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Do you replace precious items broken or lost?

(58 Posts)
CanadianGran Fri 30-Jan-26 21:04:42

I'm on the last of 4 glasses given as a wedding gift (the 3rd one was broken last weekend). They are Iittala Ultima Thule and while I can get replacements, they are over 100 GBP for 4! Yikes, I don't know if I can warrant it.

Of all my mix and match glassware, these have always been favourites. When I married, I always said I didn't want expensive glassware since I didn't want anyone to feel bad if it was broken, but somehow I am attached to these!

Do you let it go, or replace items you've lost or broken over the years?

I've been sad when I've lost an earring, and one from my Mum I had made into a charm for a bracelet when it was just a single.

What other items were did you either replace or let go as you lost them?

Floradora9 Sat 31-Jan-26 21:40:21

People do not buy china from charity shops unless they are dishwasher friendly . I never use my good tea sets as we drink from mugs and my fancy dinner set does not fit in the dishwasher. I sold my Royal Albert tea and coffee set , used once for my daughter christening in 1969 , and gave the proceeds to charity.

M0nica Sat 31-Jan-26 19:19:26

Rocketstop i think you have answered your own question, because all your trinkets etc have been wrapped up and hidden away, your children have no familiarity with them and rarely ever seen them.

For children to want to keep things, they need to know them, remember them, of being allowed to touch and hold them while beng told about your memories of them.

Our family are, almost genetically, second hand roses. If we want anything we instinctively start down the secondhand trail and so do our children. We have just moved house. DS was here last weekend and disappeared home with a rug I was very fond of, but have no space for. I have already handed on to my DGD several rings I had. DD has also taken ornaments that she remembers in her grandmother's house.

Rocketstop2 Sat 31-Jan-26 18:26:15

Sadgrandma

Sadly I don’t think our AC or GC will want our ornaments or crockery/glassware after we’ve gone. I decided to have a clear out and I asked my DD to tell me what she would like to keep after I’ve gone and she said there was nothing she would want!
Therefore I don’t think it is worth replacing anything unless they will give you pleasure as I think they’ll only end up in a charity shop.

Same here, isn't it sad though to think of all our trinkets that have meant so much, just got rid of ?Things passed from Grandparents etc , carefully saved, wrapped like babies during house moves, carefully kept on a high shelf away from toddlers and pets, just to be discarded, I find it really sad.

Ziplok Sat 31-Jan-26 18:12:52

CanadianGran

Deedaa, I had a look at the Alessi kettle, and love it! Whew, expensive though! It would look nice in any kitchen.

I went ahead and found two on ebay for $68, which is about 37 GBP, and amount I wasn't horrified with. Hopefully they arrive in one piece! So that will give me 3, but perhaps I will treat myself again at a later date.

These are well used old-fashioned tumblers, my grandson always insists on using one at family dinners, as does my DH since he doesn't like a stemmed wineglass.

This same grandson found a brown betty teapot in a charity shop to replace mine which had a big chip in the spout. He appreciates that we can be attached to items!

In the past I have sighed when things were broken or lost, but don't always feel the need to replace them. I guess if something gives us pleasure, and we can afford to replace it, then go for it.

Well done CanadianGran. 👏

CanadianGran Sat 31-Jan-26 17:55:32

Deedaa, I had a look at the Alessi kettle, and love it! Whew, expensive though! It would look nice in any kitchen.

I went ahead and found two on ebay for $68, which is about 37 GBP, and amount I wasn't horrified with. Hopefully they arrive in one piece! So that will give me 3, but perhaps I will treat myself again at a later date.

These are well used old-fashioned tumblers, my grandson always insists on using one at family dinners, as does my DH since he doesn't like a stemmed wineglass.

This same grandson found a brown betty teapot in a charity shop to replace mine which had a big chip in the spout. He appreciates that we can be attached to items!

