Wedding ring recycling service into divorce rings

In 2022, famous model Emily Ratajkowski, who had just split from her husband, "showed off" her divorce ring on Instagram. This product was recreated by Alison Lou, a New York jeweler, the same brand that created her engagement ring.

In Emily Ratajkowski's case, her two new divorce rings were remade from her old two-stone engagement ring, says Barkev Meserlian, founder and CEO of California-based jewelry store Barkev's.

“There has been a significant increase in customers looking to recreate wedding rings as divorce rings,” says Meserlian. “People are looking for a way to symbolize moving on from a failed marriage while still maintaining the sentimental value of the original jewelry.”

New York-based jewelry brand Fewer Finer recently posted a clip sharing the use of a diamond from an old wedding ring to create a new ring with the "evil eye" symbol, believed to protect the wearer from all evil forces. The maker also engraved the word "badass" inside.

Zache Emigh, an engagement ring designer in California, also shared a similar experience of recycling rings for divorced people on his personal page with more than 200,000 followers.

“The idea of ​​wearing diamonds from a previous marriage can make some people feel uncomfortable. But I think it's a smart choice to reuse something beautiful and symbolize a new beginning,” says Zache Emigh.

According to Meserlian, there are many ways to recycle an old wedding ring. For example, changing the size or shape, or even melting down the metal to create a completely new ring. Customers can choose to engrave messages and symbols of their choice into the divorce ring or combine it with expensive gemstones.

“Adding a new gemstone, especially one with healing properties like amethyst or rose quartz, can signify the beginning of a healing journey,” Meserlian says. Whatever the decision, recycling an engagement or wedding ring is a good idea if the owner doesn’t know what to do with it.

Meserlian also believes that recycling the ring is an environmentally and financially conscious decision, as it reuses available materials. It is also a way to look to the future with a tangible symbol of resilience and self-love.

Customers don’t just have their wedding rings turned into divorce rings. Jennifer, 27, who recently divorced, didn’t recycle her wedding ring into another ring, but instead reused the diamond to create a pendant to wear around her neck.

“Instead of keeping it in a box, I want to wear it to remind myself that I’m not starting from scratch, but starting from the experience,” she says. “Do something that helps me heal or empowers me on a new path after a marriage ends.”

For Meserlian, who has years of experience in the jewelry industry, there are many ways to handle an estate after a divorce. Converting a wedding ring into a divorce ring, he says, is a powerful way to signal a new beginning.

“It turns an item that can trigger painful memories into a symbol of strength, resilience and hope for the future,” he shared.