The Complete Heirloom Engagement and Wedding Ring Guide

There's something intrinsically magical about an heirloom engagement ring. From its one-of-a-kind appearance to its rich history to its sentimental value, it can be really special to propose with an heirloom ring. But when it comes to proposing with a family ring, there's a lot to keep in mind, and we consulted with experts Heidi Gibson and Elizabeth Doyle for their insight.

From talking to your significant other to asking permission from your family to potentially resetting the stone, here's everything you need to know about heirloom engagement ring etiquette.

Before Proposing With an Heirloom Ring

While you're plotting the proposal to end all proposals, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Get a Sense of How Your Future Fiancée Feels About Heirloom Rings

It's always good to get a read on how your future spouse feels about vintage rings. If the ring's in your family, maybe show a picture of your grandma wearing it, point out the ring, and gauge the response.

Talk to Your Family

In some cases, your family (or your partner's) will offer you the ring when they see an engagement coming. In other cases, you might have to ask on your own. When it comes time to talk passing down wedding rings, make it a face-to-face conversation. Never go into it expecting they'll hand over the ring. It's a major decision, and even if it's been brought up theoretically, it's a different story when it comes time to actually give the ring away.

Discuss Expectations

If you get the green light, this is also the time to discuss expectations. For example, would they be OK with you resetting or modifying the ring? It's important to get their stance on this upfront. Your grandma/mother/aunt might be thrilled to let you do whatever you’d like with it, or she could have her heart set on seeing the same ring on your partner's finger (and could see that as a condition of accepting the ring at all).

Learn About the Ring's History

Make sure to ask all about the ring. Listen to all the stories behind the ring. They're certainly something you'll want to pass along to your partner and, perhaps, your own children eventually. Keep the history of the ring alive by soaking it all up. Chances are whoever is giving it to you will be more than happy to talk about the special piece of jewelry.

Get It Cleaned, Appraised, and Insured

Have the ring professionally cleaned and check to make sure all the stones are secure (if any are loose, take it to the jeweler to get them secured). Get the ring appraised and insured.

How to Reset an Heirloom Engagement Ring

If you won't rock the proverbial boat by resetting the ring, "look first for designs and designers that resonate with your style," suggests Gibson. "Of course, look for positive reviews—word-of-mouth references are ideal." Designers can work with you to create a one-of-a-kind style or allow you to select from existing designs that flatter the stones you have to work with.

Consider the Ring's Original Setting

Often a designer won't be able to preserve the ring's original setting. "If you are trying to keep the rest of the setting intact, ask your jeweler if this is a possibility before they attempt to remove the stones," says Gibson. "You should generally consider that the rest of the piece will be scrap material for trade-in value only. The stones themselves will not lose actual or figurative value when reset."

Think About the Ring's Current Value

If the original setting has value—and especially if the ring has more value in its current form than it would after a redesign—you have another reason to hit pause on resetting your ring. "I always prefer to see people save and preserve their valuable family heirlooms," says Doyle. "It may be nice to pass on to a child at some point, or it could be reset with a diamond at some future date."

At the end of the day, Gibson says, you should be happy with what you wear each day. "While I do believe in preserving sentimental value, there's also something to say for having and wearing a ring that you love. After all, it's your finger," Gibson says. "Resetting an heirloom ring is an amazing way to extend family tradition: To save money—because the center stone is generally the most expensive part of a ring—and to define your own style."

Resizing an Heirloom Engagement Ring

In some cases, the ring will fit its new owner perfectly. In others, it will need to be resized. The good news, however, is that ring resizing is a straightforward, affordable process. The bad news is that it's typically not possible to resize rings more than two sizes up or down without compromising the integrity of the ring. This isn't an issue if you're having the ring completely redesigned or reset, but it is a roadblock if you're hoping to keep the ring exactly as is but the fit is way off.

If your partner will be expected to wear the ring as is, there are still ways to make it their own. Set up a consultation with a jeweler to see if there are any options that could help bring the ring into modern times while still preserving the design. While the changes to the ring (beyond having it resized, which you should do no matter what so you don’t lose it!) may be few and far between, you could get creative with your wedding band to add some of your personality. Mix metals, design a band that fits snugly against the ring, or curate a stunning stack of rings that both show off the heirloom and include the contemporary styles you love.

