A New Wedding Ring (An Old Husband)

RoseandJoan

I fractured my wrist last year and as a result my wedding band, engagement ring and eternity ring no longer fit.

Unfortunately my wedding band cannot be resized due to the inlaid gold.

I'm currently wearing a lovely recycled silver band but have a desire to find something new which I love.

I'm far too attached to my original rings to sell them, I think they will eventually be passed down to the girls but I do have other jewellery which Ben has bought for me over the years which I could sell to buy a new ring.

I feel a little torn though because these pieces still mark birthdays and anniversaries over the years so are sentimental too in their own way.

So, finally, to the crux, would you be able to sell your sentimental items? Would you regard a new wedding band as important?

Thank you so much for reading this, I owe you.

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9 years ago

Off Topic

24 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Sal

Veteran

I can see why you are torn, it is tricky.

I would not sell other sentimental pieces for a new wedding band, if I still wore and loved them. I would go without for a while until I found one I loved and could afford. Wearing one is not too important to me but I am fond of the pieces I own and wear...

I have a fairly simple band and engagement ring. I love the engagement ring but would choose a different band now...but I probably won't do anything unless I am forced into it through sizing etc..

I hope I have explained myself.

9 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

You can have the old pieces made into new pieces of jewelry that fit you. My mom had her wedding band made into earrings which she gave to me, and her engagement ring is now a necklace, also gifted to me.
ETA: I'm not sure how to remake something with inlaid gold, but I'm sure a good jewelry designer can figure something out.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I "had" to get a new wedding /engagement ring set many years ago after our home was broken into and all of my jewellery stolen. I am not a terribly sentimental person in that regard and it took me all of 5 minutes to get my coat on and head to the jeweller after the insurance claim was processed. To me it made no difference whether the rings came from a cracker jack box or my husband - they were what I decided they should be, and should represent . In terms of selling jewellery though? There is absolutely zero market for the average piece of jewellery - gold, diamond or not. Unless it's something extremely valuable and costly (i.e not exactly average) the value is so low to it's not worth the effort . I only know this because I went to a few different kinds of dealers, jewellers and gold buyers with about $7 k of diamond jewellery a couple of years ago, and the most I could get for it was about $600. Seriously . I ended up putting the diamonds into a different setting altogether and created my own piece of jewelry and spent even more money doing so. Not really a great move on my part. I don't wear it.

9 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

DH and I replaced our wedding bands for our 25th anniversary. It was DH's idea! I had never removed my narrow and thin gold band, in all that time - though I was no longer wearing my engagement ring.

DH did not want a ring when we married, but changed his mind 5 years later. I had a custom silver ring made for him (his watch and professional ring are silver coloured.)

We have matching rings - wide bands of white gold bordered by yellow gold.

The old ring will be kept for sentimental reasons, but I wouldn't be against re-working the stones in my engagement ring. Like Lisa wrote, selling old jewelery isn't very cost effective. I did sell some knotted and broken gold chains and lone earings when the price of gold was good, but only got a couple hundred $.

Can you wear the sentimental ring on your other hand or on a different finger?

9 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Sally, thank you for your response, I honesty do not know why a new band is so appealing. Perhaps I am only just accepting my rings are unlikely to fit again or maybe it's that the wedding rings were the only pieces jewellery I would wear most of the time.

Stay fit, how lovely you were able to reinvent those pieces, I find that idea very touching.

I shoul add the jewellery I would consider selling has not been worn in many years.

9 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Lisa, my Sister was burgled last year and she has found no problem in replacing her old pieces. We still cannot believe the thief left an of the moment iPad and took a snoopy necklace she was given as a child instead. That is interesting about the resale value of the jewellery, I guess I would only need a couple of hundred pounds, I should be able to save the money within a couple of months at the most but would feel indulgent. Gah, perhaps I should spend the ££ on a therapist instead.

Carla, Ben and I have a little way to go before we are celebrating 25 years, our 13th is approaching, hope that's not an omen.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wouldn't be able to part with those sentimental pieces, and I have no one to pass them down to. But I DO have 4 wedding rings - and want a 5th for our 20th wedding anniversary this year (all the same glorious husband). Greg knew I would never stick to one ring, and he's MORE than okay with this arrangement.

9 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I would not be able to part with my old rings even if I could not wear them. I have my wedding ring from my first DH (he died) and both of his wedding rings (he lost his, had a new one made and then found the original). I also have all of the rings DH #1 gave me for anniversaries and all of the other jewellery he gave me. Some of it I wear and some of it sits in my jewellery box. I am passing it on to my niece, etc.
Same with my wedding ring and engagement ring from DH#2. If I couldn't wear it then I would go without or wait until I could afford a new one.
I am pretty sentimental.

9 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

I actually have 2 sets of rings given by the same husband. One set is the original set yellow gold engagement ring with gold band. The second is a sapphire and white gold.
Do not feel guilty for replacing them. They do not fit and it is I,portent to you. Hope you find something you love.

9 years ago

Anonymous

DH and I both upgraded our wedding bands about 15 years ago and I upgraded my e-ring about 10 yrs ago. Still have the originals and I have my parents wedding bands as well.

