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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask what you have done with jewellery from an ex?

69 replies

MegsDancer · 08/10/2025 16:45

My ex partner gave me a lot of jewellery - beautiful pieces that I wore all the time when we were together. After the break up earlier this year I put them away as I couldn't imagine wearing them ever again without thinking of him.

Now I'm wondering if I could wear some of them again. What have you done with jewellery from an ex? Do you feel you can still wear it or are they too tied to your past relationship?

OP posts:
Errolwasahero · 08/10/2025 17:45

I only had a wedding ring; threw it at him when he asked me for it, in front of the policeman who had escorted me to let me get my stuff. His eyes were 😳. If I’d had a necklace I’d have throttled him with it 😎

DinoLil · 08/10/2025 17:47

Traded it all in scrap value.

Sugarfish · 08/10/2025 17:48

I have some lovely jewellery that a horrible ex gave me which I still wear. Why should I have to get rid of it when it was the best thing I got out of the relationship? The more expensive pieces I think of as compensation.

Belladog1 · 08/10/2025 17:49

Great question and something i have been thinking about.

I was with my husband for 33yrs. We split earlier this year and we are still friends. But I have met someone new and I never wear any of the jewellery built up in my marriage.

My new partner has bought me some beautiful bits and I wear them all the time.

It seems a shame that my beautiful jewellery will stay in a box forever, but I'm not sure i could sell some of it, or even where to go to sell it.

We had no children, so I have no one to leave anything to. I would love to wear my engagement ring which is beautiful, but I don't think my current partner would approve 🤔

Jungfraujoch · 08/10/2025 18:31

MegsDancer · 08/10/2025 17:23

@Jungfraujoch the man or the jewellery 😁

😂😂. Should’ve been him at the time but sadly he passed away not so long ago (nothing to do with me!) so I’ll be nice 😁

unsync · 08/10/2025 18:50

Sold it to help pay the mortgage. Ex-H was abusive.

Zempy · 08/10/2025 18:54

Sold it.

Brightbluesomething · 08/10/2025 19:01

Wedding and engagement rings are in a jewellery box I don’t use. Not worth selling.
However an ex bought me earrings he paid £150 for (gave me the receipt) and I wanted to sell them until I realised I can’t. Couldn’t even exchange them. Because they’re earrings. They’re an awful colour and in a drawer.

Beaverbridge · 08/10/2025 19:14

A jeweller friend melted down my wedding ring engagement ring and his wedding band he dumped on the table as he scarpered away with OW. The diamond from my engagement ring he embedded into the bracelet he made for me. I had odd gold earrings lying about I added to it. Bracelet has lasted longer than the marriage!.

Nevereatcardboard · 08/10/2025 19:17

I gave both wedding rings to our DC after exH died. A necklace was thrown away after it started making my neck turn green!

My ex bf gave me a cheap watch and necklace which I donated to a charity shop. A burglar would be very disappointed if they broke in here, as my jewellery collection is cheap beads which are kept in the grandchildren’s dressing up box 😊

Polyethyl · 08/10/2025 19:31

Displayed prominently on my dressing table, in the hope that if I'm burgled I can make an insurance claim. The sale value of jewellery is so disappointing compared to the buying price of jewellery. I did look into selling some earrings that cost £500. I was offered £50. So, dusting them and leaving them to tempt a burglar not to do a more detailed search, then insurance claim.
(The jewellery I like is well hidden.)

Original poster
MegsDancer · 08/10/2025 20:45

@Sugarfish thinking of it as compensation is a very good point! The two necklaces I like were expensive and I loved them pre-break up.

OP posts:
Original poster
MegsDancer · 08/10/2025 20:47

@Belladog1 your reply reminds me of when Elizabeth Taylor was interviewed and asked how she handles jealousy from current partners about jewellery ex partners gave her. Her reply:

'I encourage them to buy me more.' 😆

OP posts:
Noodge · 08/10/2025 20:50

I still wear a necklace and bracelet set that my abusive ex gave me. Doesn't bother me at all.

Another ex, I kept our promise rings to one another but they got stolen from a hotel room.

Laura95167 · 08/10/2025 20:50

Id wear the pieces i love, Id not wear anything too personal to the relationship (locket with our photos) engagement ring etc.

Anything I wouldnt wear id sell and then spend the money on something I loved

Sassylovesbooks · 08/10/2025 21:00

I think it depends on the circumstances on the breakup. The majority of the jewellery I have been bought from ex boyfriends, I have kept. The only piece I sold was a ring (not engagement or wedding), from an ex who cheated on me, and was abusive. The ring wasn't worth very much, and I didn't want to keep it. I have worn pieces that previous boyfriends have bought me after we've split. If it's not going to be worn, then sell it!

Taylorsmithh · 08/10/2025 21:06

I sold everything apart from earrings. I sold everything else as they were given as valentines, anniversary gifts etc. Some items were pretty but why would I wear a heart necklace and ex gave me for valentines? Bit strange. I like the earrings, and they are v.similar to a pair my parents gifted me and I cant tell who got me whcih.. so kept them.

DisforDarkChocolate · 08/10/2025 21:10

I left my wedding and engagement ring behind.

If there had been anything else I'd have kept them and wore them at some point.

NinaGeiger · 08/10/2025 21:10

Still wear most things unless I never really liked it. Ended on good terms with most exes.
I remember when I was little looking through my mum's jewellery box and she was telling me where/who she got each thing from. She had this broach and said an old boyfriend gave it to her "but he kissed me in a park and my hat blew off".
Don't know why that stayed with me!

ozarina · 08/10/2025 21:12

It all depends what you have. Gold sells for a very good price currently. You could get them remodelled into something new. If you have diamonds they can be repurposed too.

Carzycat · 08/10/2025 21:17

I’m hoping to sell the gold (or have it melted down) and use the stones for a new piece of jewellery. (Adult) Dd doesn’t want it as ex cheated multiple times (I didn’t tell her, he did) and it’s tainted her view of him and our marriage.

Catsknowbest · 08/10/2025 21:18

Sold it all.

TheWytch · 08/10/2025 21:20

Put them away for a couple of months/years and then see how you feel about them. The price of gold and silver has rocketed recently and I don't see that changing anytime soon,

It can cost as much to have pieces re-modelled as it does to buy new so if you do decide you don't want them I would sell them on and buy yourself something to your own taste.

I often take in customers old jewellery as scrap and then give them a credit for fresh new gold/silver as it takes time to reprocess the metal. Unless it's sentimental family gold it often isn't worth the time spent.

Noluthando · 08/10/2025 21:20

eBay

autumngirl714 · 08/10/2025 21:22

I sold mine (got a fraction of what I paid for them!!!) and used the money to buy some furniture when I moved into my own place. I always feel a bit smug when I look at the furniture now, a middle finger to him and his shitty engagement/wedding ring! 🙈