In the past I have sighed when things were broken or lost, but don't always feel the need to replace them. I guess if something gives us pleasure, and we can afford to replace it, then go for it.

Norah Sat 31-Jan-26 15:56:06

Attempting to give excess away, we don't replace. Our daughters have their wished for useless tat, crockery, and glassware from our mums and me. They've really not made much progress towards that which will go to the skip.

What we have will more than see us out.

keepcalmandcavachon Sat 31-Jan-26 15:41:40

The only things I treasure, a couple of paintings & some hand written pieces could never be replaced. Everything else either makes me happy or not but I wouldn't regret losing or breaking these things beyond the cost of replacing them.
Oh, just remembered a tree that has moved house with me about ten times which my dearest Dad grew for me from a cutting when my daughter was born!

Ziplok Sat 31-Jan-26 15:35:23

Well, my view, for what it’s worth Canadiangran is that if you know you are going to use the glasses regularly and can afford the price, then go ahead and treat yourself. If, on the other hand, you know you will rarely use them, then don’t buy another set.
From what you have written, I’m guessing you used them regularly and enjoyed using them? If that’s the case, I think you have the answer 😊.

Fallingstar Sat 31-Jan-26 15:29:45

petra

Grannynannywanny
I’ve been sorting donations in a charity shop for 10 years. We have to dump these tea/ dinner services all the time. We don’t enjoy doing it but there’s only so much room to show them.
Added to that we have to pay for our skip to be emptied.

It’s probs because people don’t have formal dinner parties anymore, when we visit our daughters and SiLs for dinner with other guests it is all a bit ad hoc, with mismatching plates and glasses and pots in which curries or casseroles were cooked put straight on the table with the order given to just get stuck in, no starters, no napkins with napkin holders, but everyone loves it and we usually sit round the table for ages just talking and laughing. Very relaxed. Now I do the same though we don’t have people round as often now.

JamesandJon33 Sat 31-Jan-26 15:07:42

You can’t really replace precious items, can you ? They are precious for a reason.
Ordinary broken items , I would of course replace if they were needed.

Calendargirl Sat 31-Jan-26 15:06:17

Dare I suggest that in time to come, dinner services will make a come back and be all the rage?

It only needs some popular ‘influencer’ or trendy tv chef to decide they are the ‘in’ thing, and off we go.

I also think that ‘open plan’ rooms will have their day, and dining rooms will make a comeback.

The dinner services will be in demand then.

🍽️

Allira Sat 31-Jan-26 15:02:31

I said to my 16 yr old grandson it was such a waste and maybe we should take them with us and drop them off at the charity shop. But the look of embarrassment on his face told me it wasn’t a good idea. If I was on my own I’d have rescued them.

I'd have rescued them!

That's why I have too much stuff. I was going to have a sort-out today but other things took over.

Allira Sat 31-Jan-26 14:59:35

petra

Grannynannywanny
I’ve been sorting donations in a charity shop for 10 years. We have to dump these tea/ dinner services all the time. We don’t enjoy doing it but there’s only so much room to show them.
Added to that we have to pay for our skip to be emptied.

😥

DollyRocker Sat 31-Jan-26 14:58:44

I broke a bowl of great sentimental value and repaired it using the Kintsugi method (spelling)? It wasn't as good as the masters of the art but I was happy enough. I broke my partner's discontinued Cornish ware soup bowl & saucer and got him 2 more on eBay used in VGC. He was very happy!

GoodAfternoonTea Sat 31-Jan-26 09:26:04

I would think how much I use them, if I have a spare hundred quid, if they are on display in a cabinet. If you can say yes to all three, go ahead and treat yourself.

NotSpaghetti Sat 31-Jan-26 09:23:57

I have twice replaced a wedding gift teapot.
It is a really stunning one though.
😍

petra Sat 31-Jan-26 08:30:25

Grannynannywanny
I’ve been sorting donations in a charity shop for 10 years. We have to dump these tea/ dinner services all the time. We don’t enjoy doing it but there’s only so much room to show them.
Added to that we have to pay for our skip to be emptied.

fancythat Sat 31-Jan-26 08:21:16

I replace.

