Author Jeri K. Augustus / Category Information Center. Last Updated: May 6, 2024
Reviewed by John Conor. Reading time 20 mins.
Table Of Contents
Key Insights
- Memorial jewelry does NOT have to be worn - there are many ways it can be utilized to honor your loved one!
- Don't be afraid to think outside the box! Display your jewelry in a way that works for your lifestyle.
- Still can't decide? Give us a call at 1-877-723-7229 and we can help you with ideas and/or custom designs!
Introduction
Losing a loved one is the hardest thing any of us will ever experience. It’s traumatic and heartbreaking to go through that loss. There is no wrong way to grieve during this time, nor is there any wrong way to honor their passing1. Part of the grief process is learning to cherish the memories of your loved one without holding onto the pain of that passing.
One of the ways you can hold onto the memory of that person and keep them close to you may be easier than you think – through the creation of a personalized, beautiful piece of jewelry. While this practice is growing in popularity, it may not always be practical – or feasible – to wear such a piece. That’s why we’ve created this list of alternative ways to use and display cremation jewelry that will suit any situation.
With almost 20 years of experience in the jewelry industry, we know what works and what families are looking for. We have 1000's of customer reviews as well as reviews on Google, Facebook and Etsy. Jewelry Keepsakes is BBB accredited and we are proud to be based in the USA. We have sold over 100,000 pieces of jewelry including cremation jewelry, fingerprint jewelry, ash jewelry and permanently sealed jewelry. We manufacture the vast majority of our jewelry in house and take pride in offering custom designs and top quality keepsakes that make a difference in the lives of our customers.
21 Ways To Use Jewelry To Memorialize Someone
While the most obvious purpose of any piece of jewelry is to be worn, that doesn’t mean it’s the only option – or even the most logical or comfortable – for many who receive such an item as a gift or buy it for themselves. There are plenty of alternatives for anyone who may not be comfortable wearing cremation jewelry or that simply does not wear jewelry in general.
With that in mind, we’ve created a list of unique and creative ways to display your cremation jewelry.
1. WEAR THE JEWELRY IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY
Wearing cremation jewelry is the most common way in which memorial jewelry is used. With the vast assortment of different styles and types, it offers individuals several options on how to wear.
2. HANG THE JEWELRY ON AN URN
A cremation urn where your loved one’s ashes have been laid to rest provides a beautiful, permanent memorial for a lost loved one. The pendant can be draped across the urn or resting atop it, depending on the shape and size of the urn itself. This option also provides easy access to the pendant if you’d like to move it, either for wear or to incorporate it in another type of display.
3. A HANDWRITTEN REMEMBRANCE WITH SIGNATURE JEWELRY
A signature is an identifying part of our loved one and something that develops over their life history2. Engraving their signature on a piece of jewelry provides family with a creative way to showcase the life of someone they treasured in a manner that is completely unique to that individual.
Author's Experience
My best male friend passed away two years ago from a brain tumor. He made all of his arrangements in the months leading up to his death. On the back of the prayer card at his funeral service were the handwritten words 'Never quit' in Mark's handwriting. I treasure that part of him and carry it with me in my wallet so that I always have him with me.
4. CREATE A PET REMEMBRANCE WITH NOSE PRINT OR PAW PRINT
Our pets are like family and the loss of a pet can have a devastating impact3. Engraving the nose print or a paw print onto a piece of jewelry gives you a visual reminder of a treasured animal.
Any of our thumbprint jewelry or photo engraved jewelry can be used to commemorate your print. Simply take a photo of the underside of the paw or the front of a nose and attach that to your order. This is also ideal as a gift for children or in those instances where a pet was buried and not cremated.
5. CREATE A FAMILY LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Memorial jewelry can be used to create a family legacy to pass down to future generations4. This type of heirloom jewelry can consist of ashes, a fingerprint of a grandparent or even a signature. This is an ideal option for solid gold memorial jewelry as the metal will withstand the test of time.
6. HANG THE JEWELRY FROM A REARVIEW MIRROR
If you are someone who travels frequently – either for work or in your personal life – then you may be looking for a more mobile option to display a keepsake pendant or cremation pendant. One way to keep the memories of your loved one close is to hang a cremation keepsake from the rearview mirror of your car.
Photo engraved jewelry, thumbprint jewelry and ash resin jewelry is also a great idea in this instance. It provides you with a way to keep the memories with you - especially if you aren't a jewelry wearer.
Author's Experience
I have lost both of my dads in the past five years. Hanging from the rearview mirror of my car is an ash ring that has leaves on both sides. One side contains the ashes of my step-dad and the other the ashes of my dad. I like to think of it as them watching over me on my travels.
7. CHOOSE A KEYCHAIN
Many of our designs come in the form of keychains. The keychains can be engraved with a fingerprint, hold ashes, have a signature or photo engraved or a combination of all of the above. Keychains can be completely customized to suit your on the go needs.
