So, I saw this post the other day about Emily Ratajkowski turning her engagement ring into “divorce rings,” and it got me thinking. You know, about how we attach so much meaning to objects, and how that meaning can change over time.
I got married young, like, really young. And when things didn’t work out, I was left with this beautiful ring that suddenly felt like a weight on my finger. It was a custom design, cost somewhere in the ballpark of $70,000, and I remember picking out the stones with my ex – a big pear-shaped diamond and a princess-cut one, set in yellow gold. It was supposed to be a symbol of forever, you know?
Anyway, after the divorce, I just couldn’t bring myself to wear it anymore. But I also couldn’t just get rid of it. It was still a gorgeous piece of jewelry, and frankly, I didn’t want to lose out on the value of those diamonds. I stashed it away in a box, and it just sat there for two years.
Then I saw Emily’s post. She worked with a jeweler friend, Alison Chemla of Alison Lou, to redesign her ring. And it hit me: I could do the same! I got in touch with a local jeweler, a friend of a friend, and we started brainstorming.
I knew I wanted to keep both diamonds, but maybe in a new setting. I’ve always loved the combination of different diamond cuts. In the beginning, I toyed with the idea of adding a colored gemstone, like a sapphire or an emerald, just to change things up. There were some online saying that you can easily find a 1 to 2 carat one with $10,000. But in the end, I wanted to keep it simple and focus on the diamonds themselves.
The Redesign Process
The whole process took a few weeks. We went back and forth on different designs, playing around with the placement of the stones. I even brought in some sketches and photos for inspiration. Finally, we landed on a design that felt both modern and classic: two separate rings, one for each diamond.
- The pear-shaped diamond became the centerpiece of a simple, elegant band. It’s delicate and feminine, and I love how it catches the light.
- The princess-cut diamond was set in a more architectural, statement-making ring. It’s bold and a little edgy, which feels very “me” these days.
I’ve been wearing these rings for a few months now, and I have to say, it feels amazing. They’re not just beautiful pieces of jewelry; they’re a reminder of my own strength and resilience. They’re proof that I could take something that felt broken and turn it into something new and beautiful.
It’s funny, isn’t it? How we can transform the symbols in our lives to reflect our own growth and change. These rings are no longer about a failed marriage; they’re about my journey, my independence, and my future.
