It was trendy to have an item passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom. Nowadays, it’s a little less common, mostly because we live in a world where everything has an expiration date and is not made to last anymore. So, if you are lucky enough to have such an item in your possession, you can continue to pass it down. But if you are not so lucky, you will have a hard time finding something worthy of passing down to your children.
That’s why we decided to help you and give you some ideas that won’t break the bank either.
Family Jewelry
Heirloom jewelry is generally very expensive, but you can also get a piece that is symbolically meaningful, high quality, and reasonably priced.
You have to “infuse” it with symbolism and meaning. The perfect way to do this is to give it as a push present. Meaning that you give it to the mother upon the birth of a new child. This way, the story can be passed down along with the piece itself. You can also add an extra layer of meaning to it by getting a push-present jewelry piece with birthstones. The birthstones can then represent the child or the entire family. Some pieces also allow for extra birthstones to be added later on to represent the ever-expanding family. A truly wonderful heirloom to pass down!
Zippo lighters
We covered what to give as an heirloom on the female side of the family, but what to give men? Zippos are super durable, and the real ones have a lifetime guarantee. They are not that expensive and can also be engraved.
What better present to give to your son than an engraved Zippo lighter commemorating a special moment or feeling? It is truly something he will be happy to pass down to future generations as well.
Custom made knives
Knives are also super durable when they are quality-made. Quality knives really go for a bundle, but you can also check out some more budget-friendly options. Like Zippo lighters, these can also be engraved to give them that special symbolism and meaning needed to make a quality heirloom.
You should be careful about the materials, though. Make sure they are high quality and will last a long time.
Just Google pictures of custom knives to get some good ideas.
Classic cars
What have we learned so far? A good heirloom needs to be something that is durable and it has to have a story behind it. Old, classic cars can be a great match as they can be bought for a relatively low price as long as they are fixer-uppers and you can create the story for them by either fixing them up yourself or with the help of your kid. Older models also tend to be more durable and easier to fix, if something breaks. A car from 50 years ago can last forever with proper care!
One more for the ladies
We covered the male side of the family pretty well, now let’s look at one more option for the ladies. Dresses. Dresses can be a great heirloom if they have a great story behind them. Most commonly a wedding dress gets passed down for generations and is given to the new bride in the family.
But since dresses are made from materials that don’t last forever, it’s very important that each generation takes good care of what it receives.
