# So do I hock my wedding ring? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844 "2010-08-29T00:57:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/1 "2010-08-29T00:57:31Z")
Ugly story short: I’m separated, will be divorced, going to counseling. Do I hock my wedding ring? And what do I do with all the wedding albums and me’n’him crap that accumulated over 22 years when I go pack up the rest of my crap? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/2 "2010-08-29T01:03:41Z")
I am sorry to hear your news. Sending out supporting thoughts. Unless you need the money, keep the ring a while. Now it represents anger and sadness and ugliness. But maybe, just maybe, some day it will represent 22 years of your life. You can always sell it later if you want. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/3 "2010-08-29T01:04:16Z")
You could always have it enlarged to fit your middle finger. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/4 "2010-08-29T01:40:05Z")
That is hilarious, **GHO57** and I’ll seriously consider it! Thanks for the good thoughts, **Khadaji**. It’s hard to imagine I’ll ever have fond thoughts of my trainwreck of a marriage but you’re right, there is always later. ---
**Author:** ![maisoui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@maisoui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maisoui)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/5 "2010-08-29T01:43:40Z")
When I was a teenager (early 80’s) the mom of one of my friends had a pendant made from her engagement ring. The diamond was trapped inside a cage-like structure made out of the gold from the band. And, as I was typing that it made me wonder just how she felt about the marriage; was that a metaphor? ---
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/6 "2010-08-29T01:49:18Z")
That sounds apt and lovely, **Maisoui** but the center diamond is small so it’d fall out or be invisible behind a small gold mesh cage. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/7 "2010-08-29T02:23:25Z")
I make jewelry and have a lot of divorced folks coming to me with their rings to be remade into other items; re-purpose the material into something you will like because you won’t get nearly what it is worth from simply hocking it. On the photo albums and such, I would pack those away for another time. I have been divorced for over 20 years and realize now I have absolutely no photographs whatsoever of me when I was that young and thin. There will be a point where you won’t be quite so angry or disturbed about the divorce and might want to look upon some of the more pleasant memories. Just my humble opinion, but I wish I had some of mine to look back upon (actually, I lost mine in the Northridge earthquake, but was surprised that none of my family members seem to have any of me during that time of my life). ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/8 "2010-08-29T02:49:28Z")
I held onto my wedding band for a few years. I thought of wearing it from time to time… but every time I looked at it there were feelings of anger and/or sadness. I didn’t want the constant reminder so back on the shelf it went. Finally at some point I stopped feeling anger or sadness when I looked at it. But I also realized I didn’t have much use for it. I’m not a big jewelry guy, and it was very obviously a wedding band. So I took it in, heard a couple of offers for it, accepted an offer, and bought a few nice things for my kids and myself. Keep it for now. Burn a picture or two if it makes you feel better. But I would keep the rest. You will eventually feel different about the divorce… maybe better or maybe worse… but you will feel different. And anything you sell, chuck, or destroy you can never get back. ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/9 "2010-08-29T03:25:30Z")
I tossed my wedding rings from my starter marriage over Niagara Falls. The story is worth more than the small amount I could have made from hocking them. A friend hocked hers and bought herself a piece of meaningful jewelry instead. ---
**Author:** ![FrancisCastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b4bc9f/32.png) [@FrancisCastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrancisCastle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/10 "2010-08-29T04:03:17Z")
I sold my rings, but they weren’t worth much. As for the pictures, I gave them to my mom to put in a box in her basement. I thought maybe my kids would want to see them when they get older. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/11 "2010-08-29T04:09:34Z")
> [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](#): > > I make jewelry and have a lot of divorced folks coming to me with their rings to be remade into other items; re-purpose the material into something you will like because you won’t get nearly what it is worth from simply hocking it. > > On the photo albums and such, I would pack those away for another time. **I have been divorced for over 20 years and realize now I have absolutely no photographs whatsoever of me when I was that young and thin.** There will be a point where you won’t be quite so angry or disturbed about the divorce and might want to look upon some of the more pleasant memories. Just my humble opinion, but I wish I had some of mine to look back upon (actually, I lost mine in the Northridge earthquake, but was surprised that none of my family members seem to have any of me during that time of my life). (BOLDING MINE!) Excellent point, **FDH**! **Bartman** , the symbolic burning sounds therapeutic and I’m going to do it! Only not pictures where I’m young and skinny. 🙂 He bought me so much jewelry that I don’t know I’d want to get another piece but I could get a _dog_ if and when I get my own place. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/12 "2010-08-29T04:11:04Z")
I stuck mine into a jewelry box and forgot about it pretty much, put it into a garage sale a while back but didn’t get a good offer on it, then 20 years later it turns out my son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law kinda ran out of money for their wedding and couldn’t afford rings, so I donated mine! It’s a pretty ring, a smallish center diamond with two smaller diamonds and two sapphires on either side in yellow gold, and by great good luck it fit my DIL just fine and she loves it–so turns out it was a good thing I held onto it. You never get more than a few bucks for a wedding ring anyway, unless it has a really huge stone in it or is an heirloom, so repurposing for another wedding is a nice way to recycle the things. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/13 "2010-08-29T04:15:44Z")
If money isn’t tight, I suggest not only going with the re purposing suggestion-- but adding to it! Make something new with the ring, but maybe buy yourself a new stone to add to whatever you make- something that symbolizes you and this next stage in your life. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/14 "2010-08-29T04:27:00Z")
We don’t have kids, fortunately. But, unfortunately, money is key. I do love to make jewelry, however, so I might set the ring aside and re-evaluate later. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/15 "2010-08-29T05:11:51Z")
I swapped the wedding ring from my first marriage for credit (with a jeweler) toward the wedding ring for my second marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/16 "2010-08-29T05:17:24Z")
Repurposing can have many meanings. Both of our rings came from a pawn shop. When we got married Lady Chance and I had about $10 to our names and we decided that a pawn shop ring worked. Honestly, if you want to scare a set of about-to-be-marrieds just take them to a pawn shop, ask about wedding rings, and have the clerk bring out display case after case of them and ask them to look around. Makes you think about what you’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/17 "2010-08-29T05:21:45Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve been married now for a year or more and my old guitar hangs by the door. > That woman of mine says “hock that Luke” cause your momma dear needs a brand new > suit. > Well I hocked my watch & I sold my dog & I pawned the gasoline stove > I hocked my ring and everything to keep that woman in clothes > I even pawned a cat & I hocked my boots and I sold the family car- > But that woman of mine will be 109 before I hock my old guitar Ah, Stompin’ Tom. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/18 "2010-08-29T10:56:24Z")
Edited 'cause it turned out not to be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/19 "2010-08-29T11:12:32Z")
Pawn shop. Then, walk away. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844/20 "2010-08-29T15:21:10Z")
My husband threw his first wedding ring into a river, and I think he got some satisfaction out of it. It was certainly poetic. I hadn’t been married before him, but I had some fine jewelry from a long-term relationship. I sold it all for lowball amounts on eBay. That felt evilly right. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-i-hock-my-wedding-ring/551844.md?page=2)