Heirloom Ring Stories From Real Couples

Every day, people get engaged using heirloom rings. Here are a few touching stories about how much the inherited jewelry means to the brides who wear it and the grooms who gave it.

"I've known for years that I was going to give my fiancée the pear-shaped diamond set in an old gold setting that my mother had given me from her mother. As [I was] an only child, my mother had no daughters to share her mother's ring with, so she entrusted it to me in hopes that I would give it to the love of my life. Coincidentally, long before she was aware of the existence of my grandmother's ring, my fiancée had told me that she loved pear-shaped diamonds. At that point, I almost knew it was fate, and I set about having the diamond reset complete with a halo in a white gold band. I would have loved to have given it to her in the original yellow gold setting, but it had become very worn, and my mother now wears it on a chain to remember my grandmother. My wife was thrilled with the ring and even more so when she learned of its origins. It truly couldn't have worked out better!"
—Caleb Ellis, Riverdale, New York

"My (now) husband Nick proposed with my grandmother’s engagement ring. He had it reset to be a bit more modern, but the look and feel, and certainly the diamonds, are the same! My father gave Nick the ring and then Nick brought it all the way to Paris to propose at the Eiffel Tower. I love my ring; I don’t wear a wedding band because I haven’t found one yet that I think doesn’t interfere. I love that the ring looks different from others and that it has sentimental value. It’s also a gold setting, which is a bit unusual these days."
—Lucy Arnold, New York City

"My husband proposed on a bit of a whim, with no ring at all! We were on vacation in Bermuda and the feeling just came over him. Of course, I said yes. When we got home, my Nana gave us the marquise diamond in my engagement ring. It was originally in her engagement ring, which she wore every day before her husband passed. I had it reset in white gold. Once it was complete, my husband surprised me with a re-proposal along the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. My wedding band is also made up of heirloom diamonds from my great-grandmother. My Nana had reset the diamonds into another ring previously but had them extracted and gave them to me. I had them placed in this white-gold prong setting, which matches my engagement ring. I love having these family heirlooms with me, and I'm lucky that everyone was supportive of me modifying to match my own style. I hope someday I can pass them along to my daughter and she can make them her own."
—Brittany Carambio, Washington, D.C.

"My soon-to-be fiancé, Ryan, and I met on Bumble about a year and a half ago. We're both Korean adoptees (and were not aware [of that] at the time that we met). Fast-forward to now, and we have no doubts about getting married and obviously adopting a Korean child of our own! As far as a ring goes, we'll be using an heirloom that belonged to his adoptive father's mother. It's smaller, princess cut, and we are taking it to be reset at the jeweler that my adoptive parents have frequented for the last 25 years. For us, it was a way of bringing our families together in one ring. The current metal is gold, and we'll be changing it to white gold and potentially having a few smaller diamonds embedded. We want to keep it simple. We both feel pretty fortunate to have found one another and to have this beautiful family ring that is now becoming part of our new family."
—Jenna Irish, Washington, D.C.

"I was lucky enough to receive my pear-shaped heirloom ring from my mother-in-law who had passed away. At first, my husband was against me resetting it, but as it was so small and since the band was unable to be made larger, he finally agreed. We used diamonds from my father-in-law's knuckle-buster ring to create a halo around the pear diamond and even had enough for an eternity band. It feels very special to have a piece of them with us on a daily basis."
—Jacqueline Goldman, Hollywood, Florida

"My engagement ring is from the early 1930s and belonged to my great-grandmother Beatrice. She lost her wedding band, but my mom inherited her engagement ring when she passed away. My mom lovingly referred to the ring as “Bea,” my great-grandmother’s nickname, and wore it on special occasions, such as graduations and weddings. I did not know until recently, but my mom wore Bea's ring during her own wedding as her 'something old.' The ring is simple and timeless. I've always thought it was beautiful, but what is so special to me is that it reminds me of my great-grandmother... She was a fearless teenager at heart, and I think of her every time I see the ring on my hand."
—Kelly Marron, Richmond, Virginia