I’ve started collecting legacy stories from readers related
to weddings, marriage and love, and it brought to mind heirloom rings. As I sit
here writing this post, my mother’s wedding ring is on my finger. I always
thought I’d pass it on to another, like when mom’s first great-grandchild was
married, but so far, I haven’t found the person who wants it. If you have an
heirloom ring available, you are fortunate, but if you come from a large family
you may find yourself in competition for who gets the ring. Before I talk about
whether or not an heirloom ring is right for you, let’s take a look at what it
is along with the pros and cons of going with an heirloom engagement or wedding
ring.
What is an heirloom ring?
An heirloom ring is an engagement or wedding ring passed on
to another member of the family getting married or a ring with an interesting backstory that
you bring into your family. Knowing the backstory, how the ring came into your
family can make the wedding proposal even more special for people with close
family ties or an interest in their families’ genealogies.
The story of the ring is a way to keep family history alive for another generation. And when you wear an heirloom ring, your story is added to it. For instance, I only have mom’s wedding ring because her engagement ring was smashed when she was trying to move a refrigerator to clean under it. The ring saved her finger. They brought it to a jeweler who happened to lose it diamond and all (which I never believed) and she never got it back. When my father passed away, Mom gave the ring to me. It goes with my white gold set which I picked because I liked what Mom wore—white gold.
The story of the ring is a way to keep family history alive for another generation. And when you wear an heirloom ring, your story is added to it. For instance, I only have mom’s wedding ring because her engagement ring was smashed when she was trying to move a refrigerator to clean under it. The ring saved her finger. They brought it to a jeweler who happened to lose it diamond and all (which I never believed) and she never got it back. When my father passed away, Mom gave the ring to me. It goes with my white gold set which I picked because I liked what Mom wore—white gold.
Benefits and drawbacks of an heirloom ring
One of the benefits of choosing an heirloom engagement ring
or wedding ring is that they are unique. If you are a person who likes that
one-of-a-kind sense of style, an heirloom ring offers that. Some vintage styles, like the halo engagement ring, are back in style, but not everyone likes the vintage look. If
you’re partner isn’t keen on an heirloom ring because of its style, that can be
an issue, but it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. If the family doesn’t mind,
the ring can be broken up and made into a new ring or rings with the vintage
elements included. However, don’t assume you can reset or modify the ring
without talking with the family about it.
Another drawback occurs if more than one person wants the
ring. Again, as I just mentioned, the ring can be broken up and made into a new
ring or rings to satisfy everyone. The trick is to figure out who gets what
part of the ring(s) for resetting purposes. BUT before you decide to do this,
know that often the original setting has value that may be lost when/if you
redesign. Instead of redesigning, you might want to set up a consultation with
a jeweler to get ideas for modernizing the ring without redesigning the
setting. Just saying, once you change it, you can’t go back.
What to do with an heirloom ring
Before I finish up here, let me say that if you are the one
giving up the heirloom ring, you must realize that it no longer belongs to you.
Let it go once it is on another’s finger. With that said, if you are the one
who has received an heirloom ring you have several choices:
- Wear it. This is a great way honor the original owner of the ring.
- Put it away for a time
- Redesign it
- Share it with others by breaking it up
If the ring has no sentimental value to anyone in
the family feel free to:
- Trade it for something else
- Sell it
If you inherited the ring you have the freedom to do
what you want with it, but I suggest if other family members care about the
ring that you take their feelings into consideration if you’re thinking of
modifying it. If you do want to sell it, offer it to family members first.
In closing, let me talk to people who wish they had an heirloom ring and don’t. You can buy one you like. Learn it’s backstory and bring it into your family. It’s a great way to get the ring you want with a backstory all its own that can be added to your family history.
In closing, let me talk to people who wish they had an heirloom ring and don’t. You can buy one you like. Learn it’s backstory and bring it into your family. It’s a great way to get the ring you want with a backstory all its own that can be added to your family history.