I have always liked my wedding present dinner set.
Saw some replacements[well actually I need more with a growing family] in a local charity shops.
I didnt buy them as thought I could "manage".
Had a word with myself[wrote that on another thread this morning], and went back to get them and they had been sold!
I was pretty gutted.
Went on ebay and to my surprise there were some on there. Bought them quick!
I will now have enough to see me out.

Sadgrandma Sat 31-Jan-26 08:11:42

Sadly I don’t think our AC or GC will want our ornaments or crockery/glassware after we’ve gone. I decided to have a clear out and I asked my DD to tell me what she would like to keep after I’ve gone and she said there was nothing she would want!
Therefore I don’t think it is worth replacing anything unless they will give you pleasure as I think they’ll only end up in a charity shop.

Grannynannywanny Fri 30-Jan-26 23:50:45

I agree Allira. I had to replace my tv a few weeks ago and took the dud one to the recycling centre with my grandson to help lift it from the car. Next to the porta cabin where electrical goods were being deposited was a skip labelled crockery and glass. It was piled high with all sorts of dishes which had been thrown and smashed into it. But perched on one corner was what looked like an entire set of lovely matching dinner plates and bowls neatly stacked and still intact.

I said to my 16 yr old grandson it was such a waste and maybe we should take them with us and drop them off at the charity shop. But the look of embarrassment on his face told me it wasn’t a good idea. If I was on my own I’d have rescued them.

Scribbles Fri 30-Jan-26 23:43:52

The only times I can remember replacing a 'treasure' was when I lost an earring inherited from my mother. It was a beautiful little gold rose and I had a copy made so I've still got a pair. A couple of years ago, I bought two Denby mugs on eBay to replace two from a discontinued pattern which had been broken.

Strangely enough, I was looking around a local antiques centre yesterday and came across a set of 6 1970s drinking glasses identical to a set OH and I were given as a wedding present. Ours all got broken years ago and have long since been replaced by new designs but, just for a moment, I was sorely tempted!

Allira Fri 30-Jan-26 23:06:06

Grannynannywanny
It astonishes me that such beautiful, carefully crafted items go for a pittance in charity shops and at auctions yet we see what I would call old tat going for far more on TV auction programmes.

Deedaa Fri 30-Jan-26 22:59:17

One of my friends once bought a very expensive Italian dish for a friends birthday. She put it on the table to admire it. One of her sons swung round with his school bag , knocked it off the table and broke it in half. It had been half price in a sale and now she had to go back and buy it again, so she ended up paying the full price. To make things worse she had lost her temper when it was broken and smashed the remains and threw them away. Then she realised she could have stuck the two halves back together and used it as a display piece herself.

I once let my Alessi whistling bird kettle boil dry and left it on the gas for ages. It was reduced to a black mess which had to be thrown away. My husband secretly bought me a new one. I think it was the only time he did something like that.

Grannynannywanny Fri 30-Jan-26 22:35:45

I found myself with a lump in my throat yesterday in a charity shop to see an identical set of my mum’s precious china tea set . She kept it in a china cabinet throughout my childhood and used it only on special occasions. Then very carefully hand washed and dried it and returned it to the cabinet.

There was the same collection in the charity shop for just £10 for the entire set along with other sets of beautiful china going for a few pounds. The lady behind the counter said it probably won’t sell for £10 and will be reduced next week. It seems some items that were precious to our parents and grandparents are resigned to the scrap heap.

My teenage granddaughter said she loves the tea set so I’ve boxed it up and put her name on it.

Allira Fri 30-Jan-26 22:24:35

If they get broken que sera sera.
Best to enjoy using them.

They'll go to the charity shop or in a skip one day anyway.