My Great Aunt''s Engagement ring

[Aida1010]

I thought I would share this ring of mine. I got it from my Great Aunt who passed away a couple years ago. I wish I knew more about it, but I''m going to get it appraised at the same time as my engagement ring (probably in a couple of weeks when it gets back from being fixed). Ok so this is what I do know...I think it''s a little over half a carat. It was made by San Francisco jewelers Granat Bros. Not sure how my Aunt''s suitor purchased it, as she was from a small town in Pa. She never got married, but kept the ring. I never knew she had it until after she passed, so I was never able to ask her anything about it. It''s very white, so I''m guessing it''s probably a G color. No visible inclusions at all.

 

[Aida1010]

another

 

[D&T]

gosh that is beautiful! I love the shank

 

[Aida1010]

another

 

[Aida1010]

i like this one

 

[Aida1010]

the diamonds are very white. I know this picture they look yellow, but it''s just the lighting.

 

[Aida1010]

Thank you D&T!! It''s a really well made piece of jewelry. I feel really lucky to have it.

 

[snuggles1]

What a sweet, beautiful ring!!!!

Now this is me being speculative because I think it''s a beautiful ring and it looks like someone really cared about her to give it to her. Maybe something happened to the suitor...or the fiancee?? Perhaps that is why your great aunt didn''t talk about it. Awwww something about this ring makes me get teary...I swear looking at it, I know there''s some sort of story that this ring holds secret!

 

[Monnyjay]

It''s a lovely ring, you are very lucky to have it. Are you going to keep it as it is or have it altered.

 

[beechezz]

I LOVE this ring!

I agree with snuggles about the ring holding the secret behind it for all of these years! Is there anyone else in your family that you can ask to find out the truth? I would be sooooo curious.

Please keep us posted, I think the older designs are divine!

 

[gemgirl]

It''s very pretty. Lucky you!! The setting is different from what we''re used to seeing in older rings.

 

[roverchic]

Very pretty ring. I <3 the setting.

 

[mrscushion]

I''m loving the gorgeous heirlooms we''re seeing on PS these days!

 

[princessplease]

Very pretty ring!!!! I love it!

 

[marcy]

Very pretty.

 

[Tuckins1]

It''s gorgeous! I would wear it just as it is!!

 

[QueenB29]

I love how the sides sweep! I hope you keep the ring as-is. What a wonderful heirloom!

 

[purselover]

Very pretty! I love the unique setting

 

[Amethyste]

I love it, its so personnal. I have a fetish for antique pieces - as they carry with them all of their mysteries and secrets...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Pretty!

 

[Nomsdeplume]

Stunning!!

 

[Aida1010]

I really love the ring and definitely plan on keeping it as is. I love the prongs, and the swooping basket. It really is special. My aunt Jenny was a different lady. She was my Grandfather''s sister, on my dad''s side. She was very short, had big round eyes, and pitch black hair (she had to dye it when she got older). Their parents came straight from Italy and met in NYC, then moved to a small town in PA. They settled down and opened a little store and made money to support their family and had a bunch of kids. My Grandpa''s family was very Italian. They liked to fight with each other, and all of the kids were very bullheaded. After his parents fell ill, my aunt Jenny and her sister Josie took care of them until they passed. There was a big fight over the will, and my Grandpa and his brothers refused to speak to my aunt for years and years, because they felt that there was a small fortune they didn''t know about, and got cheated in the will. Stupid, I know!

So anyway, I really didn''t know my aunt or her sister growing up. In fact, both remained old maids, neither ever getting married. They lived together and became kind of pack rats. My aunt Josie passed, and the other was all alone. I never even met my aunt Josie, I''ve only seen pictures of her. My dad had always kind of kept in touch with my Aunt Jenny over the years, but really re-connected with her after my aunt Josie passed away. They were always very reclusive, even though they lived in town. No one really saw them unless there was a funeral, and I always remember my grandpa commenting that he saw his sister''s all dressed up in matching fur coats.

By this time (late 90''s) my aunt Jenny was getting older, and my dad felt like he should be helping her out, and that all of this family fighting was stupid. The cat got out of the bag that my dad had started doing things for Jenny like spending time with her, going to the liquor or the grocery store for her. This was when my grandma and grandpa were still alive. My grandpa was very angry. My dad didn''t really care because while my family has always been close, my dad and my grandpa never had the best relationship. My grandpa kicked him out of the house when he was young. My grandma was truly a saint; a very catholic lady. She had Parkinson''s disease and began going downhill when I was in college. I remember my grandma very ill in the hospital, looking at my grandpa and shaking her finger at him sayin, "You make peace with Jenny." We didn''t know if that would happen, but surprisingly, at my H.S. graduation, my dad went and picked up my Aunt Jenny and brought her to the party. My grandpa came too. He surprisingly behaved himself. He didn''t try to start a fight (he loved to argue), or anything. They sat nicely beside each other, eating the same thing and talked. They were very much alike it was extremely humorous!! My other uncle never came around to the idea of my dad having a relationship with my aunt and still gives him the cold shoulder to this day (and he''s probably in his late 80''s, early 90''s).

At any rate, I did get to know my aunt, but by the time I did she was much older. I feel regret for not asking her more about my family''s past, but I was never that close with her. She left a house to my dad (which was a big renovation project). It was packed to the gill with junk. Her sister and her both were horrible pack rats. They loved to shop and never threw anything away. We found old pictures, letters, and other really neat stuff in the house. She really didn''t have much else valuable, besides the ring that I have, and a couple smaller solitaire diamonds, one of which my sister got. I did also get some really cool rhinestone costume jewelry, and some awesome vintage plates, dishes, and glasses. I just feel lucky that I got this ring, I''m surprised my dad didn''t try to sell it for money.

 

[tigian]

It''s such a beautiful ring as is. Is there anybody that knows anything about the story behind the ring? Thanks for sharing. You are very lucky to have such a heirloom piece.

 

[omieluv]

Thank you for sharing your great aunt''s beautiful ring and story about the family. I am sure you will treasure and enjoy the ring in the years to come.

 

[joflier]

Interesting family story. That ring is truely beautiful. I bet there must be a good story behind it!

 

[blackberry16]

That is stunning! What an elegant feminine ring.

 

[Venice]

A gorgeous ring and a beautiful reminder of your great aunt. Unfortunately, the family story is rather common. I hope that your story may help other families in the same situation realize what is really important - FAMILY.

Enjoy that beautiful family heirloom!

 

[Callisto]

Date: 8/7/2009 9:13:28 AM
Author: QueenB29
I love how the sides sweep! I hope you keep the ring as-is. What a wonderful heirloom!

I agree, what a beautiful ring!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

This is such a beautiful ring...wear it in good health!