Should I Use My Great Grandmother’s Engagement Ring? A Spark of Tradition and Love
Engagement rings hold significant meaning, representing not just the promise of love and commitment, but also the history and stories of those who wore them before. As we gather in this heartwarming community to showcase our unique engagement rings, let’s take a moment to explore a deeply personal question: Should I use my great grandmother’s engagement ring?
The Weight of Family Legacy
Using a family heirloom like a great grandmother’s engagement ring is not just about the aesthetics; it’s about the stories, the memories, and the lineage it carries. Every scratch and vintage flaw tells a tale, connecting generations through love and sacrifice. Here are a few compelling reasons to consider:
-
Connection to the Past: Wearing a ring that belonged to your great grandmother can create a beautiful connection to your family’s history. Imagine the love stories that ring has witnessed!
-
Unique Charm: Vintage rings often come with unique designs that you won’t find in modern jewelry stores. The character and craftsmanship can be unmatched, making your ring a standout piece.
-
Sentimental Value: A family heirloom often has a deeper emotional significance than a new ring. It symbolizes the love that has been cherished through generations.
The Practical Considerations
While the sentiment is strong, a decision as significant as this should also factor in a few practical considerations:
-
Condition of the Ring: Is the ring in good shape? It might require some restoration or resizing to fit perfectly. Consider consulting a jeweler to assess its condition.
-
Style Preferences: Does the ring fit your personal style? If you admire vintage aesthetics, this might be a perfect choice. However, if modern designs are more your thing, could you consider redesigning the stone or setting?
-
Cultural Perspectives: Some cultures emphasize family heirlooms in engagement rituals, while others prefer brand-new rings. Consider how important this aspect is to you and your partner.
Making It Your Own
If you decide to use your great grandmother’s engagement ring, think about ways to honor her legacy while making the ring feel uniquely yours. Here are a few ideas:
-
Redesigning: If the original setting doesn’t fit your style, consider redesigning the ring while keeping the original stone. This can give a fresh twist to a beautiful piece of family history.
-
Incorporating Additional Elements: Perhaps adding a modern band or combining it with new stones can create a harmonious blend of old and new.
-
Telling the Story: When showing off your ring, share its history with friends and family. Every time someone compliments it, you have the opportunity to recount your great grandmother’s story and the love that transcends generations.
Let’s Discuss!
Now that we’ve scratched the surface, we’d love to hear from you!
- Have you ever worn a family heirloom? What was your experience?
- If you’re considering it, what excites or worries you about using a vintage ring?
- Share photos of your rings—whether heirloom or modern—and let’s celebrate the beauty of love stories together.
Join the discussion, and let’s explore this beautiful intersection of heritage, love, and style! ✨
I would ask your girlfriend what she would prefer. You can easily make a new ring with the gold & diamond. Or use the gold as your wedding band and she have the diamond in a new setting
An idea I have seen posted a few times is if you propose to her with the heirloom, and tell her that it’s hers as she joins the family, but that you want to design her engagement ring together. That way the gorgeous heirloom gets the love it deserves, she still gets welcomed to the family with a lovely gift, and she gets the every day engagement ring she loves!
You never know, the sentimentality of this ring might mean more to her than looks and she might want to keep the ring as is, or reset the diamond and use the gold to make her (or your) wedding band! If you find a good jeweler that you trust, the possibilities are endless. Keep us updated, and congrats in advance 🙂
I think it’s a gorgeous ring, but if you know it’s not what your girlfriend is imagining for herself I wouldn’t do it. Could you suggest that she use it in some way for a wedding band? Or you could!
I second asking her what she’d prefer. I have a feeling she’ll want a different ring. Also just to note- I got my grandmothers diamond reset. I love the sentimental value. I actually thought I’d be saving my fiancee money, but come to find out it cost a little bit more to make custom rings. Now that lab grown diamonds are popular they’re really not that expensive.
I think it would be worth it to talk to a jeweler about changing it up, you could incorporate some part of the ring into a new ring so that it’s still there but it’s something more her speed. Forever is a long time to wear something you feel meh about
You can reset the diamond into a modern setting, but I wouldn’t go this route without letting your girlfriend see the diamond first. I would let her decide.
