Featured Looking for ideas and opinions on what to do with inherited jewelery!

The thread about the smoky quartz jewelery reminded me that I have done nothing with my Mom's jewelery that I inherited when she passed away in 2015. Did I mention that I'm a procrastinator?

I will post a few photos later on today, but I need some ideas and suggestions otherwise, it will be my kids who will figure out what to do. I offered my daughter a choice and she took a ring. My son is not interested. My sister-in-law has already received some jewelery of my Mom's. Specifically, what to do with her wedding band and engagement ring. I have my own and don't want to look like those old ladies who sport several rings on every finger, LOL. But those pieces? Seems weird to leave them sitting in the box, but weird to alter them. Dilemmas, dilemmas!

Thanks, Joolies!!

 

my mom had her engagement ring , turned into a cocktail ring....and continued to wear it for occasions.
I used her wedding band, for my 2nd wife's wedding band.....it was a big hit !!!!
Keep the piece that reminds u of her.......sell off the rest !

 

I am interested in this thread so I will read and learn. I have both my maternal grandmother's jewelry and some of my mother's jewelry.
Not sure I want to let it go, but I would like to hear the ideas and input here.

 

My mother had my grandparents' wedding bands made into a ring set with an Australian opal.

 

I understand that...... @pearlsnblume
What I have left of my folks jewels and watches.....while not a kings ransom....would make me thousands.
I've given....and she gave , several items to close family members.......but they ain't close to me anymore........cept my daughter....who would throw the stuff I a box...or sell it off.....like I'm doing.

It's a shame the the one brooch I wanted from mom.....was stolen by a heroic caregiver........if I had it...the rest would be gone by now....

I wear one of my Dads watches, and alternate between moms gold chain, and his gold chain and Star of David.
The rest sits......but....I think this fall will be a good time to find a high end jewelry store......and offload what I don't use or need to keep !

 

My folks jewelry brings back lots of nice memories.....but but most sits in a box that I bring out to fiddle with ....just like I did when I was a kid.......
so that's a nice memory too........

but my recent costs are going thru the roof........ and the items are just money...sitting there !!!

 

Thanks Komo.
I am not a jewelry wearer. I only wear a necklace my dad gave me many years ago and my earrings. Don't wear rings but I do need to get a watch as I am old school and like to know the time from my wrist.

My younger brother took quite a bit of my mother's jewelry after my father passed on as my dad kept it. He also took all of my father's jewelry as well. I do have some of my mother's jewelry here but much more of my grandmothers and perhaps my grandfathers watch.
I agree when I look at my family jewelry, most of it reminds me of days gone by, so it is sad and sentimental.

 

being an only child....had advantages.....as well as disadvantages

 

I took my wedding band, my husband's, and both of my parent's bands and had a jeweler join them together and make one wide band. I wear it on special occasions. The jeweler kept the engravings inside. Neither my husband nor my Dad wore their wedding bands because of their work and my mother's was worn thin. I would be thrilled if one day, my daughter will wear it.

 

My mom took her wedding ring and engagement ring and had them made into a ring. They were so ragged from her wearing them for 45 years that no one realy wanted them. My dad was not a jewelry wearer,but later in his life he bought a few rings wich I inherited.They were stolen when we were burglarized and the only 1 I still have is his favorite,wich I happened to put on that day . I never wore jewelry at work but Im forever grateful I did that day. Mother has passed on her really good stuff (the burglars took her jewelry box,but left the silver box with all her good stuff in it sitting right there !) so except for a few remaining pieces I dont have to sweat it. My mother has tiny fingers,but even she cant wear my grandmothers stuff who's fingers were even tinier!

 

There was a lot of jewelry left to us when my mother passed (I am one of nine). I took photos of each piece, made a PDF showing the pictures and listing the estate appraisal. The lawyer sent it to all siblings, we all made our requests and that was how it was distributed. I still have the pieces I chose and wear them sometimes.

I have since inherited jewelry from one of my sisters. Some I kept, the rest I am in the process of selling. The pieces I am selling I never saw her wear so it is easy to let it go.

 

What a great thread! I am one of 3 & the youngest & I was the first married my grandmother who is long gone have me a huge box before she passed, she was the eldest of 11, many aunts gave me boxes & boxes some costume some real. I had an uncle who gave me a box as well. It sits & sits I take it out I start to sort I put it back. I am very grateful as the pieces I have posted I learned so much. So thank you to everyone on the forum for always being kind & so very generous with your knowledge.

 

I recently took a portion of the jewelry I no longer wear to my daughter's home. It was mostly inexpensive costume type jewelry that I amassed over the last 35 years, but a few nice cameos and rings. I used to wear the jewelry to work when dressing up for work was still the thing to do. She went through it and took what she wanted. A lot of the pieces she said remembered me wearing when she was a child.

Then she invited her friends over and they went through what was left. To her two closest friends, I gifted each a gold gem-set ring. They were so surprised and appreciative. They don't have the $ to spend on a nice ring. These 20-something girls were so happy to get the jewelry, even though it was costume and had minimal value. Most of it is now gone. The rest is going to the local charity shop.

 

My family engagement rings and such are now mostly with my sister. She has the safe deposit box and my niece is the only grandchild anyway. And it's not like I've worn any of it in 30+ years, although I did a few times in high school. Giving it away or selling it would be a problem, but handing it all off to my sister was a no-brainer.

 

Do the gals value family jewelry more than the lads........I wonder ?

You've heard the theatre of what I went thru to find my Dads lost Israeli Eilat stone ring.
He wore it every day......It said ' Him ' !!
I had to have it.
Now it sits in my drawer....a cherished family item.
I wear some of his jewelry, but that I only pull out to gaze at....and remember !

 

I think in a lot of cases women value the history behind the pieces more than guys generally do, unless it was someone's gamer.

 

Finally got around to photographing my inherited jewelry. I know my mom did not like the charm bracelet and most if not all is gold. The emerald ring has an odd setting because the gem actually cracked in half. Thieves stole a few rings but left the emerald one so I guess they thought it was fake! Anyway, you see my dilemma!

 

Very nice. I like the charm bracelet. I have one of my own that has only one charm.
And I like the heart one too.

 

funny....I git back all the NWC jewelry that I had sold to Mom over the years....it was actually in her will .....

 

The brooch (can also be a pendant) is signed and I forget who. It's the nicest piece.