I just posted a thread in regards to purchasing a piece of jewelery to commemorate my DD 1st birthday. This was a tradition that I wanted to start in our family. As I was reading the response to my thread/ poll I was intrigued by the different traditions of jewelery gifts that people had given or were given and I thought, WOW, this would make for a great thread. So, please post your or your family's traditions or stories regarding jewelery. Are they given at age milestones, academic achievements, life milestones, etc.
Family traditions or stories regarding the giving and/ or receiving of jewelery
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Ok, if you insist 
I will go first to get us started. My daughter's grandmother gave her a gold id bracelet engraved with her name when she was born. That was a family tradition started by my grandmother or possibly my great grandmother.
I gave my much younger sister a sterling silver classic style bangle with engraving on the inside (so my message remains between us or whoever she chooses to share it with while the outside remains classically unadorned).
I think I received my first string of pearls for either my sweet sixteen or my high school graduation.
My DH had my much younger sister put a pair of Mikimoto Pearl earrings on the pillow next to mine on the morning of our wedding so that I would see them as well as a sweet note from him right when I woke-up.
This next one is not really jewelry, but I did buy it at a jewelery store so I am going to count it, another tradition I started was purchasing Tiffany silver feeding spoons (just love that classic design and the spoon themselves are awesome by the way as they have a super long handle and a great edge on the spoon to wipe the food that comes out) and barbell rattles (the rattle is also such a classic and the sound it makes is a really nice sound) for each of my children before they were born. I have the spoons engraved, but asked them to leave the scratch marks in because they are a part of the spoon's history.
I will go first to get us started. My daughter's grandmother gave her a gold id bracelet engraved with her name when she was born. That was a family tradition started by my grandmother or possibly my great grandmother. I gave my much younger sister a sterling silver classic style bangle with engraving on the inside (so my message remains between us or whoever she chooses to share it with while the outside remains classically unadorned).
I think I received my first string of pearls for either my sweet sixteen or my high school graduation.
My DH had my much younger sister put a pair of Mikimoto Pearl earrings on the pillow next to mine on the morning of our wedding so that I would see them as well as a sweet note from him right when I woke-up.
This next one is not really jewelry, but I did buy it at a jewelery store so I am going to count it, another tradition I started was purchasing Tiffany silver feeding spoons (just love that classic design and the spoon themselves are awesome by the way as they have a super long handle and a great edge on the spoon to wipe the food that comes out) and barbell rattles (the rattle is also such a classic and the sound it makes is a really nice sound) for each of my children before they were born. I have the spoons engraved, but asked them to leave the scratch marks in because they are a part of the spoon's history.
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I got baby gold rings and bracelets when I turned one from family and relatives.
Only wore them once when I first got them and posed for photos.
My parents locked them in safe after since.
I will probably pass down to my kids though.
Have them pose for photos then lock them in safe again. Haha
And when I turned 16...
I got a Gucci diamond watch from my dad and small diamond ring(0.3 carat) from my mom.
After I graduated from college and got my first job, my mom bought me a set of ruby jewelries including pedant, ruby studs and a small ruby diamond ring.
Last year, grandma gave me her 1 carat diamond ring my parents got her 30 years ago.
But I am not sure if those were traditions of my family??!
Only wore them once when I first got them and posed for photos.
My parents locked them in safe after since.
I will probably pass down to my kids though.
Have them pose for photos then lock them in safe again. Haha
And when I turned 16...
I got a Gucci diamond watch from my dad and small diamond ring(0.3 carat) from my mom.
After I graduated from college and got my first job, my mom bought me a set of ruby jewelries including pedant, ruby studs and a small ruby diamond ring.
Last year, grandma gave me her 1 carat diamond ring my parents got her 30 years ago.
But I am not sure if those were traditions of my family??!
My Mother bought me a 0.2+ Ct Diamond pendant when I turned 21.
I later combined this Diamond solitaire with the loose Diamonds I extracted from another Diamond Ring given to me by my MIL after I got married...I call the Ring my "Initials Ring" because I had it fashioned after my husband and my initials. The Ring makes us both smile everytime I wear it.
Then, for my wedding, my mother bought me a pair of Diamond Chandeliers to wear with my Wedding Dress, and my MIL gave me a Jade and Rose Gold Earring/Ring Set to wear with my evening gown on my big day.
I love these...and I will always treasure them....I hope to pass them to my daughter one day when she grows up and learns to appreciate these pieces the way I do.