Go shopping together and pick out a ring together, especially if you know she would prefer something modern.
JUST. ASK. HER.
It does not make it less special, it does not ruin the surprise. She will be eternally grateful she has a ring that she absolutely loves.
This is actually a style that is gaining popularity again! Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus have engagement rings currently that are this kind of style.
I’d say take it to be buffed/polished/cleaned and propose with it for the sentiment, but let her know that you’d love to take her to pick out something more her style if she wants! At the very least, this may be a ring she’d wear on another finger because it’s beautiful!
Better to ask, or get her Pinterest. This ain’t Spiderman 3
I’ve been married for 33 years, so this is just perspective from the long view.
I love that you’re thinking so carefully about what would matter to her — that already says a lot about the relationship.
For what it’s worth, when my husband and I got engaged, there was no fancy ring at all. We just got married, wore our bands for years, and later — when it made sense — we chose an engagement ring together. Then on my 50th birthday, he redesigned my entire set for me.
What I learned is that the ring can change, grow, and evolve — just like a marriage.
I know everyone wants the proposal to be a big surprise, but there’s nothing unromantic about talking to your partner and honoring both the history of the heirloom and her personal taste. Sometimes that conversation is the love story.
i love this ring soooooo much please don’t re-set it 😭 it’s so beautiful. propose to her with this ring then tell her you’d like to design a ring with her and keep this as an heirloom!!!
Once you have that cleaned up and polished it’s going to be a stunner. You could propose with it and then see what her thoughts are.
Personally I think it’s beautiful, and I hope you don’t reset the diamond. Just get a lab if you want something trendy! That timeless ring has history that is hard to imagine any other way.
There’s no wrong choice here, just different kinds of meaningful.
Take it’s to a reliable jeweler to be cleaned, ask them to do a very light polishing. This is a microscopic sanding that will clean up many of the dings and dents. Also ask them to check that the stone is secure in its setting. Finally ask if it can be sized according to your future fiancée’s ring size.
Then when you propose, share the ring’s history but say that you will understand if she prefers a new ring. You will be able to tell if she is thrilled by a family ring or wants a new one.
PS. She can still wear it on her right hand later.
Could you get polished and resized and use it as your wedding ring? My husband’s wedding band has diamonds (his original had an emerald and diamond – he upgraded for an anniversary). My great uncle’s wedding band was big and square and had an opal, a garnet, and a ruby in it (anniversary and birthstones).
Yes.
Funny story—my daughter inherited a ring from a great grandmother, and i inherited a ring from my grandmother. Both rings turned out to be not real diamonds. We were going to use my grandmother’s stone in a three ring setting for my son’s fiancé before we found out it was a cubic zirconia set in 14 k gold.
What if you get the ring cleaned up and buffed out, propose with it, but also tell her that you understand it’s not exactly her style and then take her to pick out a new ring together and let her pick out what she wants? That way you get the sentiment but also make it a special thing for the two of you to go together.
I think it’s beautiful. I would propose and leave the door open to a new ring.
I don’t know your girlfriend, but I have a dear friend who Is getting engaged soon and I saved these pictures to give to her boyfriend. She’s a midwife and needs a ring that doesn’t stick up and off her finger and she loves simple beauty. This would be her dream ring!
That setting I becoming popular this year ( thick band of gold with a flush or bezel set diamond) that said, IF she wants platinum or white gold, then I would suggest building a ring together.
I agree with the clean this ring up, propose with it and then design her dream ring together if that’s something tot think she’d enjoy.
Seriously though, if you are to the point of proposing ask her if she’d like a heirloom proposal ring and design together later.
I probably wouldn’t pick this as the ONLY ring for her if she likes white gold. That said, I was anti yellow gold and that’s what I fell in love with for an engagement ring. I wanted rose gold, but turns out it doesn’t work with my skin tone.
Does she want to be completely surprised? If not then you should ask her what she thinks, if she does want to be surprised then I’d propose to her w this and tell her that you’ll design her dream ring together… or get her her dream ring and use this as a wedding band? This is a gorgeous ring, it would make a great wedding band.
Personally, I think it’s gorgeous.
Ask her and if she does want another one I’d melt that one down and add it to it if possible.
