Wedding ring

Not every souvenir has to be very old. The item I'm about to share was created over 50 years ago. In the early 1970s, my grandfather Tadeusz Grzelak moved to Kursk in western Russia. He worked there for many years as a construction worker. He earned good money there and even did well. Every few months, he visited his hometown in central Poland. However, those times were politically and economically unstable. Those who had the opportunity secured their future by purchasing gold or silver. This precious metal wasn't subject to inflation like paper money. From time to time, my grandfather would bring silverware and gold jewelry. While traveling through Russia, he bought several wedding rings produced at the Leningrad Jewelry Factory. ‘Russkie Samotsvety’ (Русские Самоцветы) are valued jewelry products, especially those produced in the USSR era (1950s-1980s). It was his investment in the future. A few years later, Tadeusz married and had two sons and a daughter. When his children were adults and about to start their own families, their grandfather gave each of them a gold wedding ring. Each one was different and unique. It could be melted down into new jewelry or worn straight away. Today, such jewelry can be a trifle for someone. Every city has jewelry stores with a huge selection of trinkets. You can design your own jewelry to order. But jewelry certainly cost a fortune back then – grandfather worked hard and saved for a long time to get it. The wedding ring that came to my father wasn't melted down. It has a modest, openwork design. It's very lightweight. Interestingly, it fits my mother's ring finger perfectly. As if it were custom-made. Although Mom doesn't like wearing rings, she wears this ring as a symbol of respect and connection, treating it sentimentally. Besides, the ring looks incredibly tasteful and stylish on Mom's hand. Certainly, few people have the same or similar ring. And Grandpa Tadeusz is proud that his wedding ring has found a special owner. Today, jewelry from the Leningrad Jewelry Factory from the Soviet period is sought after by collectors due to its high quality of the metal and its historical character (Soviet vintage style). Perhaps Grandpa has another ring that will one day find its way onto my finger. Or maybe my mother will pass her wedding ring on to me or my children? I don't know yet. Time will tell what kind of story will be written with the wedding ring in the background.