Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

If you got divorced at some point, what did you do with your wedding/engagement rings?

(132 Posts)
MaryTheBookeeper Mon 27-Jul-20 21:48:39

I'm wondering what to do with mine? They have sentimental value but what's the point of them just sitting in the drawer? I don't want my dc to use them, I'd rather they had their own fresh start. Flogging them for scrap feels heartless. What did you do with yours?

tattygran14 Tue 28-Jul-20 16:20:51

I threw my wedding ring out of the window after the b attacked me. It was gold and heavy, I'd certainly sell it now. I hung onto the diamond one though.

justme2 Tue 28-Jul-20 16:06:05

It was a family stone that had been reset for me. I gave it back.

Forestflame Tue 28-Jul-20 15:54:20

Sold them!

mrsgreenfingers56 Tue 28-Jul-20 15:48:31

Sold the wedding ring as 22 carat gold but some years after the divorce, still kept the engagement ring and don't know why really as never wear it.
Googes 41 your comment about your friend removing her rings when she was widowed, well my friend at 56 did that and I felt shocked. She said she was no longer married due to his death. My Grandma's, M-I-L and mother all still worn their rings after their husband's death.

songstress60 Tue 28-Jul-20 15:41:55

I have never been married, but I had a very acrimonious break up with fiancee years ago, so sold the rings. Fetched quite a bit of cash. Don't keep them in a drawer. Sell them and make some money.

sharon103 Tue 28-Jul-20 15:36:44

I threw it at him! grin

Keffie12 Tue 28-Jul-20 15:31:22

I sold mine and gave the money to charity. Namely Womens Aid. The ring meant nothing to me

Blossoming Tue 28-Jul-20 15:29:37

Sold them, I had no money after I left him.

sarahanew Tue 28-Jul-20 15:07:12

I still have them. I'm not sentimental about them at all, but my daughter will inherit them, as she will all my jewellery and I think it would upset her if I got rid of them

BlueBelle Tue 28-Jul-20 14:59:11

What age are you Bijou if you don’t mind me asking you ve been married 70 years and married and divorced before that are you nearing 100 ? If so you must be our oldest member

BlueBelle Tue 28-Jul-20 14:55:38

No idea what became of them must have had two lots but they could be anywhere Dont think they had much monetary value and they didn’t have any sentimental value so no idea

Dillonsgranma Tue 28-Jul-20 14:50:18

Yes! Recycle the rings by either melting down and making a new ring or selling. Very good price for gold at the moment. That’s what I did and bought myself a lovely gold bracelet ?

Glimble Tue 28-Jul-20 14:30:03

I sold mine for cash and bought my children some new shoes!

Caro57 Tue 28-Jul-20 14:11:06

Never had an engagement ring, wedding ring I had melted down and used the metal towards having something i liked - don’t remember what now!!

BelindaB Tue 28-Jul-20 13:53:21

Pawned them and used the money to buy a television.

marionk Tue 28-Jul-20 13:29:20

Kept mine in my jewellery box because I was undecided what to do with them, the scum burglar saved me having to make a decision when he/she took the lot including all my late mum’s jewellery ☹️

lilydily9 Tue 28-Jul-20 13:28:00

I gave my engagement ring and my wedding ring to my eldest daughter. I've since become engaged and will leave this ring to my youngest daughter.

grandtanteJE65 Tue 28-Jul-20 13:16:50

Legally, a man can only demand an engagement ring back if it was a family heirloom that he gave his fiancee, otherwise it is still her property just like anything else he ever gave her, if she breaks off the engagement.

If he does, it is a bit thick demanding it back, but he can still claim an heirloom, but not a ring, however expensive, that he bought for the girl.

I would sell my rings if I got a divorce - why keep a symbol of something that broke down?

Startingover61 Tue 28-Jul-20 12:58:54

I took my engagement, wedding and two eternity rings to a local jeweller’s and sold them for a nice amount of money. The second eternity ring was bought for me by my ex-husband following his first affair as proof that he’d never cheat on me again. What a liar! Not only did he not stop seeing that particular woman for a while but when they eventually did finish, he went on to cheat again and again. He’s now married to his third wife. I was his second. Things will get very expensive for him if he carries on having affairs! As for me, I’m happily single and the money from the rings went towards buying some of the lovely things I now have in my nice new home!

cupcake1 Tue 28-Jul-20 12:41:11

Sold engagement and wedding rings to a local jewellers. I can’t remember how much I got it was nearly 40 years ago but no doubt the money went on food and giving the children some treats as times were very hard financially then.

TrendyNannie6 Tue 28-Jul-20 12:36:58

Sold mine several years later, spent the money on the family,

silverlining48 Tue 28-Jul-20 12:32:26

In the so called swinging sixties you needed to be married or engaged with a fixed marriage date to get family planning. I thought I might get a metal curtain ring from Woolworths but was looking in a jewellery shop and told the saleswoman the tale ( how shameless) and she took off her wedding ring and gave it to me as she had just divorced. I recently had jewellery made out of old gold and that ring formed part of it.

Juneandarchie1 Tue 28-Jul-20 12:20:29

I still have mine from my failed marriagesat in jewellery box not quite knowing what to do with them.
Years ago before I married I was engaged to my first love who broke it off, foolishly I gave him the ring back only to see it on the hand of his other woman !

essjay Tue 28-Jul-20 12:15:40

pawned them to pay for a new tyre that my ex had sabotaged!

Bijou Tue 28-Jul-20 12:09:02

Sold rings from my first husband ( divorced) and the money went towards a new caravan.
My wedding ring from late husband has been on my finger since it was put there seventy years ago. Couldn’t afford an engagement ring.