Ummm... yeah... no. That was from another man! I can't see how your boyfriend would ever think that was ok.... would you want a ring he'd asked someone else to marry HIM with? I know I wouldn't.

i would not do this and i would think the ring was cursed...i would sell it and put the money toward a new ring...that's still "practical"

i'd be surprised if your new boyfriend wouldn't want to pick out his own ring for you or at least be there to choose it with you...but if, on the off chance, he is okay with it, then do what you said - add a band and have it blessed...if you feel okay about it and so does he, then it's your decision

(but i think it's a jinx waiting to happen!)

oh yah, and i know we're not supposed to make decisions based on other people's opinions etc. etc. but just for the record, if my friend or colleague or sister or whatever showed me their "new" engagement ring and it was the same as their first engagement ring i would be horrified and (yes, it's mean but...) i would totally be talking behind their back about it...it's just not going to have the same lustre as the first time round...just a thought

Great question. I've always wondered this myself. I am going to disagree with the previous posters, and say that I don't think its that big of a deal, especially if it is something she loves. Reset the stone in a different band if you must. It just seems wasteful to get another ring when she already has something that she loves.

Humans like to throw lots of emotions and irrational beliefs on inanimate objects. So, logically, I see no problem with re-using the ring.

Of course, emotionally, I don't know why I'd still have a ring from a broken engagement. I'd never want to see it again and would have probably returned it to the previous guy or the store. I guess it would depend on the reason for the broken engagement.

sell the ring and buy one similar

My BF and I broke off our engagement, just because we didn't plan on getting married for a while, and thought it was kind of pointless. Weren't ready, weren't getting married -- why be engaged? Anyway, I loved my engagement ring, but I expect another one when he asks again, if he ever does. I would think the ring I had to be cursed. I would TOTALLY not reuse your engagement ring from another man.

As long as your boyfriend is fine with it, I think it's okay. This was a diamond ring you picked out, and you (still) love.

Another way to "change" the ring is to have something engraved on the inside. Engrave something that's meaningful to you and your boyfriend -- wedding date, your names, a personal message, whatever. Then the ring is now pesonalized to your engagement to him. Just a suggestion.

If your boyfriend doesn't mind, take it to a jeweler and get it refashioned.
For God's sake, it's not cursed. It's a chunk of metal and stone.

I probably would have given it back after the break up, or sold it already... To me, that says the jewelery is more important to her than the sentimentality behind it... so what's the problem?

Personally I wouldn't re-use an engagement ring from an ex.I know I wouldn't appreciate it if he tried giving me a ring that was originally picked out and worn by another woman. It's kind of tacky IMO.

Of course it's not cursed. But lots of people love to ask about your engagement story, how did he pick the ring, etc. Do you really want to either make up a ring-shopping story or admit that you are wearing another dude's ring? If you have no problem with owning up to it and dealing with the judgments from other people, then go with using that ring. But there will be a lot of people out there who think it was tacky for you to keep an old ring to begin with, no matter what circumstances led to it.

why does the new bf get let off the hook for buying you a ring? maybe i'm just too traditional but i wonder why he would go for letting another man buy you a ring that's supposed to symbolize your being betrothed to him alone.

i get that you love it so why not turn it into something else or where as is on another finger on a different hand if the bf is okay with it.

Like vmruby said, I would hate it if a guy attempted to reuse an engagement ring, so why should I try to reuse one? It's symbolic of an entirely different relationship - of course it isn't cursed, but it's what it represents that's the issue here. Why can't your bf just buy you a new ring that is similar to the old one? I just don't get it.

If your new bf is cool with it there's nothing weird or cursed about it. Although based on many of the comments here you may want to keep this piece of info to yourselves.

Lord knows there's enough other ways to spend money and the whole "letting him off the hook" concept is bizarre and foreign to me. Like he has to prove his love by dropping several thou? How about you both prove your financial sense and reuse the ring - a much better platform for a marriage to be built on than the "What have you done for me lately" sentiment.

When my mom and dad got married she didnt recycle her rings from her previous marriage- she did however get some of the stones made into a right hand ring and she put a few into her anniversary ring. My parents have been married for 33 years, so I dont think the stones are cursed lol.
I get that it is your dream ring, but your with someone else now and I think he would have a hard time proposing to you with the same ring someone else gave you. use the stones and redo the ring or use the value and get something else (maybe something bigger or better clarity?) If you had a solitaire, then people probably wouldnt notice, but if you got something with side stones or etching or something then people will notice.

talk to your man...he's the one who's gonna make the decision..not you.

I didn't mean cursed per se, but more like, negative. I just wouldn't want something that reminded me of an old flame on something that is for me and a new one.

If you both decide a new ring is out of the question, or he is okay with you reusing it, why not? For me, my old engagement symbolizes something bad, and I don't want it as a part of another engagement.

hahaha, soooo funny that people actually believe a piece of jewelry could be cursed just because a relationship didn't work out. I say if you love it and it's your dream ring (sounds like you had more to do finding/buying it than your ex did) by all means use it again. I do agree with others that it would probably be more tasteful to reset the stone(s) or, as you mentioned, add a band (maybe let your fiance-to-be spring for an eternity band), but why not use it? You don't seem to have hard feelings about it so it won't drag you down emotionally...your guy should be happy to save the money.

