, just about a year after getting married (she had invited me to the wedding but I was unable to attend). She had a complication from chemotherapy and died just a few months after her diagnosis. I spoke at her memorial service, and as I was leaving, her husband gave me the necklace I had bought for her and told me she wore it every day. I keep it on top of my jewelry boxes as a reminder of my late friend.

 

[4ever]

I like to have and give jewlery to remind people of big events or good times. I have a small RHR that I wear every day which was given to me at one of the happyest times in my life, while I was traveling overseas having just met my SO. I also gave SO a watch during this time and it sparks the same happy memories for him. SO is has gotten me a diamond pendant for my birthday next month and I have been holding onto a pair of nice big pearl earings I bought early in the year to give to my best friend on her 21st.

I also wear a watch from my grandmother to remember her by, but I prefer associating positive memories with jewlery.

For most people, good jewlery is somthing you always keep and I like having somthing pretty and I can wear and enjoy but which also sparks such great memories which I'd never want to forget. I love picking up a peice of jewlery and putting it on and thinking, "I remember when I got this.....".

I'd definatly consider having somthing made in memory of someone important to me aslong as I could be sure when I wore it I would be reminded of their life and not of their death.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Date: 9/13/2009 6:48:00 PM
Author: diamondrnglover

OK so it wasnt that much work, I have been wanting to take pictures of it any ways...it is 14k yellow gold, there are 2 circles, one is bigger then the other, the smaller circle spins around, it is set with a small ball bearing that lets it spin and it has a very tiny diamond around 2 or 3 pts that isnt the best quality, but I wouldnt change it, me and Ann were very close and I still miss her, she died in 1991...so here is my necklace, I find myself spinning the small circle when I am anxious or worried about something, the necklace gives me comfort.

It is a very beautiful, unique necklace. I just love the highlighted part of your post; what a lovely sentiment!

 

[packrat]

My gramma gave me an opal last year that my grampa mined in Australia and cut himself. I plan on having it put into a ring when the funds are available. My grampa and I were very close. He was my moms step dad. Her real dad died when I was 2 1/2.

I love to tell the story, so I''ll tell it again. When my mom was pregnant with me, Grampa told her she would have a girl, born on his birthday, and she was going to name the baby Hazel Dell. So, when I was born, on Grampa''s birthday (10/29) she called him from the hospital and said "Well Doc, 2 out of 3 isn''t bad". Every year on our birthday I would run into the house and get a huuuuge hug and he''d say "Well, how old are we today, Love?" Grampa died right before I turned 14. It''s been 21 years already.

 

[somethingshiny]

My grandma had her mom''s, her almost SIL''s (grandma''s brother died in the war before the wedding and the lady eventually gave grandma her ring) and her own diamonds made into a ring that she wears as her wedding ring. She''s taken gold from assorted sentimental items and made a big gaudy necklace out of it. She also took her mother''s "grandmother''s pin" after she passed and had all the stones removed and set into pendants for all of her daughters-in-law. The night before their weddings, great-grandma made special dinners for the bride and groom and sat the bride so she faced towards the window at sunset so she could have her last "single-woman" sunset. The colors of the birthstones are reminiscent of "sunset."

My mom took her original plain wedding band and had her childrens'' birthstones set for a mother''s ring.

I have no pics of any, but I''ve always thought all of the sentiments were sweet.

 

[LauraSLP07]

My maternal grandmother passed away from cancer when I was just a baby. I don''t remember her except from pictures/home movies I have seen. My grandpa decided to keep her wedding jewelry and not have her buried with it.

Later on, he had the larger diamond from her engagement ring put into a ''tie tac'' for him to keep. There were also 6 smaller diamonds that made up her wedding band, so he had them made into 6 separate diamond rings.

It just so happens that he ended up having a total of 6 grandaughters (including me)! We each got a gold diamond ring from him on our 16th birthdays! I will treasure it always because it is like having a piece of my grandmother with me!

I don''t wear it anymore, but keep it safely put away in my jewelry box.

Here it is: 1st photo shoot ever!

 

[jstarfireb]

What touching stories! I love Laura''s story about the 6 grandchildren.

 

[oddoneout]

diamondrnglover what a sweet story and the pendant is very pretty and unique.

