There are many ways to cleanse an item of jewellery if salt is not an option, just do a search on the internet.

I know opals have a water thingy going on so perhaps salt is not a very good option, you don't want the opal to dry out.

Moonlight for Clearing Gems and Jewelry

Moonlight clearing is especially good for pieces that contain silver, because silver is believed to be a moon metal.

Leave the piece in the moonlight for an overnight. Full moon periods are the best for clearing jewelry with gemstones.
An even stronger effect can be reached by leaving a piece on a moonlit windowsill for 3 nights, starting with the night before the fool moon.
If the gemstone definitely carries much negative energy (if you don’t feel comfortable wearing it, or if it was used for clearing space, for example), leave the piece in a glass of salt water in the moonlight.
Leaving gemstones buried in the earth for an overnight with a full moon is another way of clearing and charging jewelry with the moon energy.

Sea salt, sunlight and moonlight are all powerful tools for clearing jewelry with gemstones from negative energy. Whatever method is chosen, make sure your thoughts are positive when preparing to clear the gem.

I do think you should keep the opal if it belonged to your great-grandmother. Resetting it for your daughter and getting rid of the old setting my be all that is needed. Then once it is hers it will be hers to think about and those thoughts will be centered around you. Then, all you will think about is her smile.

I thought the salt water trick worked best on antique pieces with its origins unknown. You would still have the memory of your grandmother and her intentions. That is really hard to erase from your thoughts. To do that you would have to start with complete forgiveness.

Good luck!

The opals were all purchased new...the diamonds were from my great grandmother. And honestly-I'll try to get a photo, they're worse than any mall would have. They're chips and they don't even sparkle...I'm not being hyperbolic. My grandmother didn't want me to have the "nice" ones. Frankly, I'm not convinced these ARE diamonds.

If we're being honest, my great grandmother wasn't that much better. lol. BUT it's still nice to have things that have history to pass down. My daughter was born a few years after my great grandmother passed so she didn't know her. Whether or not she was a nice person doesn't really affect my daughter.

Thank you FF. I'm still working on my grandmother. I confronted her, gently recently following a really aggressive comment and that didn't go well. So now I'm just trying to accept!

I think I'm leaning towards having the chips replaces with some that at least sparkle some day. But for now, I'll hold on to the necklace. Thank you all!

You're welcome, e. I hope things get better however sometimes unfortunately you just have to accept that the relationship will not be better. I have family members like that as well - caustic people.

I'm glad you're keeping the necklace - I really believe that it will be fantastic for your daughter (and your grandchildren --- maybe someday!) to have as an amazing heirloom.. even if the person who it originated from wasn't the best. You have the opportunity now to make the necklace into something truly beautiful and the memories of THAT will be passed down.. not the attack via her design.

I'm excited to see what you choose to do with it to make it your own!

Haven't read the whole thead, just your opening post... But any jewelry that I have negative associations from, I sell... And I do feel lile this necklace was a slap in the face to you... Is it gold? If so, scrap it and have something made with new gold!

I even scrapped Fatty, whom I loved so much because I got it from the jeweler on a day that ended up being a big event for the guy I was dating at the time and I ended up breaking up with him!

So I would sell....

I just read the whole thread... And if that were me, I would still scrap and get something pretty that makes you happy and that you can put positive associations on.

I agree with everyone else and reset it into something you designed YOURSELF or a design that YOU like. I'm one that loves jewels too much, and I think just 'repurpose' it in something more suitable and that it won't give you negative connotations. Maybe surround with sapphires, rubies, tanzanites, garnets, emeralds, black diamonds, brown diamonds, pink diamonds, peachy pinks moissanites or whatever else that tickles your fancy. I would hate for you to get rid of it, because, after all, it did belong to your great-grandmother.

okay, got photos today. I apologize that they weren't in the same place and it makes them look more unequal than they are. But I'm guessing you can look past the background colors and see what I'm saying. I do think I'll have it reset, but not for awhile. I'd love to hear opinions!

The pendant my sister and the rest of my cousins got:


The pendant I was given:

Blatant slap in the face... The difference is huge. I would still get rid of it and if you want your daughter to have the opal, get her a new one.

WHAT!!

E.Taylor!!
You got me all going again!!!

The is Grandma in this picture!!