As long as your BF is alright with it I don't see why it would be a problem. Maybe use the stones but make a slightly different setting so you don't think of your ex when you look at it.

That old ring has bad juju!!! I feel the past relationship has somehow ingrained itself into the new ring. I think new relationship equates to new ring. And the marriage is not even about the ring, it's about the person. So don't you think by using the old ring, it would emasculate your current guy? Take his feelings into consideration... it's not all about you and what you want. Giving the gift of an engagement rings represent way more than just a pretty diamond.

Oh, for cripes' sake, it's just a ring, people. If I had come into my relationship with my husband with a gorgeous engagement ring that I loved and asked him if it would be okay if we got it reset in a new band with OUR names engraved on it, he probably would have been psyched because he didn't have to shell out for a ring. My advice is to give the ring to your boyfriend and have him do with it what he wants to. Maybe he'll sell it and use the money to buy a similar one that he picked out. Maybe he'll just get the current ring engraved with your names; maybe he'll keep the stone and get it reset. I'm sure he'll find a way to make it his own.

Ask him, then do what you guys want. The bad luck thing is nonsense and the comments about "letting him off the hook" is crazy...your finances will be combined soon so unless you are marrying him as your "sugar daddy" then helping him to save money saves you money as well.

I think its bad luck to use that ring...but NOT to take the diamond and get it reset!!
get a ring that is special to both of you, but dont feel bad that someone else bought the diamond..in these tough economic times it just saved you and your new man lotsa cash!!!

UGH! Are you serious about keeping this ring!? I want to know what your guy thinks about this!! Ha some guy he is if he does not strongly insist on getting you a new ring!! He sounds pretty cheap, if he does not want to give you his ring!! Sorry to be so critical, but come on. A good idea would be to sell the ring or trade it in a a jewlery store. Take the money and you two pick out a new ring, if you two are in that big of a finical rut! But personally I would totally do away with the ring. I think it's your guys duty to get you a ring. How odd for him to know that some other guy got you this awsome ring and he's just hitching on to it and saying 'we're engaged'?! I saw new relationship, new ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!

UGH! Are you serious about keeping this ring!? I want to know what your guy thinks about this!! Ha some guy he is if he does not strongly insist on getting you a new ring!! He sounds pretty cheap, if he does not want to give you his ring!! Sorry to be so critical, but come on. A good idea would be to sell the ring or trade it in a a jewlery store. Take the money and you two pick out a new ring, if you two are in that big of a finical rut! But personally I would totally do away with the ring. I think it's your guys duty to get you a ring. How odd for him to know that some other guy got you this awsome ring and he's just hitching on to it and saying 'we're engaged'?! I saw new relationship, new ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!

I say if you really love the ring, reset it in a similar setting....but it will be a new ring.

why would you want to keep it?!?!?! it's from another man!

I know you may love the ring, but I'm assuming it was picked out by your ex and I don't think it's a great idea to wear a ring for this new relationship picked out by your ex. I know it's not cursed or anything, but when you look at it will you really be thinking of your current boyfriend/fiance and how happy you are he picked it out for you? Probably not, it will probably remind you of your ex, which I'm sure you don't want if you're engaged to someone else. I say sell the ring and use the money to buy a new one with your bf when he's ready to propose that you like just as much or even more! I know everyone is different, but I think I would have gotten rid of the ring a looooong time ago! No way I'd want it hanging around as a reminder! But props to you if it doesn't bother you, you're stronger than me!

Really, it's your decision, but personally I couldn't do it. Too much bad mojo for me.

i would never wear a ring that an ex gave to me. i would just feel weird wearing a ring that another man paid for and that represented an old relationship that didn't work out. would you want to wear a ring that he got for an ex?

I wouldn't do it. If a guy tried to reuse a ring on me I would be pissed and I don't think my bf would want me wearing another mans ring. Use the diamond for a new ring. I think that is fine.

How about you give it back to your ex? why do you still have it? was your ex ok with letting you keep a ring he must of spent a fortune on to give without marrying him unless it was a ring pasted down from the family which would make it worse. its cheesy. getting ring in the first place is suppose to be a promise that you are going marrying him. if the marriage doesnt happen men should get the ring back. and i dont care if i get negative feedback on this comment.

NO! all the questions, all the looks, the whispers, the reason, etc. TOO MUCH WORK!

It really doesn't matter if you love the ring and it shouldn't matter what other people think BUT c'mon everyone would either know and think your bf is a CHEAP DOORMAT or you would always have to explain why.

*cheap doormat: he couldn't spend money on you + you and your ex walk all over him

Reset the diamond.

P.S. I do see how it is all VERY superficial but hey...it's the damn truth!

It's a bit tacky in my opinion.

