WWYD?

StellarStaylor

Some of you know that it was my great grandmother's 100th birthday yesterday. The party (and most of our family) was in Arizona. I couldn't make it but I'm hoping we can plan a trip out there soon.

My mom sent me a text message saying that my great Aunt decided to give everyone of the women in our family pieces of her (my great grandmother's) jewelry. I thought this was incredibly sweet and since I wasn't able to make it, my great Aunt picked out my piece.

It's a pearl necklace with a ruby stone in a gold setting hanging in the middle. As well as matching earrings.

I don't know where I'd ever be able to wear this at. I was thinking about maybe taking the ruby setting and turning it into another necklace with a simple gold or silver chain.

Is this inappropriate? Should I just leave it the way it is?

gregslittlewifey

I'd leave it as-is for now and try to work it into your daily wordrobe. I wear (fake) pearls pretty often with jeans and other casual outfits. If it sits for a year and you never wear it, take it to a jeweler and get some advice.

PSU_Grad

I don't think it's inappropriate at all.  When my grandma passed away (this was years ago) my mom and I went through all of her jewlery and made sure everyone in the family was given something of hers.  My uncle (mom's youngest brother) took her death especially hard and my mom gave him my grandma's engagement ring.  He took the diamond and had it made into a stud earring that he wears to this day.  I have some of her stuff (her wedding band and some fun gold bangles) that I didn't alter simply because the style is very simple and I like them the way they are.  So it could go either way. 

darkling_glory

I wouldn't have any qualms about taking it apart and making it into something I would wear.

When my grandfather passed away I inherited a stick pin with a diamond and sapphire in it. I was NEVER going to use a stick pin so instead of leaving it in a drawer I took it to a jeweler I trusted (they made my wedding rings -- also with inherited jewelry) and turned it into a great necklace that I wear quite often.

I'd probably sell the pearls and turn the rubies into a great 3 stone ring since rubies are my birthstone and I love them.

It's totally up to you -- but no one in my family was put out by what I did with the stickpin. They all thought it was really cool.

 

Milsey32

First off, that's so sweet! And like GLW, I'd see if you can work it into some outfits here and there. 

OrangePixyStix

I wouldn't consider it inappropriate if you would be getting more use out of the jewelry by using the stone for another piece.     I don't really see anything wrong with that and know many folks who have had family pieces altered for their preference.

 

However for me personally, I would probably leave it the way it is and if I didn't think that I would wear it then I would package it well and put it away for safe keeping as more of a keepsake to remember her.   I rarely wear expensive jewelry and am always afraid of losing or breaking things like that so I am the type that would probably not wear it, altered to a new piece or not.   That's just me, though!  

StellarStaylor

Thanks, ladies!

I definitely have some options. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but at the same time I'd like to honor her by wearing it. 

Here's a pic of what it looks like. 

I'm just more of a simple jewelry girl so I don't know how to or what to wear with this. Any tips - fashion wise - would be greatly appreciated.

Ishaba11

It is very pretty. The ruby part would look nice as a pendant.

gregslittlewifey

Pretty! I'd wear it with a simple button-down and jeans and heels:

 

 

... or layer it with a bunch of other chunky necklaces.

 

lizardesque

I know what you mean. It's pretty, but it's not my style either. I might leave it as it is, at least for a while, to see if I changed my mind and could work it in to some outfits. However, after that, if I didn't wear it, I'd take it to a jeweler and see what could be done with it.

boofly1224

gregslittlewifey:

I'd leave it as-is for now and try to work it into your daily wordrobe. I wear (fake) pearls pretty often with jeans and other casual outfits. If it sits for a year and you never wear it, take it to a jeweler and get some advice.

I'd follow this advice. 

LizO11

If you wouldn't wear it as is, I would probably change it into something you would. Though I did this with my MIL's engagement ring, which she had given to my H and I. It was a single diamond in a very ornate yellow gold setting. So I had the stone pulled out, and made into a single pendant. My FIL was none to pleased when he saw it. (They had been divorced for 12 years, and we had had the ring for 2 years in our possesion.) He has since gotten over it, and now appreciates that the stone is at least being worn and used.

RideTheLightning

I'm not sure I would alter it yet. How hard would it be to remove the pendant and wear it on a separate silver chain? I think you could possibly get more use out of it that way, and then in a few years, see about turning it into something personalized for you.

StellarStaylor

Thanks for all the advice! I just did not want to come off as a ungrateful brat about this.

 I doubt I'm going to make any immediate changes to it, I do want to see if I can pull it off with something I have...I think that was probably the best advice.

RideTheLightning:

How hard would it be to remove the pendant and wear it on a separate silver chain?

I think if I were to change it, it would be this. I don't really want to completely change the look, just make it more simple.