As to the jewelry I received many years ago from my parents and the jewelry I inherited from my mother and grandmother, I kept only the pieces I wear frequently and then let DD have her pick. The rest I sold at auction which reaped a great deal more than selling for gold value or to a jeweler.

9 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I have to take off my wedding ring often for work. I have a special hook in my studio for it, but I've also thought about just wearing it on a chain around my neck, because it is sentimentally very important to me and the only jewelry I wear besides silver hoops in my ears. It has no monetary value at all (the inner engraving cost more than the ring).

I think going with what your gut tells you feels most right for you is the the thing to do, but it would be interesting to see if your original ring could be remade in some way even if not re-sized. I'd also probably want to talk to my husband about it just to see if he had any sentimental feelings about the old ring or the new one, and make getting a new ring celebratory of the original union too in some way.

9 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thank you Rabbit, I guess my gut has doubts hence the post. I think I will see what the antique/ second hand jeweller would offer but feel I will be unable to part with the pieces.

I do turn 40 next year, perhaps a new ring will be in order then.

Thank you so much to everyone for your thoughtful responses. It was lovely to read your own stories.

Angie, I do remember your blog post about your multiple wedding rings, the replies were a great read.

9 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I decided today to wear Ben's Grandma's ring as a placeholder, thanks again for your help.

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9 years ago

Colette

Veteran

Grandma's ring is lovely! What a nice placeholder until you figure things out. All the women in my family run the gamut on their sentimental jewelry attachments. It's good to take your time to figure things out because of the investment involved. I don't have engagement/wedding rings but I do have several pieces of fine jewelry that have been gifted to me and a few handed down over the years that I just don't wear. I have been considering having them combined into something or things I would wear. This way I will still have the memory of the rings my parents gave me on my 16th and 21st birthdays mashed up with grandma's wedding band.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The placeholder is perfect.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

My wedding ring is a hammered gold band, and matches my husband's. I've worn it for 35 years. I guess I'm sentimental. I wouldn't think of "upgrading" unless my ring were lost, stolen or otherwise unwearable.

9 years ago

anne

Veteran

Glad you've got an interim solution Jules. I would definitely replace my wedding ring myself.

My engagement ring I have stopped wearing however, as the "diamond" fell out. After about 3 years I went to a jeweller who told me it was just cut glass (no wonder if had been so cheap!) so I decided not to bother fixing it.

9 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

LOL, Angie! Fiiiiiivvvve Goooollldeeeeen Rrrrriiiinnnngsssss!

Roseandjoanne - what a lovely placeholder!

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, the placeholder is gorgeous and perfect for you! I love the combination of angles and the pearl. It's soft yet modern. A bit Art Deco? Anyway, I love.

My husband lost his wedding band in our washer. We had purchased our rings in Israel. They were not expensive but had sentimental value so he waited to replace until he could visit the same jeweller while on a trip to see his eldest son.

I don't have an engagement ring and never did. I did wear my mother's for a while, though -- and lost the diamond! I was heartbroken and could not afford to replace it. But I may replace when I get the money to do so.

I would definitely get a ring that fits and save the older ones perhaps to rework in another way

9 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I would definitely treat myself to a ring, because a wedding ring is so special, and because you see it every day. Especially because it is what you wear the most.

You might consider if there are places/ways to wear the pieces you don't wear much now. It might involve stepping outside your comfort zone, but it could be fun to try.

About sentimental pieces, I'm a mixed bag. Some things are sentimental, others I would sell. And if something is remade I could still remember where the pieces came from.

I'm glad you found a placeholder. I would definitely keep the older one. I would ask more than one jeweler for ideas on reworking it if that interests you. I have seen some wonderful "redos".

f you want to buy a new ring you could consider consignment stores or jewelers who specialize in older jewelry. The cost can be much less than what you find elsewhere. Which is why a jeweler may buy from someone for 25% of what they paid retail, and sell it for 50% of the retail price. I have sold some non-sentimental pieces, for a sentimental piece I was advised to see if one day I will have daughters-in-law who will like them, as I wouldn't get much for them, and the stones weren't worth reworking.

If, like me, you sometimes don't spend money on yourself, I would encourage you to not wait for your birthday, to start looking, and if you find something you love, buy it, assuming it is a price that won't cause financial problems for you.

9 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I am VERY sentimental about jewelry. My wedding ring stopped fitting 4 years ago, soon after my radiation treatment for breast cancer. Then I started more treatments. I don't know if it will ever fit again. My husband has told me to sell it many times but I can't . Though I have decided to have it resized and stop waiting for the off chance it will ever fit again. Is yours resizable ? Othewise, hang on to your older ones and get yourself a new one. : )

9 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

BTW I smile every time I see the title of this post.

9 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Barbara, I was spurred on by your words. I do find it difficult to splurge on myself but after a tough year I believe I deserve the boost, I ordered an unusual ring set in sterling silver and feel very pleased with the alternative look. It's on its way across the ocean as I type this.

Poor DH turns 40 this year, not quite old by any stretch

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9 years ago

JAileen

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Very pretty! BTW, my husband IS old!

9 years ago

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