I agree with lindssaurus. I wouldn't have kept the ring in the first place, unless he called off the engagement with wedding plans already started, then I would sell it to pay for my share of expenses.

If you keep your broken engagement ring initially, when you get re-engaged, sell it and put the money towards down payment on a house, school debts, or your honeymoon. Sorry, but it can't be that hard for your fiance to find one that is similar that you will love.

Recycling your ring is beyond tacky. Makes me wonder if you are still thinking about your ex a little bit. Your fiance might start wondering that too.

Yeah, I totally disagree with the advice given here. The ring is tainted; sell it and buy something else. This can't be the only ring you'll ever love.

that's horrible. i don't think it's cursed, but i think it's very sad. don't you realize that every time you or your boyfriend look at that ring that you'll both think of your ex?! please, if you haven't already, don't even ask your boyfriend. i think it's completely heartless and totally tacky. i wouldn't be suprised if he was so offended and hurt that it caused a huge problem in the relationship and taineted the engagement. sad.

in today's economy i think it's smart to use a ring you love and already own. why would it be "horrible", and how is a relationship "tainted" if the ring you wear is agreed upon by the parties involved as being appropriate? if your partner is okay with this, it's fine. the meaning behind the ring is a symbol that is special to the 2 of you. if others don't like it let them spend 3 months wages on a ring in an economy where everyone is uneasy about the future of their job. you do what works for the 2 of you

If you are so separated from this ring emotionally that you could actually keep it and think to reuse it with a new relationship, you should be so separated from it as to not love it much anymore. I picked out a ring a few years ago, and I swear I would never think of getting a ring again that looked similar to it.

What I think is that part of the reason you do still love the style and diamond so much is because a combination of not distancing who you were in your past relationship enough and the fact that its the most expensive piece of jewelery you own.

I would disassemble the ring, sell the gold/platinum per weight, and reset the diamond into a super blingy pendant. Let your boyfriend show his love and commitment to you by buying you a ring just as nice as the one you have and then you'll own two pieces of super blingy jewelry.

Btw, it doesn't matter what the guy did, you should have given the ring back. It is conditional and if it's worth any money he should have fought you for it in court.

I personally would not want to use it, regardless of whether or not I still held feelings for the ex, I would feel that everyone was jumping to that assumption by me using the old ring, or that people would assume my current boyfriend slash fiance was too cheap to buy me a new one.

Also, I know it's silly, but I'd want nothing but good associations with my engagement ring, so I wouldn't want to use the same one, even if it wasn't 'cursed' it just wouldn't feel good, starting my new life with a new guy, but with a ring my old boyfriend bought me!

Well, incidentally, I have to confess I somewhat I identify with the OP. My current engagement ring (and it's matching wedding band) is my dream ring. Thankfully, our engagement went smoothly and lead to marriage, so everything is peachy-keen. However, if my engagement fell through, I would have offered to pay for the ring so that I may keep it for myself, and it would become MY ring. I would have worn it as right-hand ring. And if I was ever engaged to another man, I would switch it my left hand to revive it as an engagement ring. It's MY ring. I could do whatever I damn please.

I know that sounds ridiculous, but I'm serious. I love my ring THAT much. LOL

Personally I think this is really weird. First, why do you still have the ring? I think an engagement ring is a conditional gift...if you don't get married, you give it back. If the ex insisted that you keep it then I would have sold it or something. Second, doesn't it bother your current bf that you have an engagement ring from your ex still laying around? I also can't imagine a guy who would be ok with his fiancee having a ring that another man bought, unless he is just THAT cheap. Thirdly, I don't really understand how you can love a ring that symbolizes a relationship that didn't work out and that I would imagine had a somewhat painful ending. I have never heard of anyone doing something like this.

That's tacky as hell. Imagine wearing a ring that he gave to an ex, does that sound fun? Not!

New man? New ring. I'm sure you'll find another that you love just as much, or maybe even more. Good luck

No you weirdo you can't use an old engagement ring! If you love it so much wear it on your other hand but for heaven's sake, let your current fiance pick out a new one!

Dude, you were supposed to give the ring back when you broke up! Pay your ex for the ring and wear it on your right hand and let your new man get you a new one, or have the stone reset.

When I got divorced my rings went with him. I don't understand the concept since the relationship is over in keeping the ring. I wouldn't want that ring in any form reset or otherwise. I would see it and think failure not love. I know you love that ring but give it a home to someone who will love it also or give it back to him. I agree also new fiance new ring that you pick together. If sold take the money use it how you see fit.

I understand where youre coming from. But think about 25, 30, 50 years from now- an engagement ring is something that is going to be with you (hopefully) for the rest of your life. Youre going to be showing your grandchildren this ring and telling the story behind it.

I believe an engagement ring isnt about how beautiful/big it is.. its a symbol of the love and commitment to this man. I feel like I would want it to be unique to the man that I grow old with.

I feel like you should sell it and put the money toward a new one that you love.

I think this ranks right up there with woman who pay for their own ring, tacky!