to keep this inheritance, even though it's worth far more than I thought?

[Helenagrace]

Bit of background first. My Grandmother promised me her wedding ring for years. When she died her daughters handed me a bag of jewellery, but not the wedding ring. I wasn't that bothered as I'm not quite sure what I'd have done with the ring anyway. The daughters kept her pearl necklaces, all the gold and her engagement ring as well as my great-grandmother's wedding and engagement rings. My grandmother didn't leave a will.

I've been wearing a few bits of my grandmother's jewellery but one pair of earrings was damaged. I assumed they were costume pieces (albeit very nice ones) and asked a jeweller to see if he could repair them as they had sentimental value.

The jeweller has repaired the earrings. He also valued them as he realised they weren't costume. It appears that I have accidentally inherited two beautiful pearls and 2 carats of diamonds set in platinum. They are worth around £3000 but I have been advised to insure them for double that. I love pearls and will treasure them and wouldn't want to sell them. I plan to wear them to my brother's wedding next month.

My DH now thinks I should ask the two daughters (my aunts) what they think. I think I should keep them and say nothing. My mother agrees with mebut she's always believed my aunts are money-grabbing anyway.

So am I unreasonable for wanting to keep them? What should I do?

[edam]

patient, you are the only person on this thread desperately trying to make excuses for the aunts. Doesn't that tell you something? Sometimes when you are the lone voice it's because you are wrong.

[TragicallyHip]

But the grandmother wanted to give it to her Second

[perfectstorm]

When I read the thread title I was expecting to tell you to own up. Now I've read it... I think this is a rare instance of karma working well! Enjoy your lovely earrings.

[mylovelymonster]

It sounds like your grandmother made sure you got something special of hers after all. £3k is not a great deal to make a difference to inheritance value of any meaning. You were handed a bag of jewellery with, I imagine, no mention of assumed value so why does it need to be mentioned after the event?
They were given to you, they are yours. Keep them and enjoy them with a clear conscience.
I don't see there are any grounds for your Aunts to ask for them back? They didn't come with conditions attached? They may see you wearing them and be surprised at how good they look now you've had them repaired, but you are under no obligation to give them any details, as far as I can see. None at all. Pretend they are costume if it makes life easier. Get them insured though!

[PatientGriselda]

Not desperate, edam, just articulating a different viewpoint. I'm sorry, but even though it's sad that the OP didn't get the ring, it is to me totally understandable that her aunts felt it was something very meaningful to them as daughters, and wanted to keep it close to them.

I agree with pretty well everyone else that there's no need to return the earrings, in case you didn't pick that up. I'm just saying there's no need for some of the "take that evil bitches" comments made by other posters.

[diddl]

"I wasn't that bothered as I'm not quite sure what I'd have done with the ring anyway."

So, perhaps it´s OK that the aunts kept it?

And, as TSC says, it may yet be given to her.

[PatientGriselda]

It doesn't, velveteen rabbit, you're right, but the only item that has been mentioned as having financial value is the pair of earrings. I dot imagine the wedding ring is necessarily worth much financially speaking at all.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I don't agree either. The very last thing you can do for someone is respect their wishes. The grandmother's feelings were well known. There is no excuse for them to go against what she wanted.

[Pedallleur]

I can guarantee that saying anything to them will result in a lot of bad feeling. They gave the items to you so therefore they relinquished any title to them. What they don't know etc... Just enjoy wearing the earrings and if the aunts say anything just smile and say wearing the jewellery gives you the pleasure of your grandmothers memories

[perfectstorm]

If someone I loved died and I knew they wanted a treasured possession to go to a loved grandchild, I think I'd have to be pretty grasping to seek to hang on to it, yes. It's not indicative of love to refuse to carry out a dead person's wishes, IMO. The reverse.

If they knew their mother wanted the ring to go to someone else but it meant the world to them, the simple solution would have been to ask if they could keep it, and then will it on to her in their turn. Not just grab. OP sounds like she'd have been sympathetic to a request like that - in fact she's having moral scruples over not sharing in the wealth with the replacement!

I'd also like to know how two women can keep one ring. Given only one of them can actually have it, why is that more emotionally satisfying than a niece having it? It's still in the family either way, unless it's been sold.

Finally - OP, I'd get the rest of the jewellery valued, too.

[elinorbellowed]

Funnily enough, my mother reminded me the other day that I'd been overlooked when my paternal grandmother died. She had also been saying for years that I was to have her ruby engagement ring. She will also have 'put my name on it', literally. She died suddenly about 15 years ago. Everyone was so shocked and horrified that I do think this led to her eldest daughter (my aunty) hanging on to jewellery that was promised to her granddaughters. This hasn't crossed my mind once, I love my aunty dearly and never minded. I certainly don't think it was money grabbing. But it clearly bothers my mum for some reason.