 

[oddoneout]

What a nice story Laura. I like how the diamonds were split up so everyone could have a diamond to remember their grandmother by.

 

[Kelli]

I love everyone''s stories and jewelry. I don''t have any yet, but I''ve been thinking about having something made for my mom in memory of my dad, who unfortunately passed away (totally unexpectedly) almost four months ago. One of the last things they did together was take their grandkids (my nieces) to a butterfly farm a few hours from our house. They actually bought all the plants they needed to make their own butterfly garden and my dad planted most of them before he died. My mom did the rest soon after. My dad was home during the days and really enjoyed it. Now my mom associates butterflies with his memory, so I was thinking of having something made for her in the shape of a butterfly. Maybe a pin or a pendant. I''ve seen her wear pins more often I think. Problem is, I don''t have much of a budget, and I''d like to wait until I can afford something nice.

 

[irishmamax4]

I have two pieces. One a diamond band made from a ring my father had given my mother. My father passed away four years ago.

Last year for our eleventh anniversary my husband bought me a Tiffany sapphire band. Our then six year old son was diagnosed in 2008 with an inoperable brainstem tumor. As a show of support we all have worn bright blue bracelets in his honor. My husband wanted me to have this sapphire band as a reminder always of our beautiful boy and the love between us. I wear it as my wedding band now. Sadly, our son passed away just about three months ago. We had a magical, blessed seven years with him and this ring will always remind me of the love that will always bind us to him.

 

[somethingshiny]

irish~ I''m so sorry to hear of your losses. It''s wonderful that you have pieces that you can wear and see daily to remind you of your loved ones.

 

[diamondringlover]

wow there are some powerful stories here

 

[iheartscience]

I bought an OMC diamond for my college graduation but I haven''t set it yet. I''m planning on getting it set locally in a bezel ring. I was in the midst of wedding planning when I bought it so I put it on the back burner, but I want to get it set soon! I''ll probably do it in the next month or so now that my wedding is over and my house stuff is settling down.

 

[lulu]

Irish- sorry for your loss. That''s a very moving story.

 

[oddoneout]

irishmamax4: You are very strong. I cannot imagine going through such a loss. I''m so sorry.

 

[packrat]

Irish, I''m very sorry about your little boy!

 

[LauraSLP07]

Everyone''s stories are so touching....

 

[Burberrygirl]

Irish, you are such a strong person. Your post left me in tears, I can''t imagine being in that situation. It''s wonderful that you focus on the seven wonderful years you had with him.

Here''s a bad pic of the 1.80 ct, VVS2, and E color diamond ring I was given when my grandpa passed earlier this year. I''ve lost a lot of people recently and I''m thinking of having something made up to remember everyone by...

 

[D&T]

reading all these stories have made me come to tears...

very touching, and thank you for sharing everyone. I have a couple of pieces that was made by my jeweler cousin back in my native country - I will keep it and pass it down as this is a part of me and our heritage.

 

[iheartscience]

Yikes, I feel bad for posting about graduation when everyone else is posting about losing loved ones. I must have misunderstood the original post-I''m sorry!

 

[Lenamama]

Date: 9/14/2009 9:09:57 PM
Author: oddoneout
irishmamax4: You are very strong. I cannot imagine going through such a loss. I''m so sorry.

Oh my Irish so sad.... very strong indeed.... .

 

[BlackIsland]

Date: 9/15/2009 12:07:25 AM
Author: thing2of2
Yikes, I feel bad for posting about graduation when everyone else is posting about losing loved ones. I must have misunderstood the original post-I''m sorry!

Nope, I don''t think you misunderstood. Oddoneout asked us to share stories of jewellery made to commemorate an event - some of the ones listed have been happy, some have touched our hearts. Thanks for sharing.

It''s all good!

BI

 

[oddoneout]

Just to clarify the "in memory" could be positive (like grad) or negative (losing a family member).

 

[JSRNM]

My mom passed away last March. I am in the process of selling her house (my dad has died 4 years ago) and I plan to use some of the proceeds to buy a diamond RHR in their honor. I am leaning towards a Harry Winston Sunflower because my mom loved flowers. The house goes on the market in early Oct. so I hope it sells quickly.

Irish so sorry for your loss.