To sell my nans ring(passed on to me) to fund a much needed holiday?

[happyandsingle]

Basically this.Have an old diamond ring passed down from my mum it was originally my nans.
Have worn it for years but basically it only fits on one finger(that I think is meant to be the engagement finger or so I've been told) and I am most definitely single!.
It's a nice ring but my dilemma is I'm desperate for a holiday abroad next year for me and my dd.
It's been a shit couple of years and I've had one holiday in ten years paid for by my mum.
I could save but basically on my budget it would be very tight and would mean sacrificing a lot.
My idea was to pawn the ring to get the money for the holiday. I would probably feel guilty but on the other hand I'm sure if my nan was alive she would want me to make the most of it.
My AIBU is do you feel it's a bad thing to do as it was passed down to me? And will I feel guilty after?

If you could get a good price (i.e. 4 figures), I'd say go for it, but if you can only get a few hundred, that's not worth it for an heirloom.

You sound like you had your mind set, so why ask?

If it doesn't hold any sentimental value, sell it. It's yours to do as you please. It's not something I would personally do for a £1000 holiday, but it's no one else's business.

Don't know how much you'd get for the ring, obviously, but to my mind experiences are much more precious than objects. Your nan is gone, and you have your memories of her. They wouldn't disappear if you got rid of the thing. But if you have a nice holiday, you and your DD will remember it for the rest of your lives.

Get it valued. The gold market (especially for pawned items) has changed in the last 30-40 years so antiques that might have been worth a lot more prior to Indo-African immigration are now worth less because the 18-24 carat ‘pure’ gold (even by itself) preferred by these communities is actually worth more than lower carats with uncertified gems. For example my mum recently sold a 18 carat yellow gold ring (weight 2!grams) for £600.

I don't think pawn shops give decent money for jewellery, you be best looking for auctioneers in your area.

I don't really know how auctioneers work, but I think you can put down a reserve? Might be worth getting the ring valued by a jeweller first.

If you're planning on going to a cash convertor type shop you really will be given pittance for it

Surely the idea of a pawn shop is that you can release funds and buy back the item at a later date?

Get it valued then you can decide if it's worth the hassle. I don't think you'd be wrong to sell it though.

Definitely get a valuation or two before you decide.

I’ve had a few very expensive pieces passed down. The cost of insurance on them was more than my house insurance.

They sit in a safety deposit box at the bank. Sentiment is fine, but practicality is more important.

I hope you get your holiday

Please post a picture OP I love a good diamond ring!

I'd probably sell it, we should love people and use things, not the other way around!

You've clearly already decided OP. Presumably you were expecting everyone to agree with you, to validate your choice, but they haven't. Enjoy your holiday.

Exactly Royalcorgi its memories we could have together and sadly due to lack of funds we have never really done much.

Take the ring to a reputable jeweller, or preferably three jewellers, and get it valued before deciding whether you wish to sell it.

Do NOT pawn it. As pp have said, you'll only get a tiny fraction of its worth and it doesn't sound as if you'll be in a position to redeem it after your holiday which means that you will have, effectively, given it away for pennies instead of its true value.

I wouldn't but I wouldn't judge you for doing it. I've no idea what your life is like. Holidays create memories and your grandmother might support the decision.

However, if you're mum is still around or if you have siblings (that includes brothers in case they'd like it for future fiance) then you should absolutely check with them first.

Do you have much spare time? Could you try a bit of matched betting? In a separate account so its all for your holiday. Have a look at the team profit app. (I am aware this will activate some kind of Mumsnet bingo)

Surely the idea of a pawn shop is that you can release funds and buy back the item at a later date

Well yes but the idea of a pawn shop is that many of the people who pawn things can never afford to buy them back. If OP’s money is that tight she may never. And if she can afford to save up to buy it back she can afford to save up for the holiday without pawning it.

I'm going to go against the flow.

Depending on how much you'll get for it, if it pays for the holiday then I would.

I have a few items from my grandmother (not of any significant value but somewhat sentimental) but they are sitting in a box at the bottom of my wardrobe and I have only looked at them once in five years. There isn't any point or value in having things you don't use/wear or aren't sentimental about.

A holiday can bring many treasured memories....

It's such a small band it wouldn't even fit my daughter and barely fits me. But for the sake of sentiment I should just hold onto it to look at.If u hadn't had a break in years and was at breaking point perhaps you would feel different.

I have no idea why people come on mumsnet and ask people's opinions when they have already made up their mind and then are rude to people with different opinions.
You've obviously made up your mind to sell it and that's what you're going to do.
Making barbed comments about everyone on here being jewellers was unnecessary. People were trying to helpful by describing their experiences of getting old jewellery valued. (I've also had things valued and you get next to nothing for them).

Is your daughter old enough to ask? I grew up with no money and if my mum told me she had sold a family heirloom so I could go abroad for a holiday I would be upset. Children love any holiday, couldn't you just keep the ring and holiday in the UK?

I would not sell no matter how much i would get. I would keep it for DD.

I am always puzzled by people on Floggit who sell a not particularly valuable, but nice, family heirloom, to fund a trip to Alton Towers for their grandchildren.

I have some of nans jewellery passed down to me and my sisters have some too.

My sisters both wear theirs every day.

I don’t. I haven’t bought myself to sell it yet as mine although antique isn’t worth much.

But if it was worth anything more than £500 if much rather sell it and use it rather than it sit in a jewellery box for the next 20 years or so

It’s probably worth more as scrap than as a ring.

I echo the don’t sell it. You won’t get a good price at a pawn shop. If you do go ahead, get it melted down and sold as scrap.

It's your ring you should do whatever you want to do with it. Don't feel bad if you want to sell it so you can go away with your daughter. Go for it if you can get enough for it. I'm sure your nan would want you to have the experience with your daughter rather than you hold on to a ring you don't want.

Find out what someone is willing to pay for it and then decide.

Would your DMum buy it back off you? She might want to keep it since it was her DMum's. Was it your DGM's engagement ring?