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

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#61
remainsilly said:
My grandparents immigrated to US. Watch was brought then.
Yes, good idea to find relative.
Could be fun to research.:tup:
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A DNA test? Why not? "Dear Mr. XYZ, According to a DNA test you are my 52nd step-cousin, twice removed. I am writing to you because I want you to take this family-heirloom watch off my hands. It no longer runs, however I'm sure you will find it quite pleasant to hang on the wall...." :biggrin:
 
#62
Yesterday, the whole family clan came together to celebrated my mother's 87th birthday. At the end of the evening, she gathered my sister, sister in law, my last living female 1st cousin & her daughter together to pass on a few of her rings. She doesn't wear rings anymore because her hands & knuckles are riddled with arthritis. She gave my sister (the oldest) her mother's engagement ring (it's over a carat), her father's 18k wedding ring, & my father's military ring for her 2 sons. She gave my SIL a 1 carat diamond solitaire ring from the 40's that belonged to her aunt, my father's wedding ring for her son, & an opal ring her father gave her when she was a teenager for her daughter. She gave my cousin another diamond solitaire that had belonged to one of our aunts & gave her daughter a small ruby ring that belonged to her mother. She gave me a diamond solitaire that belonged to her sister (my favorite aunt) & the ruby ring my father gave her for Christmas in the early 80's. She still has an opal band ring in rose gold from the early 1900's that belong to one of my great aunts, her wedding set from my father, the wedding set from her second marriage, & 2 diamond rings that were given to her by her sister. She said she wanted to hold on to those a while longer. She also has a diamond cluster pendant her sister gave her on a heavy gold chain that she still wears from time to time. These items have been kept in the bank for decades. I'm hoping to get to my jewelers on Monday to have them cleaned & the settings checked. Neither rings fit since my mother's hands have always been smaller than mine. I'm not sure if I want to keep the diamond in the ring or have it reset into something else as I don't particularly care for the setting it's in. My aunt had it reset from it's original setting sometime in the 50's. I'm going to take some time to think on that.
 
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#63
cdtracing said:
Yesterday, the whole family clan came together to celebrated my mother's 87th birthday. At the end of the evening, she gathered my sister, sister in law, my last living female 1st cousin & her daughter together to pass on a few of her rings. She doesn't wear rings anymore because her hands & knuckles are riddled with arthritis. She gave my sister (the oldest) her mother's engagement ring (it's over a carat), her father's 18k wedding ring, & my father's military ring for her 2 sons. She gave my SIL a 1 carat diamond solitaire ring from the 40's that belonged to her aunt, my father's wedding ring for her son, & an opal ring her father gave her when she was a teenager for her daughter. She gave my cousin another diamond solitaire that had belonged to one of our aunts & gave her daughter a small ruby ring that belonged to her mother. She gave me a diamond solitaire that belonged to her sister (my favorite aunt) & the ruby ring my father gave her for Christmas in the early 80's. She still has an opal band ring in rose gold from the early 1900's that belong to one of my great aunts, her wedding set from my father, the wedding set from her second marriage, & 2 diamond rings that were given to her by her sister. She said she wanted to hold on to those a while longer. She also has a diamond cluster pendant her sister gave her on a heavy gold chain that she still wears from time to time. These items have been kept in the bank for decades. I'm hoping to get to my jewelers on Monday to have them cleaned & the settings checked. Neither rings fit since my mother's hands have always been smaller than mine. I'm not sure if I want to keep the diamond in the ring or have it reset into something else as I don't particularly care for the setting it's in. My aunt had it reset from it's original setting sometime in the 50's. I'm going to take some time to think on that.
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That's wonderful! I love to hear stories about women giving their jewelry to their loved ones because I hear so many stories of jewelry not going to designated heirs after death. Just heard one the other day that broke my heart.

I think you should have the diamond re-set into something you'll wear frequently and which will remind you of your aunt. On older rings the prongs are often worn-down and can't be replaced. And if you don't like the style you'll be less apt to wear the ring.

My mom's knuckles are swollen with arthritis but somehow she still manages to get her rings off and on, although the arthritis is so bad she can barely dress herself. Arthritis is a horrible, ghastly thing.

Thank you for the story! So glad to hear your mom's jewelry went to the loved ones intended!
 
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#65
My mother passed recently. From her collection, each of her three daughters chose one or two things--we really didn't want more, as our tastes are quite different. I've found this true after every family loss: the living want a few things to cherish their departed loved one with, but most of what we gather over a lifetime (be it jewelry, clothes, household items, etc) will be disposed of. The jewelry no one chose we sold and made a nice donation to the Humane Society, which she would have loved!
 
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#66
BigPurseSue said:
That's wonderful! I love to hear stories about women giving their jewelry to their loved ones because I hear so many stories of jewelry not going to designated heirs after death. Just heard one the other day that broke my heart.

