Vintage Wedding Ring

My paternal grandmother passed away the year before I was born. My aunt gave my mother one of my grandmother’s rings, something she’d thought could be passed to one of three daughters. Little did anyone know I was on the horizon!

All growing up I would try on the ring that sat on display on my mom’s swan ring holder, draped around its long slender neck. I’d slip it on my thumb (the largest appendage on my hand) and type on the computer or just sit at her desk. I loved how it had asymmetrical stones and such extraordinary detail. As each of my sisters’ married they took a diamond from the setting to place in their wedding band set.

Flash forward a decade or so when I met Sir Luke and fell madly in love with him. He comments regularly about how he lucked out on finding a girl who came with a ring. We had it sized for my fingers which didn’t grow up to the size of my mother’s and I began to wear it ALL. THE. TIME. I even slept in it. That’s how much I love it.

Image by Jessica Peterson

The story of the ring is vague. It was given to my grandmother while she was in college at Berkley. A “friend” gave her a platinum diamond ring… We don’t know what  that means exactly but it’s a fun story to tell because she didn’t marry that “friend.” There is another set of rings that my aunt has that were the wedding bands given to my grandmother by my grandfather, which are also very beautiful!

The ring is absolutely stunning. It’s got a gorgeous art deco design with engravings that are starting to rub off after nearly 70 years of wear. I wear it on special occasions only, now. A couple years ago I cracked the thin bottom band once while moving a piece of furniture… My jeweler shook his finger in my face, “this is fine jewelry!” I learned my lesson.

Are you planning on a vintage ring or estate piece? Are you lucky to inherit an heirloom like I did?