I later combined this Diamond solitaire with the loose Diamonds I extracted from another Diamond Ring given to me by my MIL after I got married...I call the Ring my "Initials Ring" because I had it fashioned after my husband and my initials. The Ring makes us both smile everytime I wear it.
Then, for my wedding, my mother bought me a pair of Diamond Chandeliers to wear with my Wedding Dress, and my MIL gave me a Jade and Rose Gold Earring/Ring Set to wear with my evening gown on my big day.
I love these...and I will always treasure them....I hope to pass them to my daughter one day when she grows up and learns to appreciate these pieces the way I do.
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We don't really have such a thing, which kind of sucks. I got my ears pierced for my 8th bday and got an emerald ring for my graduation from 8th grade but I didn't really get much in the way of real jewelry til I was old enough to either buy it for myself or a boyfriend got it for me. My first really good jewelry was from my husband.
Aside from my GrandMother leaving me some jewelry my family hasn't done this, not in the way as a "tradition".
I will be starting this w/ my own DD though
I wish someone had been able to give me sentimental pieces, so I've planned a few for my DD.
When she was born my DH gave me diamond studs and I will give them to her one day, etc. . .
I will be starting this w/ my own DD though
I wish someone had been able to give me sentimental pieces, so I've planned a few for my DD.
When she was born my DH gave me diamond studs and I will give them to her one day, etc. . .
A few things I received as a baby: 24 k gold cross when I was christened, and a 24 k gold id tag for 1st birthday, both of them I sold later on because the tag didn't fit me anymore and I don't wear crosses, plus they don't match my style.
A pair of emerald and diamond flower studs with yellow and white gold when I finished elementary school. http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewe...did-you-wear-today-617919-4.html#post16392097
This http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewelry-box/very-special-pearl-necklace-397751.html from my grand mother that I love dearly.
This http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewelry-box/jewelry-box-in-action-170693-40.html#post16294421 as an engagement present from PIL.
This http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewelry-box/anyone-wear-a-pinky-ring-96776-3.html#post8978598 from my god mother when I graduated HS.
I don't remember anything else right now.
A pair of emerald and diamond flower studs with yellow and white gold when I finished elementary school. http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewe...did-you-wear-today-617919-4.html#post16392097
This http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewelry-box/very-special-pearl-necklace-397751.html from my grand mother that I love dearly.
This http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewelry-box/jewelry-box-in-action-170693-40.html#post16294421 as an engagement present from PIL.
This http://forum.purseblog.com/the-jewelry-box/anyone-wear-a-pinky-ring-96776-3.html#post8978598 from my god mother when I graduated HS.
I don't remember anything else right now.
Weall got our ears pierced at 3 months and rose gold earrings put in. Also we got our first pair of silver bangles (not sterling, but 980 pure--sterling is only 925) at the same age.
We continued to be given silver bangles (now they have gone down to 925 and are a lot stiffer and now they tarnish) on significant occassions in our lives, like 16th birthday.
When the older women get around 75 or 80 they give their jewelry away usually to granddaughters rather than daughters.
Someone will usually wear jewelry first before they give it to you, they won't give it new, because if they wore it, it has something of their essence and you will feel their love and remember them.
Silver bangles are supposed to discolor on you when you are feeling sick. Never happened to me though.
We continued to be given silver bangles (now they have gone down to 925 and are a lot stiffer and now they tarnish) on significant occassions in our lives, like 16th birthday.
When the older women get around 75 or 80 they give their jewelry away usually to granddaughters rather than daughters.
Someone will usually wear jewelry first before they give it to you, they won't give it new, because if they wore it, it has something of their essence and you will feel their love and remember them.
Silver bangles are supposed to discolor on you when you are feeling sick. Never happened to me though.
I am *loving* hearing everyone's stories, they are all so different and special! Let's keep the sharing going.
AME and SWANKY: It is never to late to start your own traditions now
Although, I think certain Birthdays and Anniversaries can/ should also be commemorated. I working on my husband for that one
Wish me luck!!
AME and SWANKY: It is never to late to start your own traditions now
Although, I think certain Birthdays and Anniversaries can/ should also be commemorated. I working on my husband for that one
Wish me luck!!black jade: Your traditions are so unique and I love that jewelry that is given was to be worn so that you get the essence and love of that person. May I ask what country you are from? Because, it sounds like a tradition that is quite old. I am very intrigued!
Thanks! I have never seen that used before. What a nice gift to welcome you into their family. I have 2 boys and 1 girl, I will make a mental note to do something like that for my future DILs. I love the sentiment and gesture!!Parents In Law