What Can I Do With My Old Family Wedding Rings? — Legacy (2024)

Ways to Repurpose Your Old, or Inherited Wedding Rings

Wedding rings hold sentimental value and are often treasured as heirlooms. There is so much history and meaning attached to a wedding ring, often they represent a lifetime of love and commitment, memories and achievements. However, for some who inherit old family wedding rings, having them tucked away in a drawer can ignite feelings of guilt and frustration, pain and regret.

Here at Legacy Jewellery, we understand that deciding what to do after inheriting a wedding ring(s) after the loss of a family member or a spouse can be an emotionally challenging decision. It is important to take your time and thoroughly consider all available options before making a decision.

For many individuals choosing to wear the rings is a way to honour their family history, while others find solace in repurposing the ring into a new piece of jewellery that pays tribute to the memories of their loved ones.

In this blog post, we will explore several creative options for repurposing your wedding rings.

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Options for Repurposing a Wedding Ring:

There are several options to consider when exploring ideas for repurposing a wedding ring. What’s right for you will depend on your personal preferences and the type of jewellery you enjoy wearing.

Here are a few examples:

1. Have Your Ring Professionally Remodelled: One of the most popular ways to repurpose a wedding ring is by having is redesigned and remodelled into a new ring. Transforming it into a new ring that you can wear, that suits your taste and style can feel life-changing for those who have suffered a bereavement. Adding in diamonds or additional gemstones into your new design, as a way of honouring your history, special anniversaries or memories of your loved ones can also elevate your new jewellery both aesthetically and emotionally. Combining a few old wedding rings into one new ring is a beautiful way of creating a unique and wearable ring, whilst retaining the sentimental associations of the original rings.

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2. Turn it into a Necklace: If you don’t like the idea of remodelling your old family wedding ring, then a popular idea is to wear your it close to your heart and consider threading it onto a necklace. This means your wedding ring is not altered but you are able to wear it and have it close to you at all times, having a special piece of jewellery that represents and symbolizes love and memories.

3. Make it into a New Piece of Jewellery: The beauty with expert jewellery remodelling, is that with a skilled, experienced jewellery, the options are almost limitless. Do not feel you are restricted to creating a ring, you could also consider creating a beautiful pendant, or pair of earrings. Speak to your chosen expert designer and discuss wat you would love to create that you would love to wear to honour the family memories contained within your old wedding ring(s).

4. Hold on to it for Your Children: If you have children or plan to start a family, you may want to consider keeping the family wedding ring as heirlooms to pass down through generations. A family ring holds immense sentimental value and becomes a cherished piece of family history. Store it safely and consider including a note detailing its significance and its history, ensuring that its story lives on. If your old wedding rings have a significant value, it is also worth considering whether you need a valuation for insurance purposes, to ensure you are adequately covered should the worst happen.

5. Donate it to Someone in Need: If the wedding ring no longer holds personal significance and you wish to give it new life, consider donating it to someone in need. There are various organizations and charities that accept jewellery donations and use them to support causes such as women's shelters or fundraising events. By donating your ring, you can make a positive impact and bring joy to someone else's life.

6. Put the Gemstone to Use: If the main gemstone in your wedding ring holds significant value or sentimental meaning, you can repurpose it by incorporating it into a new piece of jewellery. Whether it's a solitaire diamond or another precious gemstone, you can have it set into a new ring, pendant, or even a custom-designed piece that holds personal significance. This way, you can continue to enjoy the beauty of the stone while creating a fresh piece that suits your current style.

In Conclusion

Wedding rings are often plain bands and for a piece of jewellery so visually simple they are often immensely important and bursting with enormous amounts of history and emotion. This is because they represent so much: Love, of course. But also hope, a future once planned and lived, a lifetime of challenges and achievements, highs and lows. A journey two people once committed to - a promise made.

If you have inherited family wedding rings, or you have a wedding ring that you can no longer wear due to a change in life circ*mstances or a bereavement, then consider all your options. Speak to a redesign expert and take your time when deciding the best route for you.

If you’d like to speak to one of the Legacy team and discuss possible ideas, then please get in touch. We’d love to help. Alternatively, why not come along to one of our Legacy Discovery Sessions and find out more about your old jewellery and about the exciting and inspiring world of jewellery remodelling.

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