Dipping my grandmother's wedding ring?

fluffymovie

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, if anyone can suggest a better place, I will happily move it?

I lived with my gran since my 9th birthday and she was like a mum to me. She gave me everything I could ever ask for and when she passed away, it was very sudden and I was the only member of our family there as she didnt' want to bother anyone!

Anyway, after she passed away, I asked my Dad if I could keep her wedding band and that of my great gran and he said that I could. She wore them every day and I hold them very dear.

However, they are both yellow gold and I only wear silver / platinum. My engagement ring is platinum and the diamond was from her engagement ring so again, very dear to me.

I would like to see about dipping her and my great grans wedding rings so that I can wear them every day but I am not sure about whether this would damage them?

I have heard that I could have them dipped in either white gold or platinum but really don't wanmt to risk something so precious. I just feel like I am letting her down by having them and not wearing them.

COuld anyone advise?

pinkpig08

I wouldn't have thought it would damage them as the dipping coats them. I have a white gold wedding ring and have to have it re-plated every so often.

themull1

Can i just ask why she wasn't buried/cremated with her wedding ring on? my mam's not taking hers off when she goes she says.!! i wouldn't start dipping them, either wear them on a chain, or just keep them in a jewellery box. Its only modern day white gold that needs dipping anyway, the better made white gold never needs dipping/replating, because its made with an alloy that keeps it white. My mams had white gold rings for years, and they've never changed colour.

meritaten

I dont see why not! but a jeweller would be best placed to advise you. he can also tell you if it would damage the actual value of the rings especially if they are of 18carat gold or above (many very old rings are of very high gold content).

personally I wouldnt do it, but if you feel its right for you - and your nan and gran wouldnt mind then thats entirely your choice hun!

Any

themull1 wrote: »

Can i just ask why she wasn't buried/cremated with her wedding ring on? my mam's not taking hers off when she goes she says.!! i wouldn't start dipping them, either wear them on a chain, or just keep them in a jewellery box. Its only modern day white gold that needs dipping anyway, the better made white gold never needs dipping/replating, because its made with an alloy that keeps it white. My mams had white gold rings for years, and they've never changed colour.

Can I just ask why would one be buried with them?
I see that as massive waste.. especially if you have someone to pass it onto..

Any

I personally wouldn't dip them either... But if that is the only way you would wear them then go for it.
I don't think they could get damaged by it.. however good jeweller will advise you for sure.

karamunroe

I think it sounds like a lovely idea.... surely it's nicer to do SOMETHING with them rather than to have them in a cupboard? Do what you think is best :-)

coolcait

My first thought was "Aargh! No! No way!"

But, thinking about it, you would have them re-sized if they didn't fit. You might have the setting changed if a stone was loose.

We make a lot of changes to beloved family rings, without ever thinking of them as 'changes'. Some of those changes are huge, but incredibly meaningful (like the fact that your engagement ring already has a diamond from your gran's engagement ring - that's a beautiful idea).

So, thinking about it from that angle, I feel a bit embarrassed about my original reaction to 'dipping' the rings! .

My only remaining reservation would be whether or not it would damage them, so I'd go along with the suggestion that you get a reputable jeweller to advise you about that.

If the jeweller gives you the all clear, then go for it! And I hope you have many happy years of happy memories while wearing the rings.

jw2003

The only reservation I would have is that they wouldn't look right, mine cost £25 to dip so it's not a huge amount

RazWaz

Personally I wouldn't want to change them if it was me. Have you thought about buying a simple plain chain and using them as a pendant?

csh_2

karamunroe wrote: »

I think it sounds like a lovely idea.... surely it's nicer to do SOMETHING with them rather than to have them in a cupboard? Do what you think is best :-)

I recently had a rather hefty gold ring of my Dads melted into 2 wedding bands.
It had been in a drawer for 20 years no use to anyone so I'd rather do something with it.
This way I'll be wearing it everyday.