Family Jewellery - Do You Have Any

Jules

Jules

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Do you have any pieces of jewellery from your parents or grandparents? Not just the valuable things, also the little pieces that were part of their collections. Are they special to you?

I have some of my family rings and told my DDs that I’ll have them made into something special for them, even though they don’t have much financial value. I sometimes wear her plain wedding ring on my right hand.

There are a few earrings from Austria. They are of no interest to my kids. Also, there were a couple of five and dime brooches, which I regret not keeping.

I just realized I haven’t seen my mother’s cameo in years. I rather suspect it was in lost in the move to care facilities.
 

I have one square ruby ring set in white gold, that was my Mother's. It was overlooked when my house had a break-in, and all my jewellery was taken. It included my mother-in-law's wedding ring set that was more than 1 carat, and 2 gold pocket watches that were my father-in-law's.

I urge others to keep seldom worn, valuable jewellery, in a bank safe deposit box.
 
Mom had a little diamond reset in a new ring that was my Grandmas & was given to me when I graduated from high school. I gave it to my daughter when she graduated.

I have a few stud earrings from the 1920s that I need to get screw backs for so I can wear them. I also have a few old brooches that was hers along with a pearl necklace she always wore to church. I know they aren't worth anything, but it doesn't matter to me.

@Pinky. I agree with you on locking jewelry up. My SIL learned the hard way when her Mom's ring & a few other pieces were taken during a break-in. She could have locked it up in a safe my brother had bolted down to the floor, but didn't think it would ever happen.
 
No.

My sister has some odds and ends of our mother’s jewelry.

Along the same lines as this thread is the question about burying family members with their jewelry.

In my family it is the norm to bury people with their wedding rings, engagement rings, etc…

In other families it is common practice to discreetly remove them before the casket is closed.

I’m not sure what is done now that cremation is becoming more common.
 
I have two jewelry box's that were my moms. Some hand made bead things she made in them also. I remember her sitting in the kitchen stringing the beads together. She passed in 1973 when I was 12. I have been thinking about seeing if my two daughter in laws are interested in taking them. It is getting time for me to let them go. I also had my grandfathers retirement watch from the Grand Rapids Police Dept, but gave that to my son when he got out of the Marine Corps a few years ago. My grandfather retired in the early 1960's and that watch still works today.
 
My wife's and my mother's wedding sets and other jewelry that belonged to them; my dad's railroad watch and wedding ring, have all been in the bank safe deposit box for several years. I don't know what to do with them, and I can't bring myself to sell them. There is some convincing fake jewelry at home too that belonged to my wife, but if thieves take it, they're in for a sad surprise - none of it's worth much. :(
 
No jewelry on the other hand I inherited some letters from ancient ancestors which I sent to appropriate historical societies. I recall one written by a new member of a state legislature to his wife in which he describes their governor. There was another written by a son to his mother, a new arrival at a Civil War boot camp in which he expresses his delight at being given a new pair of shoes.
 
I have a lot of pieces from my grandmothers and great grandmothers which I wear all the time because once when I was 16 I left my favorite antique ring at home and our house was broken into and it was stolen. So now I enjoy my jewelry every day. It's a part of me and I'm sure it was given to me for me to enjoy. :giggle:
 
I had my grandmother's engagement ring, silver with a tiny diamond my grandfather gave her in 1916.

A few years ago, I had it sized and gave it to my niece as she didn't have any keepsakes from that great-grandmother.

Unfortunately, it was stolen along with all her jewelry when her house was burgled.

I have some other pieces, nothing expensive, from her but I don't eear them.
 
I have my grandmother's wedding ring which I had enlarged with 4 diamonds, 2 emeralds and a yellow Sapphire the setting is called a moon crater setting. I also have my grandfather's black onyx and gold dress ring which my mother wanted to give to my eldest son. I also have my grandfather's MBE medal awarded to him for his services in India, also 2 lovely silver medals for his services in the Bengal Police Force.
 
No. I have one family jewel. Well, a jewel to me. It's a game of Solitaire, with pegs.

Monetarily it's worth nothing. Literally nothing. But I recall it from my childhood, and so is very special to me. I remembered it, but I found it while going through my fathers belongings after his passing. Weirdly, he had two, identical, sets. I kept one. It communicates from happier times.

Other than that.....
 
I’m considering having the few family items that I have made into something that might be more practical for them. Just saw a brooch or cameo made into a necklace or a decoration on a belt buckle. I’ll do whatever they want. Or just let them do it.
 
While we were in Kauai, we went to the Na Hoku jewelry store. They had a beautiful circular pendant with a diamond teardrop.
We spoke to a local jeweler to describe what we wanted, and he came up with a design. To defray most of the cost, My wife donated her engagement ring from her late husband, and I contributed a heavy gold bracelet my late wife gave me. Below is the result, The large stone is over 2 carats.


Wave and Diamonds.jpg
 
I have a couple of things that were my mother's, rings. I don't want them. I have to take them down to the estate jewelry place. I don't care what I'd get for them. Anything would be fine with me. I really need to do that and get rid of them.
 
Remy said:
I have a couple of things that were my mother's, rings. I don't want them. I have to take them down to the estate jewelry place. I don't care what I'd get for them. Anything would be fine with me. I really need to do that and get rid of them.
Click to expand...

Not a good comparison in any way. But I feel compelled to share.

I had a dog. She was fantastic. She'd sleep in my arms right to the end. I had her as a puppy. I never got around to naming her, so her name remained "Puppy". Anyway, she passed, as dogs do. Age. They asked me if I wanted her ashes, and of course I said, "yes".

Biggest mistake I could have made. I look at that urn, I see ashes. She wasn't ashes. I can't throw them away, because it's her. My dog. But damn, I hate those damn ashes. They're like a curse.
 
After two world wars and actually three in Europe there was not much left to be handed down when my folks married. Mumsy got her first halfsie from me. I tied the stone into a bow of a box of chocolates and said several prayers. It worked!!!
When I had tiny and I mean tiny pearl studs made for her I poked them into the velvet bow of a box of chocolates. She did not see them and threw them out.
My father was an odd ball when it came to presents. He got her some seed pearl and emerald necklace. Long, long. It is probably a hair decoration. She has never worn it.
He also gave her a necklace with tiny turquoise flowers and pearls set in red gold. The only time I recall my father hugging me was at Munich Airport when SO and I went to the US. He slipped that necklace into my coat pocket. I offered it to Mumsy when she visited two years ago. Actually I offered her whatever she wanted. She picked a simple yellow gold box chain. She always had first choice when she was with us and SO returned from travels.
Father got her a ring to go with the necklace, English 1825-1850. We got several more and a pin of at least 2.5 inches. She gave everything away.
 
VaughanJB said:
Not a good comparison in any way. But I feel compelled to share.

I had a dog. She was fantastic. She'd sleep in my arms right to the end. I had her as a puppy. I never got around to naming her, so her name remained "Puppy". Anyway, she passed, as dogs do. Age. They asked me if I wanted her ashes, and of course I said, "yes".

Biggest mistake I could have made. I look at that urn, I see ashes. She wasn't ashes. I can't throw them away, because it's her. My dog. But damn, I hate those damn ashes. They're like a curse.
Click to expand...
VaughanJB - In honour of your lovely dog, why don't you bury the ashes in the yard and plant your favourite flowering plant over them?.
 
Oh! Yes..All my Mother's
My Dad, being, as generous as he was, always have her...
 

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