I think you should have the diamond re-set into something you'll wear frequently and which will remind you of your aunt. On older rings the prongs are often worn-down and can't be replaced. And if you don't like the style you'll be less apt to wear the ring.

My mom's knuckles are swollen with arthritis but somehow she still manages to get her rings off and on, although the arthritis is so bad she can barely dress herself. Arthritis is a horrible, ghastly thing.

Thank you for the story! So glad to hear your mom's jewelry went to the loved ones intended!
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I probably will have it reset. The prongs are still in good shape, it's the setting I don't care for....round diamond set in a plain square mount...typical of the 50's. I may have it set into a necklace or another ring mount. I could wear it now but I would have to have the shank replaced & sized for my finger. My aunt was very petite like my mom. Family jewelry will be passed down & kept in the family. Other jewelry she acquired that does not have sentimental value will be sold unless a family member wants it. Her biggest heirlooms are her Mikimoto's but they will pass to my sister, the eldest, to be passed on to her grandaughter, when she is old enough to appreciate them.
 
#68
suchi said:
I had my daughter on 10th Oct. I am planning to get a plain gold band with mine, DH's and her name inscribed in it. I plan to pass it on to her on her 16th b'day.
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This is a wonderful sentiment. I love the idea of an engraved band with all your names inscribed. That's a perfect 16th birthday present! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. I wish I had been blessed with a daughter but, it was not to be. There's going to be a lot of jewelry to dispose of when the time comes, unless one of my sons gets married & gives me a grandaughter! :smile:
 
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#70
cdtracing said:
I probably will have it reset. The prongs are still in good shape, it's the setting I don't care for....round diamond set in a plain square mount...typical of the 50's. I may have it set into a necklace or another ring mount. I could wear it now but I would have to have the shank replaced & sized for my finger. My aunt was very petite like my mom.
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Replacing a shank is rarely a good idea. I have fellow TPFers to thank for this bit of advice when I was contemplating how to repair my engagement ring. I got quotes and at $360-$400 it didn't make sense. Better to put that towards a new setting. I think you'll be happiest if you have the stone re-set into a piece of jewelry you'll love and will wear a whole lot.
 
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#71
Joule said:
Congratulations, suchi! Very, very happy for you. Wishing your family so much joy.
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BigPurseSue said:
Congratulations Suchi! :hbeat:
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cdtracing said:
This is a wonderful sentiment. I love the idea of an engraved band with all your names inscribed. That's a perfect 16th birthday present! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. I wish I had been blessed with a daughter but, it was not to be. There's going to be a lot of jewelry to dispose of when the time comes, unless one of my sons gets married & gives me a grandaughter! :smile:
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Thanks Joule, Cdtracing, BigPurseSue :heart::heart::heart:. She surely is a blessing after several miscarriages and a high risk pregnancy.
 
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#72
It is a tradition in my family/cultural background (Korean) to give gold to babies when they are born/turn 1 (can't remember which) so I received a lot of 24k gold baby rings, bracelets, necklaces, and 2 solid gold pigs

When I was in 5th grade I received my mother's gold wedding band (I absolutely adored the ring and the design of the band and was always trying it on beforehand) - and eventually she gave it to me (my mom and dad are divorced, I also have both of my dad's gold wedding bands..he had a plain gold one and a more ornate gold one.) Luckily my mother and I both have the same finger size and my finger size (small 3¾ - 4) has stayed the same even as I've entered my college years~

My grandma on my father's side has given me a lot of jewelry when I was little such as several gold earrings, and a lovely 18k gold, pearl + tiny diamond necklace which I currently wear every day

For Christmas in 8th grade my mom gave me her emerald ring with diamonds

My grandma on my mother's side has also told me of her intention to give me her diamond sapphire ring and omega watch (both of which were actually previously my mom's before she gave them to her)

I'm a sentimental person so I really love receiving items which my mother and/or grandmother have previously owned
 
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#73
Why did this thread make me cry[emoji22][emoji22] perhaps because have some jewelry that was passed down to me from my Great - Mother who I miss so much. I was blessed to inherit a beautiful gold watch and 2.0 Carat Diamond Engagement ring. I usually wear the jewelry on her ( Nellie ) birthday... One day, i will pass it on to my only daughter. I hope that she will love and cherish the pieces as much as I do and did.
 
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#74
While I love a piece of jewelry with family history or strong sentiment I think sometimes it becomes so heavy that the item becomes too sacred to wear. I was given a beautiful ring of which I'm the fourth owner but the first person to actually wear it. The ring was purchased as sixteenth birthday present for my great aunt who died a few weeks later. The ring passed to my grandmother, who never wore it because of it's link to the tragic loss of her sister. When my mother got it she never dared wear it because of the weight of history her mother attached to it. My mother gave it to me because she knew I had no links to an event so far in the past and would finally release the ring from it's back of the lingerie drawer prison.
 
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