For wives: "Upgrading" engagement ring diamond

[msmickminn]

Like most of the PP, I didn't want anyting other that my original set. However, for my 25th anniversary, my DH wanted to get me something special. We did a lot of shopping around and decided on a ring guard or enhancer as they are now called. It turned out lovely.

 

[tar heel]

We keep diamonds in the family! My in-laws were very creative with jewelry. My engagement ring's diamond was from a ring owned by a late relative of DH's, and he had it reset into a modern Tiffany setting. We chose our wedding bands together. A couple years after we got married, my in-laws gave me a diamond "guard ring" that was made of small diamonds from a ring owned by DH's grandmother. My MIL had the large diamond from that ring reset into a solitaire at the same time.I had my engagement ring reset a few years ago b/c it needed to be resized -- hard to believe that sucker was a 5!

Last summer, I inherited my MIL's engagement ring and her MIL's diamond I mentioned above which MIL wore all the time. The latter had been reset and my MIL's ring is in the original setting chosen by my FIL. One of my sons has a long-term girlfriend whom he plans to eventually marry. My MIL loved her, and I will probably give one of the three rings (my engagement ring, MIL's ring, GMIL's ring) to him when the time comes because I think she would approve, but it is going to be hard to choose which one! Needless to say, they all have great sentimental value. My MIL apparently chose me to receive the rings b/c she knew I would cherish them b/c they were hers rather than that they were valuable.

My dad gave my mom a new ring for their 25th and had her small diamond made into a necklace.

I also have other heirloom jewelry from my MIL. For example, her parents gave her a jade bracelet they bought in china when she was a teen. She had the stones remade into pendants for herself and her daughters-in-law.

 

[pearlieq]

DH couldn't afford a ring when he proposed, so his mother gave me her original ring set to stand in. It was from the Sears catalog and has the teeniest diamonds in it.

Later, as DH became more successful, he went out and bought a new, big diamond for me. It was really important to him to do it, but I honestly miss my old set.

 

[Pakey]

I am not sentimental and hated the first ring with a passion anyway. Last year I designed my own, picked out my own stone, etc. I figured after 25 years of marriage, I should be able to look down at my hand and love what I see perched there.

I did not trade in the first ring but I don't even know where it is. I hated it so much that I quit wearing it after about 12 years when I confessed to my husband that I didn't like it.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would in a heartbeat.

You see, I have a problem. I can still lift my wedding ring hand.

In all seriousness, yes. I would gladly trade up.

About 30 days after our wedding, I was robbed at gunpoint and my real wedding ring and engagement ring were taken from me. Even though the set we got weeks after the robbery is an identical setting with a larger stone, it isn't the ring I married so I have no problems trading.

Even so, had I not been robbed, Husband liked the idea of trading up and we probably would have traded up anyway.

 

[antmaril]

My late husband bought me a new ring for our 25th wedding anniversary (just about 10 years ago). We didn't trade in the original diamond and setting (I still have it, of course), he just bought me a new bigger (1.5 carats) and better (platinum) ring!

Of course, since I lost him less than a year ago, I cherish both of these rings very much.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Sure did upgrade, and don't regret it one bit!!!

We kept the original setting, but upgraded the stone substantially. I didn't have anything I really wanted to do with the old stone, so we traded it in.

I'm sentimental about keeping my husband. The jewelry- not so much.

Me too!!!

 

[bicker]

I upgraded my wife's ring at 10 years. Neither of us had a concern about it. Things have significance we choose to ascribe to them. We fully control the significance, and therefore we can fully control our ability to transfer the significance.

 

[mumom95]

I know we have a wide variety of people on this board, so I thought I'd ask. When DH and I got my engagement ring, the jeweler talked about "upgrading" to a larger stone in the future and how much of a "trade-in" we'd get as the years went by on the stone we selected.

Now, there is sentimentality attached to the stone and I was wondering if any wives have traded in their engagement diamonds for a larger diamond some time after the marriage. I imagine that keeping the ring itself and the setting and just getting a larger stone would be able to keep some of the sentimentality, but I am not sure how I feel about it. We're talking about getting a larger diamond for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Anyone here care to share thoughts on this?

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

My DH surprised me this past Christmas with a new "engagement" ring. It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen. We got engaged 14 years ago (been married for 12 years), when we were both still in college. My ring was nice, 1/2 carat marquise cut, but not as nice as he would have wanted to get me if he had the money, so this Christmas he surprised me with a new one.

We aren't going to trade in the old one, I'm going to have the diamond reset into a necklace. I figured this was I can still pass on the sentimental value to my kids someday in a more practical way.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We didn't have rings when we got married (at the courthouse). I did get a ring later, which I grew to not like. It was a marquis cut that was like a switchblade.

