The thing I get asked about more than any other item I own, is definitely my bracelets. The second thing I get asked about is my rings. Each of my rings (both wedding and other pieces) are precious mementoes in my life. I thought it would be neat to tell you about them in case you were curious where each came from or if, like me, you have a special ring collection too.
The first ring I ever got from my husband was my engagement ring. It’s the one on the far right and I love it to pieces. We actually found it in an antique ring store when we were dating and when I put it on, it took my breath away. Unbeknownst to me, after he dropped me off at home that day, Dave drove right back and bought it. Then apparently obsessed about losing it in the month before he finally proposed. It’s a 1920’s cushion cut in platinum.
The second ring I ever got from my husband was my wedding band. It’s the tiny baby dainty thing on the other end. When I say that I “got” it from him that’s only in relation to the fact that he slid it on my finger on our wedding day. The ring itself actually came from my great grandma Luella. My great grandparents on both sides came from incredibly humble beginnings (and endings for that matter). But I adore that her ring is so loved and well-worn. Even though it has no monetary value, the history of it is worth everything to me.
The next ring in the stack was the gift for my fifth wedding anniversary. I really wanted to add to my stack and Dave and I talked about getting another band from the same antique ring store where we got my engagement ring. I stopped by one day just to look and I saw this cool deco ring from the 1940’s and just loved it. When I came home that night I told Dave “Honey, look what you bought me for our anniversary!” He laughed and agreed it was beautiful.
The last ring is an infinity band in rose gold from Tiffany’s. It was my twenty eighth birthday and we were out to dinner. Afterwords Dave asked if I wanted to go look around Tiffany’s and see if I liked anything. I mean, are you kidding me you guys?! Who is this man?! Of course I loved the idea and when we got there Dave wandered over to the wedding bands. “Why don’t we get you one of these?” he asked. “All your other rings are beautiful but they all belonged to someone else first. This one will be only ever yours.” I still swoon a little just thinking about it.
The ring above isn’t one I wear often and when I do, it’s usually because I’m having a hard day and missing my brother. My big brother passed away many years ago and this was his promise ring. My parents got one for each of my siblings when they turned sixteen and Ryan would be in heaven a year and a half after he’d gotten his. At the time I was still a year shy of getting my own and I asked to have Ryan’s instead of a new one. It is one of the most precious things I own.
My mom gave me these rings in second grade and I had never felt more special or fancy. I wore them both every day for years and years and they’re both bent to the exact shape of the finger they used to sit on. They still fit me today (which is sad evidence of what a pipsqueak I am) and I wear them whenever the mood strikes me. I keep them though, not just because they bring back sweet memories but because one day I hope to give them to my own daughter.
