Whether you recently went through a painful divorce, called off an engagement or are simply looking for a way to repurpose an old engagement ring you just don’t wear anymore, take a leaf out of Emily Ratajkowski’s book. The model took to Instagram this week to reveal her repurposed two-stone engagement ring, which was given to her by ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard back in 2018. While their marriage sadly didn’t last, Emily didn’t let the diamonds go to waste. Posting on Instagram, she wore two stunning rings in a selection of selfies taken from her bed and called them her ‘divorce rings’.

Emily, who found fame after starring in Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines music video, split from husband Bear-McClard in 2022 after four years of marriage. While it’s often the case in divorces that the ring is given back to the person who originally bought it, Emily clearly kept hold of her diamonds (and good on her). Jewellery designer Alison Lou created the original 5-carat double diamond ring in a lengthy process she worked on alongside the star, and after its debut, it became one of the most sought-after ring designs. Emily recruited Alison again, this time to separate the two stones to symbolise the end of her marriage.

Speaking to Vogue, the actress explained the reasoning behind her divorce rings. “The rings represent my own personal evolution,” she said. “I don’t think a woman should be stripped of her diamonds just because she’s losing a man.”

“It was a fun project to work on together amidst a hugely transitional period in my life. The ring became symbolic to me – some kind of token or evidence of my life becoming my own again.”

“It’s been a crazy couple of years, and finally I feel a sense of peace within myself and about the life and future I have and will continue to build with my son,” she added. “Somehow, these rings feel like a reminder that I can make myself happy in ways I never imagined.”

If you’re inspired by Emily, there are plenty of ways to repurpose your engagement ring too. You don’t have to sell it or give it back (although we’d totally understand if you wanted to). You can redesign it into a totally different piece of jewellery such as a necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings, or even follow the model’s lead and design a whole new ring. Below, you’ll find some ideas.

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Turn it into a necklace

Like Emily, you can redesign your old engagement ring and turn it into a completely new piece to represent your new-found independence. There are plenty of jewellery designers that can help you to rework your old ring, using the stone as a pendant that can be attached to a chain to wear around your neck. After all, why let a good diamond go to waste?

Create a new set of earrings

Depending on how many diamonds there are in your ring, you could also turn it into a brand new set of earrings. Some rings contain two or three stones, which makes the process easier, but you could also invest in a second stone if you really want a set to wear and yours only contains one.

Redesign the ring

Alternatively you can make like Emily and redesign the ring completely. Maybe you want to redesign the setting, add another diamond, gemstones or your birthstone, or ditch the stone entirely. You can work with a jewellery designer to create exactly a completely new design that represents a new beginning.

Sell it

If all else fails and you want rid of the ring entirely, you can sell it instead. Get it valued to assess whether you’re happy with the amount you’ll receive before making the decision. After all, once it’s gone, it’s gone. Work out what you’ll do with the cash to treat yourself, whether you buy something new to represent your new start or an uplifting experience.