Family traditions or stories regarding the giving and/ or receiving of jewelery

[ofraredevice]

For major events, like HS or college graduation, my siblings and I each received watches of our choice. For weddings, tennis bracelets and matching watches for the bride and groom. For professional school graduation (med/ law), a precious gemstone ring. My parents try to be as fair as possible, so with less significant gifts, (DBTY necklaces, studs, etc), we all get one. I love that even though we all have different styles, when we get together, we all kind of match.

 

[tbbbjb]

ofraredevice: How special! It sounds like you and your siblings each have a very nice jewelry collection with special occasions and memories for each piece. I never thought about getting watches for my boys to commemorate special occasions. Do you mind telling me what other jewelry pieces your brothers received, if you have any? Thanks!

 

[onegirlcreative]

Onegirlcreative - your daughter is definitely lucky to be inheriting all the pieces you have. Sounds like you have a lovely collection.

:useless: Pictures please!

thank you so much!!!

onegirlcreative: Thanks for sharing. You have such a nice collection from all your wonderful and might I add generous family members. I think when you get gifts like that with history they mean so much more and are so much more special. I hope you wear them I do have to agree with lilbluebear, I would love to see some pictures, when you get a chance!

i am more than happy to post pics, but i just didn't want to "hijack" your wonderful thread. the only pics i won't have unfortunately are my initial ring that i received for my 16th birthday. i lost it many moons ago. the charm bracelet that my aunt bought me in switzerland and my grandfather's pocket watch because they're at my parents' house in las vegas tucked away in their safe deposit box. since i don't use either item, i feel it's much safer there than in my jewelry box here.

everything else i still have.

i will post pics in a bit....

 

[onegirlcreative]

ok. i hope i don't overwhelm you all with my pics, but since the OP requested, here they are:

this is the RG bracelet from my grandfather to my grandmother. i don't wear it with my LOVE bangle, because the clasp is broken and i'm currently trying to find a jeweler who could repair it safely.

my great-grandmother's RG ring (with rubies and diamonds).

here you will see the pearl necklace my aunt gave me for my wedding, my "suzy" necklace for my 18th birthday, my ONE sapphire & diamond earring for my 21st birthday, my 18K gold sapphire earrings that belonged to my grandmother, my WG diamond star of david necklace from my grandfather to my grandmother, my grandmother's plain WG wedding band, and i found my old locket that my mother gave me when i was a little girl and i guess when i was like 5 or 6, i bit into it. you can really see the bite marks, too.

my mother's gorgeous pear e-ring that she gave me last year.

remembered this topaz & gold ring that my mother gave me last year as well. forgot to mention it.

my aunt's YG ruby & diamond band that she gave me (the pic is so yellow because it was taken at the jeweler who repaired it—it was so trashed that i had to replace several stones and he had to literally rebuild the gold where the channel settings are because they were worn down so badly. this gift cost me $1,600 in repairs..but it's worth it. i love it so much!)

my original e-ring but i had my grandmother's european cut round diamond added to the set. i love it and i receive compliments on it all the time. it's very unique and this way i have her stone with me at all times (when i'm not wearing my mother's pear, of course...)

i think that's it.

i hope i didn't overwhelm you all with my photos.

 

[tbbbjb]

WOW!!! Thanks for sharing pictures of your exquisite collection. There is no way you can overwhelm us with such beautiful pictures of your special pieces. I am really glad you decided to share the photos with us! Thanks

 

[pug*shoes]

My grandparents every year on my birthday would pick out a pearl at their jeweler, not a large one, but a nice little pearl. Then on my 18th bday I was presented with a string of 18 pearls on a gold chain. I don't wear it anymore, not really my style, but I love having it!

And I have my great grandma's wedding band, engraved with their initials and wedding date. My mom had used it when she had married my dad. She gave it to me when I was about 16.

Wonderful thread topic!

 

[shanam]

Passing on jewelry has always been a tradition in our family. When my daughter was born, my sister gave her a baby ring she will one day pass down. She will get my original ER ring when it fits because it is set in gold from a ring my father has. My sister and I both have diamond drops that my father bought the stones for when we were young. My sister (she has no children) gave her the stone from her ER ring when she got divorced. I gave my daughter my original diamond stud earrings. My mother has given us all many pieces of her jewelry. It is the sentiment that means the most to me. Someday my daughter will inherit a great deal of jewelry - I only hope she appreciates it.

