What do I do with my wedding ring after the marriage ends?
Do you have post-divorce wedding or engagement rings burning a hole in your jewelry box? You’re not alone.
Did you know that about 43% of once-married people have been divorced by the time they’re in their 50s? Nearly 800,000 people divorced in the U.S. alone in 2018.
That’s a lot of rings loaded with emotional baggage and raw material. So, what to do if you have one of those rings? What’ do you do when you open your drawer and see a sparkling diamond that once represented the white-hot fire of love and possibility?
Figuring out what to do with that emotion-packed heirloom can be daunting, for sure. But here’s the good news: You have options.
For example, you can honor the memory of this special time in your life – and also move on from it! – by transforming your ring into something new. Something that represents your hopeful future, not your melancholy past. Or you can turn it into cold, hard cash.
Either way, the process can be therapeutic – physically, emotionally and mentally – and help you finally move on to a more positive place. Let’s take a look at five possible options.
- Toss it.NO! Don’t toss it in the lake! Sure, a gesture like this makes for an empowering, albeit cringe-worthy, movie scene. But in real life, it’s nothing more than a waste of precious material. It might feel good in the moment to make a dramatic statement like that, but don’t be fooled. It’s just sitting there at the bottom, buried in the muck and doing nobody any good – especially you! Take a breath. And back away from the water!
- Transform it. Yes! A friend recently brought her wedding ring to Woodward Jewelers after her divorce, had the diamond removed, added a couple new stones and turned it into a one-of-a-kind ring. She’s now happily remarried. She would say: “Learn from your mistakes and move on, preferably with better jewelry.” Contact Woodward Jewelers today and we’ll help you transform your jewelry!
- Appraise it.If it’s an antique or made by a designer with name value, this is a good place to start. Your ring may be worth more than the sum of its parts. Contact Woodward Jewelers today to schedule an appraisal.
- Sell it. If your divorce left you cash-strapped, this may be the quickest way to make that ring cover your immediate expenses. Use also could the proceeds as a down payment on a car or book a trip you could never get your ex to take with you. Splurge on something fabulous and impractical. You deserve it! Contact Woodward Jewelers today to sell your jewelry!
- Sell it for gold. If it contains substantial gold, have it weighed and sell it by the gram. Gold is selling for good money and has been at peak value for the past year. This is a great time to sell gold jewelry. Contact Woodward Jewelers today to get you the BEST PRICE for your gold!
So, you see, you DO have options. And good ones! So, take a moment to think things through. Talk with a friend. And always feel free to contact Tammy at Woodward Jewelers for a practical consultation. Everyone’s experience is different, so be true to yourself.
Remember, a sad ending often is merely the first awkward step toward a happy new beginning. We’re rooting for you!
Woodward Jewelers. We’re here to help!
