ASHES JEWELLERY - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Choosing ashes jewellery is an incredibly personal decision. For many people, it offers a way to keep a small part of someone they love close to them, captured within a piece of jewellery that can be worn every day.

But if you've never bought memorial jewellery before, it's completely understandable to have questions. How are the ashes added? How much do you need to send? What happens to any ashes that aren't used? And how do you choose between the many different types of cremation ashes jewellery available?

I've been making memorial jewellery at Hold Upon Heart since 2012, and these are questions we're asked every day. So I've put together this guide to explain how ashes jewellery works, what your options are and what to consider when choosing a piece.

WHAT IS ASHES JEWELLERY?

Ashes jewellery is jewellery designed to contain or incorporate a very small amount of cremation ashes. You may also see it described as memorial jewellery, cremation jewellery, cremation ashes jewellery or jewellery for ashes. Although the terminology varies, the purpose is much the same: creating a lasting, wearable keepsake in memory of someone special.

Ashes can be incorporated into rings, necklaces, pendants, charms, bracelets, earrings and other pieces. Depending on the design and method used, the ashes may be clearly visible or incorporated much more discreetly.

At Hold Upon Heart, we offer both options because there isn't a right or wrong way for memorial jewellery to look. Some people want to see the ashes every time they look at their jewellery; others want a piece that simply looks like beautiful jewellery, with only them knowing what it holds.

HOW IS JEWELLERY MADE WITH ASHES?

There are several ways cremation ashes can be incorporated into jewellery, and this is one of the biggest differences between the various types of memorial jewellery available.

In many of our designs, such as our Encaptured and Stardust collections, a small amount of ashes is carefully incorporated into resin, together with colour pigment and crushed opal. This creates a burst of colour within the jewellery which can be incredibly striking.

We also create designs where the ashes are much less obvious. Our Echoes collection uses cremation ashes to create texture on the surface of precious metal, while our Secrets collection conceals memorial ashes within a secret chamber inside the piece.

The method varies between collections and designs, so it's worth thinking beyond simply whether a piece “contains ashes” and considering how you would like those ashes to appear in your finished jewellery.

CAN YOU SEE THE ASHES IN ASHES JEWELLERY?

Yes, if you want to.

Cremation ashes aren't uniform. They naturally vary in colour and texture, with tiny fragments ranging through whites, creams, greys and darker shades. When incorporated into jewellery, these individual fragments can become part of the finished appearance.

Some people specifically choose a design where these little fragments are visible because that's an important part of the meaning of the piece. Others prefer something far more discreet.

We make both, from ashes jewellery where the ashes can clearly be seen to designs where they're subtly incorporated beneath colour or within less obvious areas of the jewellery.

HOW MUCH ASHES DO YOU NEED FOR MEMORIAL JEWELLERY?

Much less than most people expect.

We send you a simple kit containing a small wooden scoop and a grip-seal bag. We ask you to send just one scoop of ashes, and will actually use only a small pinch to create your jewellery.

Any unused ashes are returned to you together with your finished piece.

We understand that sending ashes through the post can feel daunting, particularly the first time, so we've made the process as straightforward as possible.

ARE THE ASHES SAFE?

This is understandably one of the biggest concerns people have when ordering cremation ashes jewellery.

We treat every set of ashes entrusted to us with enormous care. At our Shropshire workshop, ashes are handled individually and kept securely identified throughout the making process.

When incorporating ashes, we work on one customer's ashes jewellery at a time rather than having multiple sets open on the workbench together.

For us, this isn't simply material we're working with. We know exactly what it represents.

CAN ASHES JEWELLERY BE MADE IN GOLD AS WELL AS SILVER?

Yes. Memorial ashes jewellery can be made in a range of precious metals.

Sterling silver is our most popular choice for memorial jewellery, being both precious and more accessible than gold, but we're able to make our designs in solid 9ct or 18ct gold too.

We also offer a handful of self-fill stainless-steel memorial jewellery designs, allowing you to place the ashes inside yourself at home.

The right metal really comes down to your preference, budget and how you intend to wear the piece.

WHAT TYPES OF ASHES JEWELLERY ARE AVAILABLE?

There is now far more choice in memorial jewellery than the traditional urn pendant.

Ashes rings are particularly popular because they're easy to wear every day and can incorporate ashes in anything from a tiny, understated detail to a larger central setting.

Ashes necklaces and pendants offer even more variety. Hearts remain popular, but contemporary circles, teardrops, organic forms and simple minimalist designs can make a memorial necklace feel much more like a favourite piece of jewellery.

There are also ashes bracelets, charms, earrings and men's memorial jewellery, as well as jewellery designed specifically for pet ashes.

The most important thing is to choose something that feels like you, or reminds you of the person or pet you're remembering.