I’d propose with this ring and design one yall love together. Keep this as is or incorporate it into both of y’all’s rings. Congrats
I absolutely would. It’s stunning
Make sure you go with “white gold” not silver if you do choose to reband. I prefer daintier style bands personally but would still adore this ring. Buuutt I prefer gold so idk.
So, my fiancé got permission to use his family’s heirloom diamond ring as my engagement ring. He ran it by me first, and I loved the idea because it’s been passed down since the 1800s! He took it to a jeweler, and they removed the diamond, cleaned it, and he had them put it inside a new setting, one that he knew I’d love more 🙂
Personally, I would love to receive this style of ring
My wife and I took a heirloom ring, found a jeweler, and designed an engagement ring. My wife got the diamonds, and in my ring we used the gold.
Just FYI, I very strongly suspect this ring was reset at some point since the 1930s. It may be the original stone, but it’s not a style that would have been used for a woman’s engagement ring in the 1930s. Possibly a men’s ring from that time, but even if it was a men’s ring, I still lean toward it being at least a few decades (or more) later. If it was always intended as a woman’s ring, I would think it’s probably from the 60s at the earliest. It doesn’t change what I think is everyone’s excellent advice to ask your girlfriend what she thinks and whether she would like to use it as an engagement ring, but just in case part of the equation is feeling like “but it’s her original 100 year old engagement ring!” I hope that helps! 🙂
What style of ring is this called?
Chunky gold bands are making a big come back but if it’s not her style, have a jeweler clean it up , propose with it, and tell her you wanted to propose with something from your family to symbolize she is now your family but if she wants, you can design/pick a new ring together.
Quite literally my dream ring. If you have any info (who made it, is the thick band / inset rock style called a specific thing, carats and quant of metal) I’d super appreciate it
You won’t be able to remove that stone without destroying the ring, propose with it and tell her if she prefers she can design a different ring, I would be over the moon to have it though
[removed]
You can have the ring dipped in ruthenium to make it white gold. It will have to be done every couple of years with regular wear at a cost of approx $100 usd.
I proposed with my great grandmothers ring with the intention of my fiancee choosing a ring during the engagement. Turns out she loved it and we put the ring fund towards the wedding instead. Good luck!!
As a promise ring yes, as an engagement ring no.
That’s a gorgeous ring
I suggest against it . Such close personal items shoukd be inherited by children .
Do you have a sister or cousins ? Would be good to have them use it as their engagement or wedding ring.
I’d at least talk to a jeweler before ruling it out. Old stones can surprise you.
Propose with the ring and then take her to choose a ring that is her taste. I’m sure she will treasure your Great grandmas ring and wear it often on her right hand.
Cameron Diaz has something like this! I’d say propose with this & then go shop together & design her ring together. Don’t re-set this one. It’s beautiful the way it is 🙏🏼
I wouldn’t reset the ring. I’d take it to a jeweler for cleaning and buffing. This would be an amazing ring for her to wear on her right hand and later to give to your eldest daughter/son. In Germany, Poland, etc., they wear their wedding rings on their right ring finger. That finger also signifies commitment. It could be very romantic to propose with your grandma’s ring and tell her you want her to wear it on her right hand as a sign of commitment to marry, as your grandma’s did, a sign from the past. And then give her the ring you pick out as a commitment to your future.
I have a locket from my great grandma and I’m so glad I never reset the diamonds throughout the years! Either let her pick out her new engagement ring or you can pick one out that you know she will love.
If she really loves the man, she’ll love everyting..
Proposing with the ring is definitely not a bad plan – but if you’re really feeling like you want her to have a ring in the style she prefers, I’d look into using the diamond in a different setting. Depending on your budget and considering the fact that this stone isn’t huge, you could go with a 3 stone ring, pick a larger center stone based on your budget and her shape preference, and use this diamond as one of two smaller stones on either side of the center stone. I’d look into a local jeweler who can help you make a custom ring utilizing the diamond!
My mom actually did something similar for me except she made a necklace instead of a ring. It was custom made with the diamond from her ring, my grandmas ring, and my great grandmas ring. She figured none of them were good quality enough to bother saving the ring itself and that this made it more meaningful. I love that necklace and the history it represents and I plan to wear it on my wedding day!