When a loved one dies, many of us want to commemorate them in some way and keep them close. Some people keep their loved ones’ ashes in their home. Others get a tattoo. Another option is memorial jewelry.
Also known as bereavement jewelry, these keepsakes can help us to honor our loved one’s memories and overcome grief by preserving a part of them. Such jewelry can come in many forms. Below are just some of the common types of memorial jewelry.
Lockets
Lockets are the most traditional way of carrying around memories. These pendants typically hang on a necklace and can open up to reveal a photograph or another souvenir such as a note, drawing or strand of hair.
Most lockets are circular or heart-shaped, but there are other shapes you can explore too like teardrops and clamshells. Some have a clasp or even a lock and key (hence the name locket), while are free to open. You can buy lockets made from all kinds of metals including precious metals like gold and silver. Engravings can be made on the outside of the locket.
Personalized engravings
Different types of jewelry such as bracelets and necklaces can be personalized with engraved lettering. The most simple option is to engrave a name and potentially the dates of their birth and death. Others like to engrave small messages which could include phrases, private jokes, favorite song lyrics, nicknames or a simple sentiment such as ‘always in my heart’.
There are many custom jewelers that offer engraving services that you can find online. The popularization of laser technology has made engraving much faster and cheaper, which has resulted in more people looking into engraved jewelry. Silver is one of the most common metals to engrave, but you can opt for cheaper metals too like steel.
Photo pendants
Unlike a locket which hides a photo away, a photo pendant is a way of openly displaying a photo through jewelry. Such pendants are commonly hung on necklaces. The photo could be a portrait or a family photo.
Some of these pendants involve placing a tiny photo in a tiny pendant frame. Others allow you to print a photo onto acrylic or even engrave it onto a metal charm. Double sided photo pendants are also an option.
Urn necklaces
A lot of us don’t know what to do with a loved one’s ashes. We may want to bury some in a grave or scatter some in a special place, but there could also be a yearning to keep onto some of them. Rather than keeping a large urn in your home, you could consider carrying some of their ashes in a small urn on a necklace. This is a way of physically keeping a part of them close to your heart.
Urn necklaces can come in many shapes including vials, bottles, circles and hearts – and more unconventional options including footballs, anchors and cowboy hats. Consider which shape is the best tribute to them.
Cremation diamonds
It’s possible to turn someone’s ashes into a diamond. This could be a beautiful way of preserving a loved one. However, you should be warned that doing this is not cheap – turning ashes into diamonds can cost almost ten times as much as producing a regular lab grown diamond. Of course, the overall cost will depend on the size of the diamond that you choose.
You’ll find services online that explain the process in detail. You’ll usually need at least 500g of a person’s ashes to create a cremation diamond. Hair can also be used to create diamonds.
Fingerprint jewelry
Another alternative way to memorialize someone could be to have their fingerprint printed or engraved on a pendant. Some people like the idea of being able to touch their loved one’s fingerprint as a way of continuing to feel their touch. Of course, you will need to have a copy of their fingerprint somewhere to do this.
Fingerprint jewelry is quite niche, however there are a few online memorial jewelry companies that can provide this service. Decide whether to get their fingerprint engraved into metal to provide a 3D texture or simply to have it printed on a pendant.
Hand/foot print jewelry
A loved one’s hand print or foot print can be scaled down and engraved or printed onto a pendant or bracelet. This is most commonly done with hand and foot prints of infants who have passed away. You will need to have an existing print of their hands or feet to make this jewelry if you want it to imitate the exact shape.
As with fingerprint jewelry, this is quite a specialist form of jewelry, but there are a few custom jewelers that you can look into online to compare prices. Some allow you to include hand/feet prints alongside an engraved message. You could even engrave handprints or footprints onto a locket.
Paw print jewelry
If a pet has died and you have a cast of their paw print, you could even memorialize your pet with a pendant containing their paw print. This paw print will similarly be scaled down to fit onto a charm. Such charms are common on necklaces or bracelets.
You can find manufacturers of paw print jewelry online. Engraved messages can be included with paw print engravings, or you can get an engraving on a locket.
Wear their jewelry
A simple way to memorialize someone with jewelry could be to simply wear their jewelry. This could include a necklace that they used to wear, a bracelet or even earrings. Knowing that they once wore it and owned it could give you that sense of keeping them close to your heart.
Rings are a common form of jewelry that people like to keep onto. It may even be possible to hang their ring from a necklace.
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