8. USE AS A CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
Perhaps adding a small token of your loved one to your yearly Christmas tree (or other holiday décor) may be the right way for your family to remember a loved one. The pendant can easily be attached to a hook or other means to hang on the Christmas tree - a bright colored ribbon, etc. You can also add one of the cremation pendants to a larger, more eye-catching ornament with emotional significance or ties to the deceased.
9. CARRY THEIR TOUCH THUMBPRINT JEWELRY
Fingerprints are markers of individuality and are considered a unique indentifier5. Thumbprint jewelry is not only highly personal to the deceased but also provides family to hold onto a very special and one of a kind part of their loved one.
All of our thumbprint jewelry is deep engraved which allows for the ridges and swirls of the fingerprint to be felt with the tips of the fingers. In our experience, this does deepen the emotional connection to the jewelry and many customers have likened it to being able to hold their loved one's hand.
Author's Experience
Probably one of my most favorite customers and custom orders was a family that lost their mom. She was obviously the center of the family and they wanted something special to remember her by. We created custom thumbprint keychains in her memory - 9 of them to be exact. Five were made from sterling silver and the remaining 4 out of 14k yellow gold. The keychains had some of her ashes sealed inside and then her thumbprint was engraved on one side and her name on the other. On the outer rim of the keychain was a phone number in the event the keychain was lost. The design process took about 6 weeks and the family absolutely treasures the outcome.
10. HAVE MEMORIAL COINS MADE
Memorial coins are an option when it comes to memorializing a loved one. The coins are made of silver or copper and can be engraved with an image or a fingerprint. Engraved text can also be added to the coins. Memorial coins can also be left in places in memorandum of your loved one or given as a gift to family and friends.
11. HAVE A SPECIAL PIECE OF JEWELRY MELTED DOWN AND MADE INTO A NEW PIECE
Jewelry can be repurposed into another piece of jewelry that represents your individuality and personal style6. Whether it is a wedding band, jewelry passed down from a parent or grandparent, the pieces can be melted down and made into a completely new pendant, ring, brooch, etc. This offers the opportunity to turn something old into something new.
12. COMMISSION A CUSTOM RING FOR A WEDDING RING
This is a great option if you want to incorporate a parent or grandparent that has passed into your wedding ceremony and future. A permanently sealed wedding band can be crafted and a small portion of the ashes can be sealed inside the ring. There is no visible screw and the rings are completely waterproof.
Key Insights
This is a great opportunity to create custom wedding bands and/or for the bride and groom to choose something for each other. Let us help you with the design process and create something that you will treasure for years to come!
13. HAVE A POCKET MEMORIAL MADE
Pocket memorials are small rock sized pieces of metal that have the ashes sealed inside. The memorial is then carried around in the pocket, much like a worry stone or other trinket that brings people comfort.
14. BURY THE JEWELRY AT A SPECIAL PLACE
If your loved one had a special place they loved such as the beach, a walking trail or a favorite camping spot, the jewelry can be buried there. This is a great time to have share in a ceremony with family and close friends or to have a private moment alone with your loved one.
Author's Experience
Seeley Lake, Montana has always had a special place in the hearts of our family. A couple years ago, about six months after the loss of my dad, we took a trip up to Seeley. We had coins of both of my dad's with us. On our last day, we went out on the boat to the middle of the lake and laughed and cried, sharing stories of them both. My brother had one coin and I had the other and before heading back to the cabin, we threw the coins into the lake. So now a part of them will always be at Seeley whenever we go back.
15. CHOOSE ASH RESIN JEWELRY
Ash resin jewelry combines a very small amount with your loved ones ashes with a gemstone like resin. The ash resin mixture is allowed to harden and the end result is stronger than stone. There are several different colors of resin to choose from and we can even do custom designs. We send an ash collection kit when the order is placed and the kit contains all that is needed to gather and return the ashes to us.
16. DRAPING THE JEWELRY OVER A FRAMED PHOTO OR MIRROR
This multipurpose option works for just about anyone, as it keeps your pendant safe and tucked away in a private location that you can enjoy at any time. This way, it will be on display as you go about your morning or evening routine.
Key Insights
We do not recommend hanging your jewelry on a mirror that is in an area prone to moisture - such as by a shower or bath. Repeated exposure to moisture can damage the integrity of the seal. If you are looking to hang a keepsake from a bathroom mirror, choose permanently sealed jewelry as the keepsakes are 100% waterproof and the ashes are permanently sealed inside the jewelry.
17. PLACING IN A TIME CAPSULE OR OTHER PROTECTED VESSEL TO OPEN AT A LATER TIME
This may be a great option for a child or young person who has lost a close relative. Creating a time capsule for a loved one soon after their death by setting aside personal items like letters, photographs, a watch or favorite piece of jewelry is a way of preserving memories forever, even if you aren’t ready for them at the time7.
