Classic jewellery items ... what to get?

[mummyhaschangedhername]

I was burgled last month, my entire jewellery collection was taken, I litterally have nothing, so now I get to buy a small amount of repayment pieces.

I bought my replacement wedding ring and engagement ring, and an eternity ring, I bought a new watch (smart watch by fossil), and a bracelet by swarovski that I had been admiring for ages. My husband bought a new replacement wedding band (we unfortunately hadn’t worn our rings and they were stupidly in our draws and taken too).

We still have a little bit of insurance value left to replace items, and I’m not sure what to get or what to get in the future. I would rather get a few really good pieces than lots of cheaper pieces, I get a bit overwhelmed looking online and really know nothing about brands or what’s in fashion. My wedding bands rings were Neil lane, but I’m totally in love with Le Vien. Just need some opionions or ideas from others, what would they recommend? Or avoid even?

Neither of you were wearing your wedding rings, engagement or eternity rings??? How terribly unfortunate.

Blimey crumchtime, I hope that’s not a disbelieving tone! It’s quite feasible that you might remove valuables at times - I don’t tend to muck out my horse in my heirloom diamonds!
OP, I don’t know what you should get - sounds like you’ve replaced the essentials so perhaps treat yourself to one odd item you really love, as a consolation for all the sentimental items you lost.

Oh no, that’s my worst nightmare, I’d be heartbroken!

I recommend looking at carat London for ‘fake’ diamonds in real gold, or if you want something original & unusual, have a look at auctions do antique jewellery where you won’t have to pay tax.

If I had money to spend, I’d definitely do it at auction-look for houses near you & see if they have online catalogues or go to a viewing day

My husband had taken his off about a year ago, as he damaged it doing so something with a powerful drill, he periodically put it back on then someone at work got their ring caught when on a ladder, slipped and it ripped his finger off ... literally. He stopped wearing from that day, but to be honest thing the fact that it was an odd shape didn't help.

Mine was just before I moved house, I have put on weight but with all the work packing my hand had swollen and we're stuck so struggled to get them off. I hadn't put them back on since, which was beginning of February. I guess I planning to get them made bigger, or lose weight or something, they did fit but were tight and I kept panicking they would get stuck again.

I didn't have an eternity ring, we just decided to get one as it matches due wedding ring I did get.

I would go around secondhand fairs, stores that sell pre owned jewellery and antique stores. Way better value and far nicer than modern jewellery in many cases. You pay a lot of tax on modern jewellery and huge profit to the jeweller. Older jewellery is often classier in my view than a lot of modern trinkets. Fashion jewellery goes out of fashion.

Thanks Pomegranita ... I did that with the replacement rings, I went for something VERY different from my original rings, but something we both liked a lot. I think you are right though, I should just choose something I really like. I kept wondering if I should go for certain pieces, like I haven't got a single necklace but I haven't seen much that really grabs my attention.

Buckeejit - lessons learnt, don't keep everything in once place, he was literally in and out with 20minutes, everything taken was in a bag for life (that he stole from me), if thing has just been more difficult for him then we probably wouldn't have lost so much it was all jewellery, my MacBook. iPads, and just things that were easy to stick on a bag. We are had a safe ordered today, but need to get an alarm fitted too. We had cctv, we have the guy Clear on camera but we haven't got anywhere yet. I live in a bungalow and my bloody blinds were closed (they had got stuck so I just left it closed) it made my bedroom a really easy target. Costly lessons to learn.

I had never considered an auction, that's a great idea. Thanks.

Bubbles - that sounds like a great idea. I was stuck with jewellers for much of my claim as they insisted on vouchers or a loss off 33%, but the eventually agreed to give me a proportion cash. So I'll have a look to see what is around. I love unusual pieces.

I always buy secondhand much better value
If you mean classic styles that won’t date - how about a single diamond pendant in a plain setting
Simple diamond studs
A diamond tennis bracelet or channel set bracelet
A simple solid bangle
As I’ve got older I tend to go for plainer but higher quality items

crunchtime Why did you say that? Do you realise how bitchy it sounded?

Jace - that's what I was wondering about getting. I have always been very classic although my wedding bands are not, I think because I were so little jewellery, I decided what I do wear should be fancier. But that's not to say a diamond necklace and earrings wouldn't be fancy, I think that is what I should do. Thanks.

Mybrilliant - while I don't appreciate her suspicion, I do understand it. I did feel like a total fraud when I had to tell the insurance company, although they never questioned it. I am glad I had cctv and police searching my entire house, because at least I had some proof. Plus anyone who knows me could confirm it. I actually had been surprised by the amount of people in RL who say they don't wear theirs all the time.

For my second marriage I got a D shape plain gold band wedding ring. Its kind of curved on the inside and is so much more comfortable to wear than the ring from my first marriage, which had a fancy design on it, but just wasn't so wearable for every day use.

Buy something that is right for you, and I'm sorry to hear you were burgled.

I hardly ever wear my wedding or engagement rings, they're usually sitting in a drawer. They annoy me so I only wear them when I go on a day/night out.

Sorry to hear you lost all your stuff OP, that's horrible for you. I think basics for me would be pearl or diamond studs, they match everything. I also have some simple silver Tiffany studs which never irritate my ears, they look very classy, they are secondhand as I think Tiffany is overpriced at times. I would also have a simple solid silver/ gold bangle that also goes with everything. I had one made in silver for me, its much more solid than ones I find in most jewellers and its nice knowing its one of a kind.

This happened to me too OP although I was wearing my wedding and engagement ring. They took everything, all my jewellery some of which had been given to me by my grandmother.

I decided after that that I didn't want the stress of having valuable jewellery. I replaced the Cartier watch that was stolen and bought a few bits from Swarovski. I also have a pair of diamond studs which I wear almost every day so would recommend getting something like that.

For something modern you could go for a rose gold chain with a diamond pendant.

Sorry to hear about your burglary.

Thanks everyone. I am going to get some nice simple studs and then see from there or a diamond simple set, something like that. Thanks ladies.

So sorry to hear others have been in these circumstances too.

Sorry you were burgled OP, how horrible. There's a particular piece of jewelry I'd be hugely upset to lose - a band made from my husband's and my wedding rings set with a little glass heart stone containing some of his ashes. I thought I'd lost it a few weeks ago, (it dropped off my finger). Luckily my panicked frenzied searching was successful! I now wear it on a fatter finger.

I'd been hankering for a pair of nicely secure diamond earrings for everyday wear and bought these mini Halos from Astley Clarke as an early Christmas present to myself. They're so tiny and delicate and beautifully crafted. Also modern.

Go for secondhand jewelry. They're far more genuine and elegant than the new ones.

Who takes off wedding rings? That’s odd.

I take off all my rings whenever I go for a run and quite often don't put them back on again straight away so they are often just by the bed. DH does the same. So completely believable that they were all off.
I would go for diamond stud earrings, silver bangle, diamond pendant necklace

We take ours off when climbing (do not google the words climber ring and finger - vom) and can sometimes be a day or two until I put them back on.

Agree with PP - second hand/vintage is the way to go. Much better value.

Who takes off wedding rings? That’s odd

What's odd about a ring no longer fitting you and removing it out of necessity? Or removing it for safety reasons?

I take off all my jewellery when I'm in the house, I don't find it comfortable. Not odd to me.

I take off all bar wedding ring as soon as I get in, can't stand having jewellery on inside the house, no idea why.
Sorry you were burgled, OP. I'd def get pearl studs, and maybe something fun like an Alex Monroe necklace (I have the bee, and love it). Or Monica Vinader.