Jewelry Pearls

My two brothers and I walked into the bank after the reading of our grandmother’s will. At the lawyer’s office, we received the name and location of the bank, as well as the necessary documentation that would give us access to the safe deposit box.

We arrived at the bank and were escorted into an empty office to open the box and see what we inherited. The three of us burst out laughing when we saw what was inside. It was the monstrosity! The ugliest ring in the world! At least that is what we always called it. Nana wore it to every holiday, every wedding, christening, and even every funeral. If it was a formal occasion, she had “the ring” on.

The ring was, to say the least, impressive; it was comprised of seven diamonds, one in the center, which was about a carrot in weight, surrounded by six other smaller diamonds, each about a quarter carrot. The setting was platinum and shaped like what appeared to be a combination of flower and a fireworks explosion.

Nana was vigorous and active into her late 80’s. She was funny and had a wicked sense of humor. I know she enjoyed the wide-eyed stares she would get when people would see her with that ring on her hand.

It was no secret to Nana we thought her ring was the ugliest ring in the world. It was actually a running joke between us. Once, when I saw Nana at an anniversary party, I made my usual, “Here comes Nana with that ugly ring,” remark. She laughed and said something like, “This is my cocktail ring, now be a good girl and get me a cocktail.”

Now here were the three of us, sitting in the office at that bank, laughing when just two hours before we had been in a lawyer’s office grieving for Nana, who had just passed away at the age of 93.

At the bottom of the safe deposit box was a note card that we almost missed. The note was in Nana’s handwriting. It read that she had the last laugh by leaving us the “ugly ring”, but she had a wish for what we would do with it. . Nana said that we could, of course, sell it. “Four carrots of diamonds set in platinum would buy one heck of an umbrella for a rainy day.” However, her wish was that we break up the ring and use the diamonds and platinum to make beautiful jewelry.

Nana wanted her diamonds to be worn with pride by her grandchildren and their wives and to grace the necks of her great grandchildren on their wedding days. She wanted these diamonds out of the bank and enjoyed just as much she enjoyed wearing the ugliest ring in the world.

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