Weddingbee boards

If it was YOUR ex's ring, I'd be iffy, but considering it is your FMILs, I actually think it's ok if you and your FI are ok with it. If it's a big diamond (like 1ct+), it would totally be worth it to have it re-set.

I was offered both my FMIL's diamond and my grandmother's diamond from their rings...I never thought of it as bad luck, I just didn't want a diamond.  I think it's totally fine especially if money is an issue, it's just a diamond, don't let bad ju-ju hold you back.  I mean, if you get a free diamond does that mean you get an extra week on your honey moon? =D Bad luck my foot!

Very few newly mined diamonds are truly "conflict free".  Unless you happened to kick over the stone from which you diamond was cut in your back yard, you're being selective about which superstitious stuff will bug you anyway.  It's a stone that was around for many millions of years before she got it and will remain for as many after we're gone.  The human history of it is in our heads as much as the stone.  If you love the look of it, I'd say forget about the ex, and minimize the impact of having a diamond.  Or, you could ask her if she'd mind you trading it for another rock and still come out even.

@Melini: here, here!!

I like the idea of her wanting something good to come out of what happened to her marriage. It's like a silver lining, you two can have a nice ring and save money to start your life together. It beats the ring sitting in her jewelry box, give the ring a second chance!

I'd say, the ring was initially given in love, and that is what counts.

I was just thinking, something that might help here. Years ago, when I was going through a bad time, I went to a womans retreat. One of the things that they asked us to bring with us was a small personal object. I had a little rock, some women brought little figurines, or knick knacks, but another womans object was her engagement ring. During the retreat, we did this thing where we all sat in a circle (there were about 30 of us) with whatever object we brought. Then the facilitator told us we were turning our object into a love talisman. She then had us each pass our object to the right, and told us all to just pray, or think loving positive thoughts about the object in our hand, basically infusing positive energy into the object. After about a  minute, she would quietly say pass, and we would take the next object and do the same thing. This went on until we each had our own object back in our hand. She told us that when we felt down, or lonely or overwhelmed, from now on, to spend several minutes holding our talisman in our hands, and feel the good energy, put there. Some people might think this is silly, but I have to say, that when I have a really bad day, or things aren't going right, I will go in my room and hold my little rock in my hand and after a few minutes, I really do feel better. I think about the girl who passed her ring around, and I wonder if having this ring on her finger every day has made a difference. I would like to think it has.

So after that, what I might suggest, is if you go with this ring, to ask several people who love you, to hold it in their hand for a minute and ask them to send loving thoughts or blessings to the ring. (a bridal shower activity, maybe?) it certainly wouldn't hurt, and if there is any negative energy on that ring, all this love will surely wipe it out.

@Miss Tattoo: Could not have said it any better.

The stones in my e-ring are from my MIL's failed first marriage. Don't believe in bad luck and it won't exist.

I voted Nay, but because I am superstitious, and this seems like something that I would constantly obsess about (personally).  I don't think that there would be anything wrong with accepting the stone if she just wanted you to have it to make a necklace or something for a future daughter of you and FI.

6 years ago I would hv. Said no but now? Pish! I'd be all about it!