How to remember your loved one with cremation jewelry
Losing a loved one can be a very hard and devastating emotional experience. Each person deals with loss in a different way and the grieving process can take a long time. Many people wish to stay close to their lost loved ones. Cremation jewelry offers close family and friends a physical reminder of their loved one to get through these hard times.
In Canada, cremation is becoming more common with the years and while usually, ashes are stored in an urn, today a lot of people opt for cremation jewelry to keep their loved ones close to them.
It is hard to pinpoint the exact origin of cremation jewelry but it can be tracked to the 16th and 17th centuries, where mourning jewelries like rings and pendants (known at the time as “memento mori”) were used as a symbol of loss and to pray for the dead. With the years, mourning and cremation jewelry has become more elaborate and now comes in different shapes and forms.
What is cremation jewelry?
Cremation jewelry, also known as memorial or mourning jewelry, is best described as an urn jewelry that is wearable either around the neck, on the finger, as earrings, on the arm or as a keychain to memorialize a loved one.
Cremation urn jewelry comes in all shapes, styles and sizes so you can find it in the form of pendants, bracelets, rings, earrings, lockets… It contains an interior compartment that allows you to store the cremation ashes of your loved one or other sentimental items and materials such as burial soil, memorial flowers or even small lockets of hair.
Some jewelry manufacturers can actually go as far as infusing ashes of your loved one into the piece of jewelry. The jewelry can then either be worn or displayed in an elegant jewelry box at your house. Overall, their purpose is to honor the memory of your loved one and to always keep them close to you.
How is cremation jewelry made?
There are different ways to make cremation jewelry, either through urn jewelry or infusing the ashes of the deceased into diamonds or other materials. It remains a personal choice but also sometimes depends on your budget.
One of the most common ways of making cremation jewelry is through cremation urn jewelry. With this method, a small urn is crafted into the shape of the jewelry whether it’s a ring, a pendant, a necklace or any other shape you would like. The opening in these pieces is very discreet since their interiors are hollowed out to hold a small amount of ashes.
A lot of families choose this method to make their cremation jewelry because it allows them to get matching sets so that each family member can have a keepsake jewelry to remember their loved one.
Another method to create cremation jewelry consists of making the piece itself out of the ashes of the deceased. This process can be carried out using the glass-blowing method where the ashes are mixed with molten glass; the reaction that results from this makes for some incredible colors and therefore, some incredibly unique pieces. Ashes react differently each time which makes each piece totally unique to its owner.
The last method is one of the most expensive, time and energy consuming ways to make cremation jewelry. It’s the one where ashes are used to create diamonds. In fact, the ashes are placed under extreme temperatures and pressure in order to transform. The process can take several months to complete and only a few companies are able to perform it perfectly, but the end result is worth it since you get an enduring memorial of your loved one.
How does cremation jewelry work?
There are plenty of types of cremation jewelry for ashes out there such as cremation urn jewelry, cremation pendants and so on, but they generally all work in the same manner. The piece you choose will usually be decorated on the outside and contains a hollowed out cavity which is filled with ashes. The piece’s interior cavity is accessed through a threaded bail or a threaded stopper. Both of these work like a screw that can be screwed and unscrewed to access the interior of the jewelry and seal the cavity closed.
Now, if you’re wondering how you can use it. Depending on the cremation jewelry piece you have, you can either wear it, display it somewhere special or take with you when you want to feel your loved one close to you.
What are the types of cremation jewelry?
Cremation jewelry comes in all types of jewelry, shapes and sizes. They are completely customizable when it comes to metal type, decoration and design. You can choose between stainless steel, solid 14K gold, sterling silver, solid 14K white gold, copper… The most common materials are stainless steel for a durable piece, 14K gold for a classic and timeless piece and sterling silver which is easily moldable and has a high natural polish.
Here are the different types of cremation jewelry :
1. Cremation pendants
Cremation pendants are usually worn on necklaces and can be worn by anyone. They are very universal since they can come in about any type of design, theme or shape. You choose your preferred shape for your pendant whether it be a heart, a cross, a star, a feather, etc. They can be created using plated yellow gold, plated white gold, stainless steel, silver and other metals and they give you the option to add gemstones and intricate engravings.
2. Cremation rings
Cremation rings are very common since people choose them to see and feel their loved one every time they look at their hands. They come in a variety of styles and colors and can be completely customized to have the urn suit a specific style. You can choose to use charms or crystal resins to add a colorful touch to the ring. Cremation rings are perfect to wear as a replacement wedding or promise ring in memory of a spouse.
3. Cremation keychains
Cremation keychains can be placed on your keys, a lanyard, or even on your favorite purse or backpack, to keep your loved one with you wherever you go. They can be customized into different shapes such as hearts, urns, pawprints… and be plated in gold, rose gold, white gold or even made from stainless steel or copper. You can also choose to engrave a picture of your loved one on the keychain to add a special touch.
4. Cremation necklaces
Cremation necklaces are ideal if you want to keep your loved one next to your heart. They can be personalized in a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials, and even include a urn necklace pendant or cremation beads that hang down off the necklace. They can be made from glass, wood, resin, silver, etc. Furthermore, there are also photo engraved cremation necklaces that gather both the beauty of cremation beads and a memorable picture of your loved one.
5. Cremation bracelets
Cremation bracelets come in different styles like a cuff-style bracelet that is adjustable or a bracelet with a beautiful gemstone cabochon that can be infused with your loved one’s ashes. They even come in a more traditional style in which the ashes of your loved one are sprinkled onto the glass beads of the bracelet. Cremation bracelets can also be customized with various colors, designs and materials.
6. Cremation earrings
Cremation earrings are a beautiful way to remember your loved one and to take them with you for company to a special event. They have a very small amount of cremation ashes in them and they come in a wide variety of styles such as drop earrings or studded earrings. You can choose your preferred material including crystal resin, glass, gold and more.
After choosing the type of cremation jewelry you would like to make, you can add personalized features to it such as personal engraving or pictures. In fact, a lot of individuals choose to get special dates or the first or last name of their loved one engraved into the back of the piece. You can even have engraved symbols like hearts or remembrance phrases like “forever in our hearts”, “ rest in peace”… When it comes to cremation jewelry, there is really no right way to memorialize a loved one, so no matter what your needs or circumstances are, there is something out there for you to honor your loved one’s memory and always keep them close to you.
