RunningwithScissors
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2019
- Messages
- 3,700
My grandfather passed in 2005. He was truly a larger than life figure. He was a big, robust man who grew up in a sod hut on the American prairie and came east on a cattle train. He put himself through law school by working the night shift as an undertaker. After law school he went on to work for our government chasing down threats to our way of life, events that would simply not be believed if I posted about it. He was brave, kind and fair.
My family was never much into jewelry. One of the few pieces I remember seeing in my growing-up years was my grandfather's sapphire ring. My grandmother had given it to him and he always wore it. Always. I never remember seeing his bear-claw-sized hands without it.
Over the years I've often wondered what happened to the ring after my grandfather died. I assumed it was either lost or my aunt (who is a recluse and doesn't speak to the rest of the family) had it.
Recently, I learned my father had it. He gave it to me.
The ring is difficult for me to look at it. It was cut off my grandfather's hand when he died. The ring looks so violated.
I can't even bring myself to clean it. It hasn't been cleaned since being removed from my grandfather. I can't bring myself to clean remove the gunk from the crevices of the ring. Gross, right?
I don't know what to do with the ring. My heart says at least repair the damage. Make it whole again. Then it won't be so heart-wrenching to look at.
But I don't have children to pass it too.
My own hands are thin so I'm not sure I could pull off wearing the man's ring. And my husband does not like wearing rings at all (even wedding bands.)
What would you do?
Would it be possible to resize the ring to fit a size 4.75 finger without altering its character too much?
At a minimum, I want to repair it so it is not so painful to look at (the damage reminds me of his death, not his life). Any recommendations who I can get to repair the band?
Also, the cabochon has a ding in it. I've toyed with the idea of seeing if it could be polished out (though it is rather deep). However, the ding has always been there, my father says it happened way back when my grandad first got the ring. So the ding is part of the ring's history.
Is this even a sapphire? It could be glass or paste for all I know.
Should I find a male blood relative to pass it too? We are a small family, but I do have a male cousin I haven't seen in twenty years. The selfish side of me wants to keep the ring because I loved my grandfather so much, I have nothing else from him, and only one other heirloom in general, our family just doesn't "do" jewelry at all. So this piece is extra special to me.
Here is the ring:
My grandmother had the ring inscribed: "Ralph from Amorette"
My family was never much into jewelry. One of the few pieces I remember seeing in my growing-up years was my grandfather's sapphire ring. My grandmother had given it to him and he always wore it. Always. I never remember seeing his bear-claw-sized hands without it.
Over the years I've often wondered what happened to the ring after my grandfather died. I assumed it was either lost or my aunt (who is a recluse and doesn't speak to the rest of the family) had it.
Recently, I learned my father had it. He gave it to me.
The ring is difficult for me to look at it. It was cut off my grandfather's hand when he died. The ring looks so violated.
I can't even bring myself to clean it. It hasn't been cleaned since being removed from my grandfather. I can't bring myself to clean remove the gunk from the crevices of the ring. Gross, right?
I don't know what to do with the ring. My heart says at least repair the damage. Make it whole again. Then it won't be so heart-wrenching to look at.
But I don't have children to pass it too.
My own hands are thin so I'm not sure I could pull off wearing the man's ring. And my husband does not like wearing rings at all (even wedding bands.)
What would you do?
Would it be possible to resize the ring to fit a size 4.75 finger without altering its character too much?
At a minimum, I want to repair it so it is not so painful to look at (the damage reminds me of his death, not his life). Any recommendations who I can get to repair the band?
Also, the cabochon has a ding in it. I've toyed with the idea of seeing if it could be polished out (though it is rather deep). However, the ding has always been there, my father says it happened way back when my grandad first got the ring. So the ding is part of the ring's history.
Is this even a sapphire? It could be glass or paste for all I know.
Should I find a male blood relative to pass it too? We are a small family, but I do have a male cousin I haven't seen in twenty years. The selfish side of me wants to keep the ring because I loved my grandfather so much, I have nothing else from him, and only one other heirloom in general, our family just doesn't "do" jewelry at all. So this piece is extra special to me.
Here is the ring:
My grandmother had the ring inscribed: "Ralph from Amorette"
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