What To Do With An Old Engagement Ring – Good Ideas

Getting engaged is a big deal because Its the beginning of your life together and the start of your adventures in matrimony.

However, life is full of surprises, and sometimes things don’t work out the way we planned.

As such, there may be a reason why you’re thinking of what to do with your old engagement ring.

Your marriage might have dissolved and ended in divorce, you might be set to get remarried, or maybe you just don’t care for the ring anymore.

Whatever the case, there are a few things that you can do with an old engagement ring.

What to do with an old engagement ring

Aside from a marriage coming to an end, there are lots of other situations that compel people to repurpose their engagement rings.

For instance, couples that choose to renew their vows often prefer to get a whole new set of rings.

Or maybe your weight has changed and the engagement ring no longer fits.

Whatever the case, the sentimental value of your old ring doesn’t have to go away.

Why not find a new life for it?

This list consists of suggestions on how to repurpose your old engagement ring, from turning it into a pendant to using it as a component in a DIY jewelry project.

Give it back to your ex

An engagement ring is meant to be a symbol of your love for one another.

However, if you and your ex no longer share that love, then maybe it would be best to give the ring back to them.

Not all engagements make it to marriage and even when they do, not everyone stays put until death.

According to the CDC, the divorce rate in the US is at an all-time high.

In fact, it reached a new record high of nearly 50% in 2015.

There are lots of other fish in the sea and chances are you will find someone else who is right for you.

One way to symbolize this new start is by giving back your engagement ring to your ex and starting afresh.

This might be an uncomfortable and painful ordeal especially if your ex is a toxic person or if you feel that you still love them.

However, it’s something that you need to do.

It’s time to part ways, and that means it’s time to let go of the one thing that could be holding you back.

Think of it as a blessing in disguise.

Letting go of the ring signifies that you are ready to start over with a new commitment.

It is also an opportunity for closure on both sides; you get to let go of the past and say goodbye, and your ex gets closure as well.

Pass it down to your children

After a divorce or separation, some people decide to keep the engagement ring for sentimental reasons.

However, if you have children and plan to remarry, it might be best to let the ring go.

Give it to your son when he’s of age and ready to start dating or give it to your daughter as a gift on her wedding day.

It might be a painful reminder of your failed relationship, but don’t forget that you can also pass down the lessons.

Talk to your children about what happened and how it affected you.

Help them understand how things ended and how you want them to treat others.

Needless to say, some divorces are amicable and mutual.

If this is the case, then you’ll be preserving happy memories and a deep family connection.

Transform it into a pendant

If you don’t want to part with your engagement ring or give it to anyone close to you, then you can keep it while turning it into a pendant.

All you need to do is find a jeweler who can resize and transform your ring into a pendant.

This is a great way to preserve the value of your ring, especially since some parts of it can be reused.

A jeweler can remove the gemstones and recreate them as earrings, rings, or even other pieces of jewelry that you would like to keep around.

You might even consider adding family heirlooms as part of the piece.

There are also many pendant styles that you can pick from including those that incorporate charms and charms with inscriptions.

Use it to make new pieces of jewelry

Have you ever heard of the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” If not, then you’ve come to the right place.

Luckily for you, there are lots of ways to turn your old ring into something new.

If you’re crafty and have a knack for DIY, then why not make some jewelry out of it?

You can find lots of DIY tutorials online that show how to incorporate your old ring into a piece of new jewelry.

Make a bracelet using your old ring as a closure, use it to make a pair of earrings, or use it as a pendant.

Turn your old ring into a new one! Chances are you can find some more creative ideas to repurpose your engagement ring if you’re willing to think outside of the box.

After all, there are lots of things that you can do with an old engagement ring.

Redesign it into another ring

If you want to take your old ring in a different direction, then you can redesign it into a new ring.

You may have already tried some of the things on this list, or you might feel the need to preserve the sentimental value of your engagement ring.

In that case, you might want to find a way to fit both requirements together.

You can do so by reusing parts of your old ring and turning it into a whole new piece of jewelry.

In this case, turn it into a whole new ring, or you can simply modify your existing ring by adding more stones or changing its design.

If you’re not comfortable making this transition, then have some jewelry designers at your disposal.

They can help guide you on what would be the best transition that fits your wishes and requirements.

In this instance, get a jeweler to resize your ring so that you’re able to wear it on another finger instead of your original one.

Sell it

Some people need a financial boost and as such, sell their old engagement rings online.

Online auctions are becoming more popular, especially for those with expensive jewelry.

There are lots of websites that specialize in these types of items where you can put your ring up for auction or sell it locally through one of the many resellers that exist around the world.

You can even post ads on social media sites to reach out to potential buyers and make sure that they’re aware of your ring’s existence.

While selling your ring will surely not erase the pain and distress that you’re feeling, it is a way to turn your loss into a gain.

You can use the proceeds to help with your financial needs and move on from the past.

As a matter of fact, the funds may come in handy when you’re due for a post-divorce vacation or a night out of town.

Try and make the most of this endeavor by talking to a financial adviser and using the money wisely.

Also, ensure the ring is appraised by a professional before selling it.

Stay strong; this is a part of life.

Take it in stride and remember that you have a second chance at happiness!

Donate it

If the sight of your old engagement ring triggers memories and emotions that are difficult to handle, then you might as well donate it and get rid of it once and for all.

There are many charitable organizations that will find a good use for your old ring.

For example, The Museum of Broken Relationships is a nonprofit organization that collects and displays donations of ‘broken’ items to provide healing, insight, and humor.

Some of the items are even on display in their museum in Zagreb Croatia.

So if you think donating your old engagement ring will help others and make you feel better, go ahead and donate it so that it can be reused and shared with the world as a reminder of the love lost.

Aside from this, many other charities including Goodwill and The Salvation Army also accept donations.

You can even give it as a gift to someone else if you’re willing to part with it.

A coworker, acquaintance, or family member might just appreciate a nice gift and be willing to take it off your hands.

Create art for your home

You can turn your old engagement ring into a piece of art for your home.

If you have creative talents and a knack for DIY, then why not make the most of it?

You can find lots of ideas online that show how you can turn your old ring into something beautiful and artistic.

There are lots of brilliant ways to repurpose jewelry that we don’t see often.

If you like the idea of repurposing your ring as an art piece, start with something simpler and use it as an accent piece.

Whether its painting, woodworking, a scrapbook or any other craft, you can turn the ring into something that represents your relationship and use it to decorate your home.

So go for whatever your heart desires!

Final Thoughts

No matter what happened between you and your ex, it’s never easy to part ways.

When there’s a breakup, it can take years or even decades to move on.

You’ve experienced loss, pain, and tears and you’re still carrying the emotional scars of your split.

However, you have to understand that this is a part of life.

When you’re ready to repurpose your old engagement ring, do it with the ultimate respect for yourself and others.

Remember to be careful with what you do, especially if you’re not a professional.

FAQs

What do you do with an unused engagement ring?

If you don’t need to use your old engagement ring, then there are lots of ways to repurpose it.

These methods can help you move on from the past and create new memories by using the ring in new ways.

Donate it, sell the ring or even repurpose it into a bracelet or pendant.

Can you keep an engagement ring after a breakup?

Yes, you can.

Initially, people will ask what your plans are with your old engagement ring.

However, you can simply say that you don’t need it anymore and donate it to a charity so that it can be reused in the future.