What to do with inherited jewelry?

[Marchand63]

My DM passed in February and left behind a considerable jewelry collection. I am her only daughter & my brother wants none of it. He got my DF's when he passed 13 years ago.

I am trying to figure out what to do with a couple pieces, in particular her 3 engagement style rings my DF gave her over 52 years of marriage.

One I think I will gift to my DS for DIL, he can have the stone rest or keep it as is. They could not afford one when the were married. Okay I know divorce - they have been together 14 years and she is the mother of 2 DGDs they are pretty solid. So even if she kept it in a divorce scenario I know it would eventually go to one of them, & I am ok with that.

The others have a few small stones, one has a 2 carat diamond and one has a sapphire (not sure of carat size) but larger.

Also 3 mother rings with 4 stones each, one was hers, one my grandmothers & one not sure where that came from.

Would you combine & make one piece/pendant? Any suggestions? Have you done this?

 

[usnuzuloose]

The only thing I will say, I would hang onto it. I have nothing from my mother it was all giving away. Then my grandmother sent me a few items. Which was not much then the ex threw away all my memories of all those things and it sure was not much just a few photos and a book and I can't get it back.

 

[scrhsa]

If they fit me I would wear them as is. At least for awhile. I do like the idea of combining them. Maybe, even save them for a while and reset them for the granddaughters for special days: graduation, 18th bday, wedding?

 

[Marchand63]

If they fit me I would wear them as is. At least for awhile. I do like the idea of combining them. Maybe, even save them for a while and reset them for the granddaughters for special days: graduation, 18th bday, wedding?

I am actually wearing her original engagement ring on my right hand, it gives me comfort.

 

[Gorechick]

Could you set stones into a pendant, bracelet or other jewelry for yourself?

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

When my gran died, I inherited all of her jewellery (I was 12). I wear her eternity ring on the same finger as my wedding band. Some of the gold I have had melted down and used various stones to make something that is more my style. If you can find a good jewellery maker, they can do amazing things. I kept some other pieces and, as “luck” would have it, I lost one of my special earrings last year, so I’m going to use my gran’s gold to have a matching setting made to replace the earring I lost.

You mentioned grandchildren - if I were you, I would save some of it to give to them when they are older. I have my gran’s grandparents’ wedding rings, and while they are far too small for me and my husband, it’s nice to have them.

My friend sold a lot of jewellery she inherited and they only gave her the value of the weighed gold, and said that the stones were worthless. I think she was conned, but be aware that if you wanted to sell any of it that this might be the case.

 

[MillauFr]

I would just donate all of it to charity.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Honestly, I wouldn't do anything right away. Your mom passed fairly recently, and you probably still have a lot to process. Jewelry doesn't take up much room. Give yourself time to get through all the other stuff, then get back to the jewelry and see how you feel about the pieces then.

Giving some to family members, keeping some, and/or re-making them into something meaningful are all good ideas.

 

[NinaBella]

When my DH mother passed (before I knew him) his niece was given some of her jewelry to include a ring with a lot of diamonds. She has taken the diamonds from the ring and put them in necklaces for her, her two daughters, and my daughter. She just gave my daughter her necklace with her grandmother's diamonds on her 15th birthday (quince). My daughter loves it and hasn't taken the necklace off.

 

[L&Lfan]

I would have it appraised and sell it. I did that with my Dad's coin collection and made $1500 which I put toward vacation.

 

[Neesy228]

I’m so sorry for the loss of your mom.

My MIL gifted me several items right before her death...she hand picked the pieces and I understood the significance behind them. That being said, I wear only one of them - a small pendant. The other pieces sit in my jewelry box, but I wouldn’t alter them because of their story.

I agree with PP that you should wait a while before decided what to do. I would be inclined to either let an idea form over time or wait a bit and take it to an experienced jeweler who may have some creative ideas.

My friend lost her sister several years ago and took a pair of earrings, two rings and a pendant and had the stones removed and turned into a custom designed pendant. It’s definitely more her style than the other pieces, but she doesn’t wear it very often because she’s afraid she may lose it...so, I’m not sure it was worth it for her. Obviously, you may feel differently.