 

[onegirlcreative]

WOW!!! Thanks for sharing pictures of your exquisite collection. There is no way you can overwhelm us with such beautiful pictures of your special pieces. I am really glad you decided to share the photos with us! Thanks

thank you so much!!! i'm glad you enjoyed them.

 

[solange]

Growing up, my siblings and I identified each of ourselves as one of the gold bangles my mother wore. When I married, my mother gave me "my" bangle. Before that I'd worn the diamond cut bangle trio she got when we lived in Florence, Italy when I was a baby. However, one slid off my wrist during a theatre rehearsal and instead of telling me it had happened, one of the cast/crew stole it. I was scared to wear them after that, so I returned the remaining Florentine bangles to my mom when she gave me my bridal bangle.

The yellow gold ring is my Master's degree ring from my mother. I love that it matches the bangle. The pearls are graduation pearls. I have a cool mom.

Having trouble locating more jewelry pics. Guess I'll add to my story later!

 

[bisbee]

Love this thread!

My grandmother (on my father's side) had quite a few pieces of diamond jewelry - I don't know if she ever wore them herself - I believe the story was that she bought pieces from a pawnshop owner for .25/week (that's what she told me many years ago). She had a pair of earrings with 2 stones - abt. 1 carat each. My father used one of those to put in a ring for my mother - which I believe she got when she was pregnant with my younger brother (she got a gold watch for her engagement, which unfortunately was stolen from the house when she was sick prior to her passing, but enough about that). The second matching stone was put in a pendant years later.

There was a larger ring with about a 2 carat stone, which my grandmother always told me she was saving for me (the only granddaughter). She did give me a cocktail ring with 3 small stones for my 16th birthday...and I always hoped she'd give me the larger one prior to her passing, so I could thank her for it...which she did. I had it reset later, and wore it as a replacement for my original engagement ring (still have it, but I don't wear it now, since I divorced and remarried. I may have it reset...).

I have no daughters...but when each of my sons got engaged, I gave them one of the 1 carat stones that were in that original pair of earrings...both of my daughters-in-law wear those stones in their engagement rings!

I have one granddaughter, who is 5 - I'm waiting for her to get her ears pierced (they should have done it when she was a baby, now we have to wait until she wants it done). I have several graduated pairs of diamond studs waiting for her! When she was born, I bought her a baby bracelet by John Hardy - gave it to her mother while they were still in the hospital (she was born on my birthday!). When she outgrew that one, I bought her a larger one...and at the same time, I bought the same one for myself.

Jewelry traditions can be started at any time, for any reason!

 

[JCinwrppingppr]

What a great thread!! I come from an Indian family and jewelry is a huge part of our culture and fashion. I love love love recieving jewelry hand me downs from my mom, grandmother, etc.

When my grandmother passed away, my mom let me have all her pearl jewelry. Pearls were my grandmother's favorite jewelry and I love that I can wear the same necklaces that she wore.

Also my grandmother had these GIANT diamond studs..soo sparkly and beautiful. I found them in my mom's vault and begged and begged and begged for these earrings for my 21st birthday! And i finally got them. Except I'm not really allowed to wear them unless I'm around her..my mom is WAY too terrified that I will lose something so precious. When my grandmother got married, HER father-in-law gave them to her on her wedding day. So these diamonds are very old and very precious.

My great aunt also has really big diamond pendant..It's been in our family for generations upon generations. Like its probably 80 years old. It's my mom's absolute favorite piece because it's been handed down so many times.

My dad got my mom a very unique wedding band set from South Africa..3 little rings with stones all the way around (I can't think of the name for this style)- one with diamonds, one with emeralds and one with rubies. My mom passed these down to me after my dad bought her a new ring for their 15th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately these rings are way too big and I still haven't gotten them resized but one of these days, I will!

My parents 25th anniversary is coming up...I can't wait to see what my dad will surprise her with! I love when my dad buys my mom jewelry because I know it will be mine one day...haha I am so terrible for saying that! But in all honestly I love wearing my mother's and grandmother's jewelry.

