Memorial jewellery (also known as mourning, keepsake or remembrance jewellery) offers a way to tie your memories of a lost loved one to something tangible, beautiful and enduring. The right piece of jewellery can bring comfort and a sense of connection with the deceased (something which experts refer to as ‘continuing bonds’).
But finding the right piece is easier said than done, as there are so many types of memorial jewellery. That’s why we’ve written this article: to introduce the options and discuss their pros and cons.
#1: Memorial jewellery made out of ashes
(otherwise known as cremation jewellery or ashes jewellery)
.Makers include Ashes into Glass, Ashes with Art, EverWith, and many more.
Cremation is a relatively modern practice. The UK’s first crematorium opened in 1885, and it wasn’t until 1967 that cremations became more popular than burials. It was even later - towards the end of the twentieth century - that it became normal for families to take their loved ones’ ashes home with them from the crematorium.
These days, more and more families have their loved ones’ ashes. And many are choosing to have them made into jewellery.
There are three main ways this is done:
Ashes are used to create diamonds. This is the most expensive option, typically costing £1,000s. (Warning: there's a fierce debate about whether it's actually possible to make a diamond from ashes.)
Ashes are layered with glass to create gemstones. This is the mid-tier option, typically costing £100s.
Ashes are mixed with resin to create gemstones. This is the cheap option, as it’s much easier to make than diamonds or glass jewellery.
Jewellery made out of ashes can be beautiful and extremely intimate. It also can be discrete, indistinguishable from a normal piece of jewellery. This lets you choose whether to disclose its meaning to others.
But there are some reasons why it might not be right for you:
You may not be in possession of your loved ones’ ashes. This could be because …
They are with another family member.
They’ve already been scattered.
Your loved one was buried, not cremated.
The country you live in has strict laws governing the disposal of ashes. In Germany, for example, ashes have to be buried at an official cemetery. The UK has unusually lenient laws around the disposal and use of ashes.
Some people have strong, visceral reactions against jewellery made out of ashes, viewing it as unnatural.
It’s rarely suitable for pets, who are often cremated ‘communally’ - meaning their ashes are mixed with those of other animals.
It’s often expensive - especially diamonds and glass jewellery.
You might be uncomfortable with posting your loved ones’ ashes to the jeweller.
#2: Memorial jewellery that stores ashes
Makers include Ashes Memorial Jewellery, Nicky Robin, Lee Alexander & Co, and many more.
You can also buy jewellery that simply stores ashes. These pieces are made with little chambers inside them where a tiny amount of your loved ones' ashes are kept.
This tends to be a cheaper option than jewellery made using ashes, as - with some exceptions - these pieces aren’t custom-made.
There are two types of this jewellery:
‘Self-fill’, where customers are provided with a kit to fill the jewellery with their loved ones’ ashes.
‘Jeweller-filled’, where the jeweller puts the ashes inside - usually because they are permanently sealing them in.
Some people love this type of memorial jewellery. It offers a lot of the same intimacy and meaning as jewellery that’s made out of ashes, but at a much lower price.
But it also has a lot of the same drawbacks.
You may not be in possession of your loved ones’ ashes, for all the reasons outlined above.
It’s not always the most elegant jewellery, as the design needs to incorporate a chamber for the ashes. This makes it hard, for example, to produce delicate or intricate designs.
There’s a risk of accidentally spilling the ashes - particularly with ‘self-filled’ jewellery.
#3: Fingerprint and pawprint memorial jewellery
Makers include Memory Treasures, Hold Upon Heart, Morgan & French and many more.
The history of fingerprint jewellery is closely connected to the development of forensic science - and in particular, the nineteenth-century discovery that a person’s fingerprints are unique. That discovery quickly led to fingerprint jewellery being used to celebrate the individuality of lost loved ones.
These days, there are two main types of finger and paw print jewellery:
Three-dimensional, where the print has depth - as if the person or animal has actually pressed into the metal. This is typically more expensive.
Two-dimensional, where the print is flat. This is usually the cheaper option.
Finger and paw print jewellery can be a great option, especially when someone is buried, not cremated. It celebrates the uniqueness of your loved one and the mark they left on the world.
But there are some reasons why it might not be right for you:
You may not have your loved one’s finger or paw prints. Many funeral directors and pet crematoria offer this service, but it usually costs money and you only have one chance to get it done.
The finger and paw prints may attract unwanted questions about their meaning to you.
The paw prints of pets are not unique.
#4: Handwriting memorial jewellery
Makers include Inscripture, Recollections, Hand on Heart Jewellery and many more.
The development of laser engraving has made it easy to produce detailed, precise replicas of handwriting on jewellery. The process is simple: all that’s needed is an image of your chosen handwritten message.
This type of jewellery can be very intimate. It preserves both your loved ones’ words and their distinctive handwriting.
But it’s not always easy to find the right message. We write a lot less these days - at least with a pen or pencil. This means there are far fewer handwritten messages to choose from, and also that we’re less familiar with each other’s handwriting.
Needless to say, handwriting jewellery is also not suitable when you’ve lost a pet.
#5: Stanhope memorial jewellery
(otherwise known as projection jewellery)
Made by Remember.
A Stanhope is a small, specially designed lens with a tiny hidden image attached. When you look into the lens, the image is magnified.
Invented in 1860 by French photographer René Dagron, Stanhopes have a long history. In the late nineteenth century they were popular souvenirs, made to commemorate important events. As photography became more accessible over the course of the twentieth century, Stanhopes waned in popularity. But their legacy lives on: nineteenth-century Stanhopes can still be found today hidden in antiques.
A Remember Stanhope transforms a favourite photograph of your loved one into a discrete, elegant piece of memorial jewellery. The hidden image can be viewed by simply holding your Stanhope up to the light, or you can use your smartphone to display it on a screen or project it.
Stanhopes have some distinct advantages over the other types of memorial jewellery:
There’s no need for ashes or finger/paw prints. All you need is a photo of your loved one. This means you can order a piece of photo jewellery whenever you want. It also means they are
They’re a great option for people who dislike the idea of carrying around their loved ones’ ashes.
They are built to last. Many Stanhopes that were made in the nineteenth century are still in good condition today.
They’re discrete: you can choose when to view your photo and when to keep it hidden.
If you'd like to see what an image looks like inside one of our Stanhopes, click here.
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