Engagement rings for women is one of the most lucrative and consistent sources of income for jewelry retailers. Over the last few years many young people are turning to heirlooms for more affordable, often more meaningful, alternatives to new diamonds and wedding bands. Family members often pass down these sentimental possessions willingly and freely.
There are good reasons that more young couples prefer to turn to the family jewel box.
According to a recent report at younginvincibles.org
millennial net wealth is half as much as Baby Boomers when they were young adults; wages have also declined 20 percent for today’s young workers.
Millennials have higher levels of student-loan debt, poverty and unemployment than the two previous generations had at the same stage of their lives. (pewsocialtrends.org) Last but not least, for some couples the idea of a groom’s being required to spend an arbitrary amount on a ring is viewed as archaic, if not outright anti-feminist.
All this in mind, some couples are determined to purchase a new ring despite of the above mentioned reasons. How can you decide which route to choose? I will try to help you decide by pointing out a few things to consider.
Go For an Heirloom Engagement Ring If:
You are connected to the family stories and history and you love the idea of passing the tradition of the ring on by wearing it yourself—and maybe passing it onto your own children one day.
You Love Vintage Jewelry
If you want to save money on your anniversary ring and use the money for something else
You love the fact that your ring has been through one love story and is continuing onto your own love story
Go For a New Engagement Ring If:
You resent the idea of giving up the freedom of choosing exactly the ring you want. Instead you feel like you are being forced into wearing someone else’s ring.
You have always dreamed about having a new ring and you have a specific design that you love.
You absolutely hate the heirloom ring.
You know that you will change the heirloom ring to something else.
You want a ring with a feature that is totally unique and special. For example a ring that has a unique feature such as a patented stone cut like The Blaze Cut that you can only get in a Bez Ambar (link) design or a custom design that created a ring inspired by your own personal love story
Comments 5
always dreamed about having a new ring and have a specific design that I love
Hey Bullet,
Thank you for your comment on the post in our blog.
Anat
perfect ring. I very like it
Thank You
As a male, I have to say that giving the woman of your dreams someone else’s ring – even if it was a beloved grandmother’s set – is tacky. It’s fine to give it as a non-wedding related gift provided you do not require her to agree to give it back if you divorce.
But I would sooner propose with a Walmart ring from their “going clubbing and don’t want guys to hit on me for $8.88” fake engagement ring section and a promise to buy her the ring she deserves when I have that money, than to present her with someone else’s old ring. It makes the man look like he’s a. cheap and b. unable to support his future wife and family. He can show his support of your family through other traditions, such as honouring your religious values at the wedding, using that grandmother’s name for your first born daughter, etc. Granted, I’m an old fashioned liberal-Millennial.
Wedding rings retain a certain aura, or vibe to them – based on the marriage of the people who wears/wore them. If you get a ring that came from a Pawn shop and the marriage wasn’t good (very likely if it’s in a pawn shop) then chances are it will carry negativity to that new marriage. Even if a set of rings holds good memories and a positive aura, it’s someone else’s marital bliss.
I was married, now divorced. We got used ring for myself. I threw that Pt and diamond ring worth $3000 to the woods after our divorce so that it’d never ruin someone else’s marriage. If you do want to cash in on old wedding jewelry, have it saged/blessed/cleansed and then make it into something new. Previously owned items often bring with them the energy from their previous location(s).
If that doesn’t make sense, think of it like this: if a ring carries a negative vibe it’s like offering someone a dirty, worn out swimsuit to wear when they ask for something to wear to the beach. If it’s a good vibe ring – it’s still the equivalent of offering one of your clean swimsuits to wear. They know your balls have been in it even if it’s been washed.
Ladies – make your man buy you a ring – even if it’s a replica of your grandmother’s ring. Antique styles are back in style (alone with antique names). A ring should be like your underwear – worn only by you and no one else before hand.