 

[frick&frack]

giving jewelry & passing it down in the family is a big thing for us.

there are 3 girls in my immediate family including me. my mom had several "traditions" for us. we each received a gold locket when we were babies. we each received our first birthstone ring when we were 10 years old. we each received a gold cross pendant necklace when we joined the church. we each had our ears pierced when we "graduated" from 8th grade (13/14 yrs old). we each received a strand of white pearls when we turned 16. we each chose a birthstone ring rather than a class ring when we graduated from high school and then again from college. my mom gave each of us a piece of her jewelry when we got married. my dad gave my mom a piece of jewelry when each of us was born which we will eventually inherit.

we also have jewelry traditions in our larger family. no jewelry goes outside of the family...so that means my brothers will not be giving their wives any of our family jewelry, but their daughters will receive some pieces. my grandma wore a strand of her mother's pearls in her wedding, my mom wore them in her wedding, & we 3 girls all wore them in our weddings too. my grandma received jewelry from her aunt & namesake who had no children. that jewelry went to her daughter (my aunt) who has the same name & also has no children, & that same jewelry will go to my sister who has the same name. my great grandmother received a yellow diamond from my great grandfather when my grandma was born. my grandma gave that ring to my mom (her oldest child), & I will inherit that ring (also the oldest child). we try to pass down birthstone jewelry to a girl with the same birthstone. if we inherit a family engagement ring, we often wear it stacked with our own engagement rings (if we have one).

 

[angelicskater16]

Im from a Taiwanese/ cantonese family and it is custom in my family to give jeweries to babies and loved ones. I have alot of gold baby bracelets/ necklaces from family and family friends. My mom has brought me diamond rings, necklace, and bracelets. I dont think thats a tradition but since im a only child my mom indulges me haha. My grandmother on my mom's side gave me a 5 diamond emerald cut diamond ring. She told me the story that when i was in elementary school i had told her how shinny it was, and she give it to me before she passed away. I only recently learned that she had promised it to her 5 children but decided to give it to me her granddaughter. I got a yg diamond bracelet from my other grandmother from my dad's side. This was the bracelet my grandfather gave to my grandmother. I told my grandma how pretty it was and she took it off and gave it to me. ^^ I have a tiny diamond ring from my grandfather which was given to me after he passed away.

 

[envyme]

90% of my family members on my mom's side have the same designed, hand-made pure silver bracelet engraved with our first name. My grandmother gave me my first one, and my mother gave me my second one.

 

[onegirlcreative]

What a great thread!! I come from an Indian family and jewelry is a huge part of our culture and fashion. I love love love recieving jewelry hand me downs from my mom, grandmother, etc.

When my grandmother passed away, my mom let me have all her pearl jewelry. Pearls were my grandmother's favorite jewelry and I love that I can wear the same necklaces that she wore.

Also my grandmother had these GIANT diamond studs..soo sparkly and beautiful. I found them in my mom's vault and begged and begged and begged for these earrings for my 21st birthday! And i finally got them. Except I'm not really allowed to wear them unless I'm around her..my mom is WAY too terrified that I will lose something so precious. When my grandmother got married, HER father-in-law gave them to her on her wedding day. So these diamonds are very old and very precious.

My great aunt also has really big diamond pendant..It's been in our family for generations upon generations. Like its probably 80 years old. It's my mom's absolute favorite piece because it's been handed down so many times.

My dad got my mom a very unique wedding band set from South Africa..3 little rings with stones all the way around (I can't think of the name for this style)- one with diamonds, one with emeralds and one with rubies. My mom passed these down to me after my dad bought her a new ring for their 15th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately these rings are way too big and I still haven't gotten them resized but one of these days, I will!

My parents 25th anniversary is coming up...I can't wait to see what my dad will surprise her with! I love when my dad buys my mom jewelry because I know it will be mine one day...haha I am so terrible for saying that! But in all honestly I love wearing my mother's and grandmother's jewelry.

sounds like eternity rings.

oh, i love the traditions of the indian culture. i bet your jewelry is just gorgeous!! and those diamond earrings sound like they're amazing. i only wish you could post pictures.

there's something about wearing jewelry that you know your family or ancestors wore. it's just incredible. like you have a piece of them with you at all times.