 

[barkley]

Also 3 mother rings with 4 stones each, one was hers, one my grandmothers & one not sure where that came from.

with the one you're not sure about have you figured out the months the stones represent and looked into your mom's family history (or perhaps it was passed down from the grandfather's side) to figure out the original owner? i'm not big on these types of rings and I don't think I've ever seen someone wear one that wasn't for their own children so I might get one of those small shadow type boxes and put the ring in with some photos of the mom and the children it represents. I would also write on the back of the box who each person is/their birthdate (for future generations).

the rest I would put in my safety deposit box for the time being and hold off on any gifting/redesigning/selling decisions.

 

[Marchand63]

Honestly, I wouldn't do anything right away. Your mom passed fairly recently, and you probably still have a lot to process. Jewelry doesn't take up much room. Give yourself time to get through all the other stuff, then get back to the jewelry and see how you feel about the pieces then.

Giving some to family members, keeping some, and/or re-making them into something meaningful are all good ideas.

with the one you're not sure about have you figured out the months the stones represent and looked into your mom's family history (or perhaps it was passed down from the grandfather's side) to figure out the original owner? i'm not big on these types of rings and I don't think I've ever seen someone wear one that wasn't for their own children so I might get one of those small shadow type boxes and put the ring in with some photos of the mom and the children it represents. I would also write on the back of the box who each person is/their birthdate (for future generations).

the rest I would put in my safety deposit box for the time being and hold off on any gifting/redesigning/selling decisions.

I do agree I will not make any decisions for a few months.

We are trying figure out the 3rd mother ring. I know at least 1 stone is April. They were popular in the 70's, I gave my Mom hers.

Neesy28 - I love that idea. That might be a thing for the stones in the mothers rings, I will see if any match up with DGD's birthdays.

 

[scrhsa]

I am actually wearing her original engagement ring on my right hand, it gives me comfort.

That's very special. My Mom doesn't have any real jewelry to pass down. She is the queen of "if it looks pretty I'll wear it", no matter where it comes from I think her most expensive jewelry was some James Avery my Dad bought her back in the 80's

 

[MommyinHonduras]

When my now husband was talking with my parents about marrying me, she offer him stones from my grandmother's engagement ring which he added to the ring he made for me when he proposed. With some of the smaller side diamonds in another ring she made a pair of earrings for my two sisters and I.

 

[Marchand63]

That's very special. My Mom doesn't have any real jewelry to pass down. She is the queen of "if it looks pretty I'll wear it", no matter where it comes from I think her most expensive jewelry was some James Avery my Dad bought her back in the 80's

I am not a jewelry girl. My pieces are all special. My DF was a showerer. So the sentimental value is more than the monetary value.

I get your mom

 

[loves to dive]

My mother had gobs of jewelry, some expensive and real, some costume and some just fun junk. I had/have a lot of jewelry of my own and had a piece or two from both my two grandmother's and one piece from my great-grandmother so really didn't need or want much of Mama's. She tended to go toward big stuff and I tend to go for smaller understated. I kept a few of her gold chains and a piece or two that I knew was important to her. She had already given me the one piece that I wanted long before she died, it was a necklace my Daddy had bought for her at the drug store for their first anniversary. He forgot (how since it was the day after Christmas I don't know) and stopped at the drugstore on the way home. This was in the early fifties, it is a gold tone chain type thing with a heart pendant with a fake pearl in the middle. I let my DIL pick out a few things she wanted (she sent them back after she and my son got divorced) and I gave the rest to my brother's daughters. I let them decide who wanted what. I've already told my son what pieces I want kept in the family after I die, he can either keep them or give them to my nieces on the understanding that they never leave the family. Mostly the stuff from the grandmother's and Mama's charm bracelets. We did sell a piece or two at the estate sale we had after she died.

 

[dazedx3]

Please secure the pieces in a safe or security deposit box.... The jewelry I inherited from my mother and MIL was stolen about 2 years ago and I wish I had
the pieces back. They were not worth a tremendous amount but were truly cherished.

 

[_19disnA]

OP hasn't posted in 5 yrs, I assume they are long gone from this site.