IS ASHES JEWELLERY ONLY FOR HUMAN ASHES?

Not at all. We make a great deal of pet ashes jewellery too.

The ashes of a much-loved dog, cat, horse or other pet can be incorporated in exactly the same way. We know that the loss of an animal can be every bit as significant as other bereavements, and we don't make a distinction between the care given to human and pet memorial pieces.

Some designs can also incorporate a small amount of hair or fur, either instead of or alongside ashes.

DO YOU MAKE MEN'S ASHES JEWELLERY?

Absolutely. Memorial jewellery isn't only about delicate hearts and traditionally feminine designs.

Our men's ashes jewellery includes rings, pendants and other pieces with heavier proportions and simpler styling. Some men choose designs where the ashes are visible, while others prefer an understated piece where the memorial element isn't apparent at all.

DOES ASHES JEWELLERY HAVE TO LOOK LIKE MEMORIAL JEWELLERY?

Definitely not.

In fact, some of my favourite pieces are those that nobody else would recognise as memorial jewellery. I personally prefer designs where the ashes are hidden beneath a layer of colour or under a gemstone, and I have a particular fondness for our Echoes collection with its soft, moon-like texture.

A memorial ashes ring can simply look like a beautiful silver or gold ring. A pendant can look like something you chose simply because you loved the design.

The meaning doesn't need to be obvious to anybody except the person wearing it.

CAN ASHES JEWELLERY BE PERSONALISED?

Yes, and this can make an already meaningful piece even more personal.

Depending on the design, we can engrave names, dates, messages and other details. Some pieces can also incorporate fingerprints, handprints, footprints, paw prints or handwriting.

A fingerprint combined with ashes, for example, can capture both the physical uniqueness of somebody's touch and a small part of them within the same piece of jewellery.

And if you have something in mind that you can't quite find on our site, reach out and tell us what you're looking for. We love making new designs and will always do our best to help.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT ASHES JEWELLERY?

Start with the person who will actually be wearing it.

Think about the jewellery you normally choose. Do you wear silver or gold? Delicate pieces or something substantial? Rings or necklaces? Do you like colour? Would you want the ashes to be visible, or would you rather nobody knew your jewellery contained them?

There's no “correct” choice.

Ashes jewellery can be bold, colourful, tiny, traditional, contemporary or completely discreet. What matters is that it feels right to you and is something you'll genuinely want to wear.

SHOULD I CHOOSE HANDMADE OR HAND-FINISHED ASHES JEWELLERY?

At Hold Upon Heart, much of our memorial jewellery is genuinely handmade in our Shropshire workshop using traditional jewellery-making techniques. We also offer a smaller selection of carefully chosen, hand-finished designs, allowing us to offer different price points and faster making times.

We're transparent about the difference. Each product listing states clearly whether the piece is handmade or hand-finished.

Handmade isn't automatically the right choice for everybody. But if the craftsmanship, individuality and story behind the object matter to you, it's worth finding out how your memorial jewellery is actually made, rather than assuming every piece described as personalised has been made from scratch.

HOW LONG DOES ASHES JEWELLERY TAKE TO MAKE?

This depends on the piece.

A hand-finished design can usually be completed considerably more quickly than a piece that needs to be fabricated individually from raw silver or gold.

Our different collections therefore have different estimated making times, which you'll find on the individual product pages.

Memorial jewellery isn't something we believe should be rushed. We'd rather give realistic making estimates and create your piece properly.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ASHES THAT ARE NOT USED?

Only a tiny amount of ashes is needed to create your jewellery, so there will usually be some left from the amount you send.

All unused ashes are returned to you together with your completed jewellery.

CHOOSING SOMEONE TO MAKE YOUR ASHES JEWELLERY

More than anything else, choose someone you trust.

You're not simply buying a ring or necklace online. You're entrusting somebody with something irreplaceable.

Look at how long they've been making memorial jewellery, where the jewellery is made, what materials they use and whether they're clear about their process.

And don't be afraid to ask questions. You should feel completely comfortable with what will happen to your loved one's ashes before you send them.

MEMORIAL JEWELLERY MADE IN SHROPSHIRE

I've been creating jewellery at Hold Upon Heart since 2012, and memorial jewellery has become a huge part of what we do.

From our workshop in the Ironbridge Gorge, we create ashes jewellery in sterling silver and solid gold, alongside hand-finished and stainless-steel designs. Precious-metal pieces are hallmarked where legally required, and every order containing ashes is handled with the care we'd expect if those ashes belonged to someone we loved ourselves.

There are now hundreds of designs across our collections, from colourful ashes rings and necklaces to subtle pieces that reveal nothing of what they contain.

Because ultimately, memorial jewellery isn't really about ashes.

It's about the person, pet, memories and life those ashes represent, and creating something small enough to carry with you.