I would like a new ring for our 20th in a couple of yrs.

 

[crz4mm2]

In a heartbeat!
I never wear my "original" set. I did have an enhancer added to the diamond ring a LOT of years ago. At the time I loved it, now, not so much.
DH gave me a past present and future ring a few years ago. Diamonds are very sparkly so I wear it all the time.
If he wanted to "trade up" to a BIG diamond, I would do it

 

[DawnCt1]

I upgraded my engagement ring and my wedding band too. No regrets, I still have my DH. I LOVE however, what I did with my original engagement ring. I made a pendant for around my neck. My original diamond was a half carat and by itself it wouldn't have made a very noticeable pendant. I took it to a jewelry store, picked out a pair of quarter carat diamond earrings and I told the jeweler that I wanted a pendant with an earring soldered at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. What did I end up with? A diamond Mickey Mouse pendant that everyone notices! I can be talking to a total stranger and they will say, "Hey, is THAT Mickey Mouse? If they don't like Mickey, I tell them that is a "corporate symbol".

 

[SDFgirl]

I don't want anything other than the diamond DH gave me on the day he proposed...one of the happiest days of my life. I'd feel like a piece of my heart was missing if I didn't have it.

Right now my fingers are swollen from the pregnancy so I can't wear it. I miss it and can't wait to put it on again!!

Now - I would love to have another diamond someday...maybe earrings, or a pendant...but not to replace my engagement ring.

 

[Nancyg56]

My DH had a friend who was a jeweler so we had my ring made. It is plain, a solitaire and I won't change it. It's funny how that ring was as sign of how important discussions would be for us. Buddy told the jeweler what size diamond and what quality he wanted. I told him thank you, and we discussed the same quality but a smaller, less expensive version.

When it comes to expensive purchases for me he always wants the very best he can afford, I am not comfortable with that amount and we "negotiate". So for me, the ring is a reminder that this man who cannot verbalize his feelings and and who never is comfortable with "mushy" cards, words or gestures cherishes me and shows me that in the way he tries to make my life as comfortable as he can. It is also a reminder to him that I would never let him makes purchases that are more expensive than they need to be. I am content with compromising to make sure that we have plenty leftover to make sure the things he needs are not simply basics, which is what he would do. He told my sister he never thought that our "discussions" would be why he should get a truck and why I won't let him upgrade my car....things like that. In his family they were always the opposite, the men in his family never had nice things and his mother and sisters were always wanting more than their husbands could afford.

 

[luvmy3]

Dh got me a past present future ring a few years ago that I wear everyday instead of my engagement ring. Its sitting in my jewelry box and I have always wanted to have it re-set into a pendant. I haven't yet but maybe someday.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dh got me a past present future ring a few years ago that I wear everyday instead of my engagement ring. Its sitting in my jewelry box and I have always wanted to have it re-set into a pendant. I haven't yet but maybe someday.

Make Mickey Mouse out of it. You will love it!

 

[luvmy3]

Make Mickey Mouse out of it. You will love it!

I would but its pear shaped

 

[piglet50]

i couldn't trade in my engagement diamond. it was exactly the right ring for me. like one of the above posters, i can still see it on my youthful hand ((I was 19). i don't wear my rings around the house but i put them on everytime i leave. however, i do have a right hand that would like one of those past present future rings

 

[lovesmurfs]

I love my diamond (it's an oval) and wouldn't change it for anything.

I often look at my ring set and wish it were in white gold. At the time, I was wearing only yellow gold (and it was in style). Now I really only wear silver and white gold, so to me it feels "off."

I'd like to reset the diamond into a white gold setting (maybe with two smaller diamonds on either side), but haven't broached the subject with DH (and internally I'm having trouble justifying the expense).

We're celebrating 19 years next month, so maybe in time for our 20th....By the time I get it done, I'll probably be wearing yellow gold again!

 

[DawnCt1]

i couldn't trade in my engagement diamond. it was exactly the right ring for me. like one of the above posters, i can still see it on my youthful hand ((I was 19). i don't wear my rings around the house but i put them on everytime i leave. however, i do have a right hand that would like one of those past present future rings

I used to wear my mother's engagement ring on my right hand with a 'jacket'. When I had my shoulder surgery, I had to have the ring cut off. It sat in my jewelry box for 2 years. I also had a smaller diamond pendant that I didn't ever wear. It was my aunt's diamond, (my mom's sister). For Christmas, DH bought me a a new ring. I put my mom's diamond in the center and bought an extra diamond to match my aunt's and put those on the side in a bezel setting so it doesn't look like an engagement ring. The band is yellow gold and the bezels are white. It looks something like this, http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-ring-white-gold_7788
only the bezels are closer.