Inherited jewelry -- what to do with it?

[HauteMama]

I am partial to charm bracelets, as they are so incredibly personal and can often tell the story of someone's life. I would definitely not sell that bracelet, and I would try to find out from other family members when, where or for what occasion she bought each charm. Record that and keep it with the bracelet, and it could mean the world to those it is passed down to.

If your daughter thinks they are valuable from a sentimental standpoint, I would keep them as-is. While this was none of my business, my mother had her wedding stones reset after my father died. She still wears the new ring on the ring finger of her left hand, but I really, really valued the original set. I was elated to find out that she kept the setting and just reset the stones. Again, the set isn't even mine, but it means a lot to me. So I can see your daughter's POV.

 

[Wildflower]

Thanks for the replies everybody - I really do appreciate it! There is absolutely no burning desire to sell anything now -- I can wait on it and will do just that. My daughter is 18 now. I think I'm going to put the bracelet in the box with the other stuff waiting for her.

The charm bracelet was important to my mom and each charm on there did mark an occasion in her life. Most of them were from my father. He gave her so much jewelry it is overwhelming sometimes. Sometimes...

I'm guess I'm not a super sentimental person... I have kept dozens of other items that were also from my father to her -- as well as jewelry she had as a child and jewelry that belonged to my grandmother and great grandmother. Including all three of their SS childhood charm bracelets. They're pretty cool.

I also have all 9 of my mom's wedding rings. Yep - I mean "all" of them! She and my dad eloped and her original wedding ring was a plain white gold band. She always wanted fabulous and BLING and was constantly changing her wedding band. LOL! She had one encrusted with diamonds and rubies that was specially made for her and it's incredible. Diamonds were her birthstone and she took advantage of that a LOT. haha!

She never had a diamond engagement ring and the last thing my dad bought her before he died for her 50th birthday was a 3.25 carat solitaire. He died shortly after that and she took it off and never wore it again. That's also in the box that I'll give to my daughter one day.

 

[Wildflower]

I am partial to charm bracelets, as they are so incredibly personal and can often tell the story of someone's life. I would definitely not sell that bracelet, and I would try to find out from other family members when, where or for what occasion she bought each charm. Record that and keep it with the bracelet, and it could mean the world to those it is passed down to.

This is a very good idea and just wanted to emphasize it.

My mom DID do this with all of her jewelry -- a photo of each and every item in a book and the details on the purchase or gift. Some of them still have the receipts.

She didn't record the story on the charms though but I know each and every story as I heard them all over and over. My favorite is the little rickshaw charm -- when my parents were on vacation in Hong Kong one time, my mom got into a big argument with the rickshaw driver. A few weeks later at Christmas, the little rickshaw charm was in her Christmas stocking in the morning.

 

[frick&frack]

I'm glad you're going to keep the sentimental pieces...I'd do the same. I have jewelry from my mother/grandma/great grandmother that I didn't necessarily like at the time, but I love now. you may even change your mind about them at some time. they are irreplaceable.

 

[Bitten]

With inherited jewellery, it's often not so much about wearing it, but more about having it to remind you of someone. It's like photographs - it's a mark of the person and tells a story of them. I would definitely keep it, I have a number of pieces from my grandmother and while I don't wear a lot of them, I still love the fact that I have tangible reminders of her.

 

[Stophle]

I can completely understand where you're coming from, not wanting to hang onto things you won't use and just letting them take up space. I have struggled with hanging onto things that belonged to my grandparents, just because they belonged to them. It felt wrong, somehow, to give them away, even if I wasn't ever going to use them.

I realized that giving away items doesn't diminish the memories I have of them. I keep the pieces that mean something to me and that I can use, then I give the rest to charity (it makes me feel less guilty if it's going to a good cause!).

That being said, if these two pieces were very important to your mother then I would keep them. It's a far cry from giving away a set of glasses she may have used or silverware, etc. I think the fact that they meant so much to her will make them valuable to your family down the line. Just think about when your daughter has a daughter, and then she has a daughter, and so on. The further removed each generation is, the more important things like this become. These days we don't often have heirlooms to pass down through generations and it makes me sad. I would LOVE to have pieces of jewelry that belonged to my grandmother's mother, for example. Especially if, not only did she own them, but they were her favorite pieces. It makes them even more special.

 

[Chanel Angel]

i would keep them in my jewelry box and treasure them.

 

[jordanjordan]

I am having the same kind of dilemma right now.

My grandmother died years ago and right before that she gave me a diamond tennis bracelet that was hers that I will never ever wear. My dad got a bunch of jewelry from her estate and when he died last year I got it all. It includes a brooch, a few rings, etc., all of which are pieces I will never wear as they are yellow gold and I don't wear rings.

I was not close at all with my grandmother and barely knew her, so these pieces really have no sentimental value to me and I am tempted to sell them or reset them. I am not going to be having children so I don't really have anyone to pass the stuff down to, so I am leaning towards resetting or selling to buy something I'd enjoy and maybe keeping the one piece I like the most. Any thoughts!?

Sorry to hijack OP, I think a lot of people go through this dilemma though.

I agree that if your daughter is young she may change her mind. When I was 16 I couldn't have cared less but now I do somewhat appreciate the value of an heirloom (though I still think it has to be an heirloom you actually like).

 

[Stophle]

I am having the same kind of dilemma right now.

My grandmother died years ago and right before that she gave me a diamond tennis bracelet that was hers that I will never ever wear. My dad got a bunch of jewelry from her estate and when he died last year I got it all. It includes a brooch, a few rings, etc., all of which are pieces I will never wear as they are yellow gold and I don't wear rings.

I was not close at all with my grandmother and barely knew her, so these pieces really have no sentimental value to me and I am tempted to sell them or reset them. I am not going to be having children so I don't really have anyone to pass the stuff down to, so I am leaning towards resetting or selling to buy something I'd enjoy and maybe keeping the one piece I like the most. Any thoughts!?

Sorry to hijack OP, I think a lot of people go through this dilemma though.

I agree that if your daughter is young she may change her mind. When I was 16 I couldn't have cared less but now I do somewhat appreciate the value of an heirloom (though I still think it has to be an heirloom you actually like).

I think if you weren't close with her and don't have any fond memories or sentiment about her then it's pointless to let all of that jewelry go to waste, especially if you don't think you'll be having any children.

Maybe hang onto a couple of pieces, just in case, then have the others reset. At least the diamonds will still have been hers.

I think as women, we get so hung up on feelings and memories and wanting to do what's "right", but you can't make yourself feel things you don't. If she really was someone you barely knew, then hanging onto all of her items is pointless, especially if you don't even like them.

 

[Lapis]

I think you are doing the right thing.
My mom has passed along pieces to me that I really didn't like/wouldn't wear 10 years ago, now at 30 plus I do pull them out from time to time
I did reset a couple pieces, my grand's wedding rings and my mom's wedding rings and the pieces they went into was based on their histories.

Jordan in your case if you are an only child or your siblings got what they want I'd reset or sell.