My Wedding Ring

One of the things that added insult to injury when I was recovering was that I got lymphodema in my left arm.  It's pretty common unfortunately, and actually a small price to pay, but it meant that I was told by various people that I would never wear my wedding ring again because of the risk of my hand swelling and the ring becoming too tight.

I didn't wear it for two years but then we found the most fantasic solution that kept me smiling.  Last Autumn we took a trip to Birmingham for a few days to visit the city which we had only previously been to for conferences.  Amongst all the brilliant things the city has to offer (museums, galleries, restaurants, the canal side, shopping) we spent some time in the Jewellery Quarter where there are still a few shops who will make besoke pieces.

I took my ring into a shop called Elements and explained the problem.  After chatting to Greg for a while he came up with some ideas based on things he had done previously, like a catch to open and close the ring but this would only work if my hand stayed the same.  The problem is that it is liable to change from day to day.  Finally between us we came up with the idea of a child's christening bracelet, which can be adjusted to fit as the child grows. 

Greg thought that this could be achieved with my actual ring by rolling it out and making two tiny bars so that the ring would slide through itself.  He had never done anything like it before but took my ring to have a go.  I left the shop really excited that we had found a way forward and trusting Greg to make it.  He had completely understood my predicament and was just as excited to make it work.

A week later he phoned to let me know that it had been completed and that he was sending it through the post.  When it arrived it was beyond what I had thought possible.  He had even managed to keep the two colours of gold from my original ring.  I have had it on since and there have been no problems with my hand.  I can expand or contract the ring as I need to.  How fantastic....

Nick's ring showing what mine was like originally with my new bespoke ring next to it.

I love my totally original ring but think that there are probably lots of women out there who would like to be able to wear their wedding rings so if this applies to you contact Element.