Hey guys! I don't post much but I have been thinking about something to memorialize my Mom and Grandfather and you guys are full of information. I have both of their wedding rings which are white gold and then a solitaire diamond (probably about 1/2 carat). I was thinking of having a custom knife made and have the gold melted down and somehow incorporated into it along with the diamond. Has anyone done or seen anything like this? I posted in the Knives section but I don't think there is much traffic there so I posted it here. Any comments or recommendations? I'm all ears.

No, no indeed, hell no!

What would possess you to melt down those rings into anything?

I have seen the wedding rings melted down and made into a heart pendant necklace with the stone set into it.

The gold in rings is pretty soft and if you inlaid it into the wood, it would be scarred or scratched pretty easily. I would make a pendant with the gold and diamond or build a new ring and wear it yourself. Also, I've heard of people making smaller pendants for grandkids. Do what you want but keep them in some shape or form. Do not sell or scrap as you will regret it.

I appreciate the feedback. I'm definitely keeping them and I may just keep them as is. I don't wear any jewelry and I have no kids (I'm 40 and don't plan on having any) so I was just trying to think of something cool to memorialize them. Anyone else have any non-jewelry ideas?

Do whatever you decide. Completely your call.

If you have no real family to pass the rings/materials/made item to, then what will become of them
Down the road? Will they stay in family in some manner. Will the background be known and passed on?
You could use money to create a more lasting memorial. Donate a bench in a park, bricks for a path in a park. Lots of things you can do in a loved ones memory. People using the bench would see the name of honored person, and even though they don’t know the story, they would know someone cared for this person. It would remain long after.

Find a local jeweler that does custom creations and ask them what options and ideas he/she has.

Get some gold caps on your front 2 teeth with their names engraved in them.