18. FILLING THE JEWELRY AND GIVING IT TO A CHILD WHEN THEY REACH A LIFE MILESTONE
You can fill the jewelry and pass it down to a child when they reach a life milestone. A 16th birthday, a high school or college graduation or a wedding day would all be ideal opportunities. This is a great way to create a family heirloom8 and share family history with future generations.
19. ATTACH TO A PAPER LANTERN AND SEND INTO THE NIGHT SKY
Paper lanterns are often used as a way to memorialize a loved one that has passed9. The lanterns have a small cardboard base and the lantern is white tissue like paper - think miniature hot air balloons. The memorial jewelry can be attached to the base as a way to release your loved one in to the night sky above.
Author's Experience
My husband has coached youth football for over a decade. One of the players on my son's oldest team lost an infant brother the spring of their 7th grade year. When fall ball started, we gathered the team and their families at our homes and passed out paper lanterns to all of the players. They all wrote messages to Talon, the infant that had passed, and then, as a football family, we lit the lanterns and sent them into the night sky. Truly was a remarkable and much cherished moment for everyone there.
20. HAVE A PERMANENTLY SEALED KEEPSAKE MADE
Permanently sealed jewelry features a pendant, ring or bracelet that is crafted from metal. A very small amount of your loved one's ashes is permanently sealed inside the jewelry. There is no visible screw and the jewelry is 100% waterproof and indistinguishable from other jewelry.
21. PRESS INTO THE SURFACE OF A GARDEN STONE TO PLACE IN YOUR LANDSCAPING
Memorial garden stones offer families a place to go visit in memory of their loved one10. They are often decorated with colorful glass and stones and can be inscribed using a pencil or piece of thin metal to 'write' in the cement. The piece of jewelry can be pressed down into the cement as part of the stone decorations. This creates a highly personal and visual reminder of the deceased.
Conclusion
Memorial jewelry is a visual and tangible memory of a loved one that has passed from your life. There are many ways in which the keepsakes can be worn and displayed in memory of the deceased.
Works Cited
1. "Bereavement and Grief." Mental Health America, https://www.mhanational.org/bereavement-and-grief
2. "The history of the signature." Legalesign, 22 Sep 23, https://legalesign.com/blog/history-of-signatures/
3. "Pet loss and grief." American Humane, https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/pet-loss-grief/
4. "Preserving generational history with heirloom jewelry." Hannah Morrissey, Eterneva, https://www.eterneva.com/resources/heirloom-jewelry
5. "What are fingerprints?" Rutgers, https://sites.rutgers.edu/fingerprinting/introduction-what-are-fingerprints/
6. "How to transform your unworn jewellery into something you love." Amy De Klerk, Harper's Bazaar, 27 Apr 23, https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/jewellery-watches/a38894049/how-to-repurpose-jewellery/
7. "How to create an everlasting time capsule with your grandchildren." Devoted Grandma, 12 Feb 23, https://www.devotedgrandma.com/grandparenting/create-a-time-capsule-with-grandchildren/
8. "8 ideas for a family heirloom to pass down to your daughter." Marshall Jacobs, The Gardens of Boca Raton, 12 Dec 23, https://www.thegardens.com/family-heirlooms-for-daughters/
9. "Use Chinese sky lanterns to remember a loved one." Kathleen Clohessy, Seven Ponds, 9 Apr 16, https://blog.sevenponds.com/practical-tips/our-weekly-tip-use-chinese-sky-lanterns-to-memorialize-a-loved-one
10. "In loving memory - garden memorial stones." Autodesk Instructables, https://www.instructables.com/In-Loving-Memory-Garden-Memorial-Stones/
Jeri K. Augustus
Meet Jeri K. Augustus, an experienced customer service professional from Great Falls, Montana, with a heart full of compassion for helping others. Jeri has spent more than four decades in the industry and has gained a wealth of personal experience with loss and grief. She has dedicated herself to assisting families in finding meaningful ways to honor their loved ones who have passed on and celebrate those who are still with us.
Jeri's contribution to the cremation jewelry industry is remarkable. She played a key role in developing new lines of modern pendants, cremation rings, and bracelets. She launched a line of photo-engraved jewelry that now includes several hundred styles for families to choose from. She is actively involved in leadership and customer care at Jewelry Keepsakes Inc., where she helps people every day with their inquiries and concerns regarding these products.
Despite her many years in the industry, Jeri remains passionately committed to helping those who are grieving and supporting families as they find personal ways to cherish their loved ones. She still resides in Montana and enjoys spending her free time with her dogs, children, and grandchildren. If you're looking for someone who can guide you with compassion and expertise in selecting a beautiful keepsake to remember your loved ones, Jeri is the perfect person to help.