to sell some family jewellery to pay for my wedding ring

[ElSkintos]

Name changed for this, not sure why, but I feel a bit guilty...

I'm getting married to my lovely DP next year. We have saved and are still saving, and have had some financial help from family (not asked for) but despite this the costs seem to be getting a little out of control. Mostly it's me completely underestimating what things actually cost.

Whilst we are cutting back where we can to keep in budget, one area that I'm struggling with is my wedding band.

I don't want to scrimp or get something that doesn't look right as, out of all the parts of the wedding, it's the aspect (along with the marriage) that will be there for the rest of my life. I think I'm looking at around £1000 for the ring I want, way over the £500 I had (naively) budgeted. The main cost restiction is the fact I have a platinum engagement ring so need to match the metal, and it is a lot more expensive than I realised.

I have a few items of jewellery from a great aunt that died when I was 15. I didn't know her well and had only met her a few times. She didn't have children, and left all her belongings to my DF and his DB, splitting the jewellery between them. It's kind of complicated because the jewellery I had was actually left to my DM (no idea if it was in the will or specified verbally) but she had just left my DF at the time GA died. My DF was very upset and passed it onto me. I think my DM was aware it was meant for her and knows i have it, but I think felt she had no right to it. I have worn most of the jewellery throughout the years.

I don't have a close relationship with my DF, but I'm not sure if I would be massively out of order to consider selling some of the jewellery (actually, just a ring that I do like, have tried to wear, but it's too big and gave me eczema. It can't be altered because of the way the diamonds are set). If I'm honest I don't feel any emotional attachment to it, and in some ways feel that perhaps it's kind of like recycling if it helps me get my wedding ring?

Hmm, I actually feel more uncomfortable about it writing it down, but is it a waste to have it just sitting there?

AIBU?

It doesn't 'need' it. But it does look better with it. So does white gold.

If it helps, white gold is actually plated with rhodium or palladium, so should be ok worn alongside platinum, I have a white gold engagement ring (loved the stone) and a palladium bespoke wedding ring (my DH wanted palladium as it is pretty robust and he breaks everything he touches). I am not sure what he paid, but it was around £500 for the pair I believe, but we got a discount as the jeweller is a friend, so gave us 20% as a gift.

Anyhoo, that's not really the point, if you want a solid platinum ring then that's what you want, you wear your wedding band every day, so it has to be right, you have to love it.

Jewellery locked in a box and never worn is such a sad thing. Selling one ring from a collection is not really a big deal either. I would sell it and consider it a gift from your aunt.