A Guide To Selecting The Perfect Piece Of Thumbprint Jewelry

OUR BACKGROUND ON THUMBPRINT JEWELRY

WHAT IS THUMBPRINT JEWELRY?

HOW DOES THUMBPRINT JEWELRY WORK?

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THUMBPRINT JEWELRY?

WHAT MATERIALS ARE THUMBPRINT JEWELRY MADE FROM?

HOW CAN I PERSONALIZE THUMBPRINT JEWELRY?

OUR TOP FIVE THUMBPRINT JEWELRY PICKS

CAN I HAVE A PIECE OF CUSTOM THUMBRINT JEWELRY MADE?

THUMBPRINT JEWELRY FAQS

Often, individuals will use the thumbprint of a deceased loved one as a way to stay close with them as it acts as a physical reminder and token of their memory. This is especially profound with memorializing immediate family members. Even though every individual has a unique fingerprint, studies have found that fingerprint patterns can be inherited through genetics³. Thumbprint jewelry is not just a personal reminder of an individual but also a unique part of your individual history in this instance.

Common reasons for having thumbprint jewelry made for a loved one who has passed away is to either treasure their memory, commemorate a life well-lived, mark a special relationship. This is also a great idea for a young adult whom is experiencing loss for the first time. It gives them a tangible reminder of that person that has texture and 'feeling'.

Thumbprint jewelry is a great way to express your love and connection with those that are still living. Fingerprint jewelry is appropriate for both men, women, and children which makes them perfect as gifts to give.

For instance, mothers and children can exchange thumbprint jewelry as a way to bond with one another, whereas, couples can give each other thumbprint jewelry as a way of staying together when they are miles apart. This is a great option as wedding bands, for those that are being deployed or even as a gift for a child that is moving away from home and on their own for the first time.

One of my most favorite examples of this was an engaged couple. The bride had placed an order for two white gold thumbprint dog tags. One was slightly smaller than the other which we custom designed for her. The front of the bride's dog tag had her groom's fingerprint engraved and vice versa for the groom. On the back of each dog tag was a laser engraved 'I love you' that each had handwritten. The groom's had the bride's 'I love you' in her handwriting and vice versa on the bride's pendant. The boxes were marked appropriately when they were sent to the couple and they opened them the morning of their wedding and wore them at the ceremony.

Believe it or not, thumbprint jewelry is a great idea as a way to commemorate a pet. We can laser engrave a nose print or a paw print right onto the surface of the pendant, keychain, etc. Many veterinarians can do this in their office or it's very simple to do at home⁴.

There are a couple of reasons outside of the loss of a pet where a family or pet parent may want to do this. For those that have college kids moving away, this is a great way for them to take a part of their pet with them to school and a thumbprint keychain would be the way to go. This is also ideal for those that are looking for a gift for a friend or family member that just brought their first pet home.

I have six dogs so this is something I am passionate about. I have personally hand-traced more pawprints and nose prints and given keychains as gifts to many friends that have lost their cherished animals. It warms my heart as much as it does theirs to be able to gift that to them.

Cutting and engraving a Thumbprint pendant on a laser

When cutting the jewelry, the laser must be focused perfectly. Any error in focusing will cause the thumbprint to be engraved inaccurately.

The laser cutting process generates an intense amount of heat. Aluminum cooling fins are used under the jewelry to help draw away the heat produced from the cutting process.

The polishing process begins with the jewelry going through a wet media process for around 3 hours.

After the wet process, the jewelry is placed in a vibratory finishing machine for just over 40 hours, this leaves the jewelry evenly polished.

Next the jewelry is placed in a magnetic pin finisher to help clean up any of the dry media from the previous step, and put a nice shine on the jewelry.

A final inspection takes place for any areas that need to be ground or filed down for an even finish.

We finish with a hand polish, leaving the pendant with a shiny finish - or as in this case, with a beautiful satin brushed sheen.

Lastly, the pendant is steam cleaned to remove any residue from the polishing process.

Fingerprint pendants are perhaps our customer favorites and, due to the hundreds of different designs, shapes and themes to choose from, it is easy to see why. Our fingerprint pendants may show the entire fingeprint or a portion thereof and we even have thumbprint pendants that will show a portion of two different and distinct prints.

Fingerprint pendants are truly a great option for just about everyone. There are styles that lean more masculine and have a heavier weight and feel and there are also pendants that are family inspired such as the Sterling Silver Love You To The Moon and Back Thumbrint Pendant. The elongated bail of our fingerprint pendants really sets them apart as it allows them to hang in a way that beautifully displays them on the body.

One of my favorite customers was a young dad with three children. He wanted to choose something special for his wife that incorporated their children for Mother's Day. He chose a gold plated four leaf clover and then had the kids help with getting their prints. A portion of each of their prints went on one leaf of the clover and the center we filled with purple resin - her favorite color! And I know how much she treasures it because it is a part of her family all in one piece.

Our thumbprint rings come in band styles as well as cuff styles and are available in a variety of different metals. The rings are ideal for both men and women alike and provide a great reminder of a loved one that they can carry with them always.

One of my favorite aspects of thumbprint rings is that it offers you the option of getting to hold the hand of someone you cherish - at least that is how I approach it. I know that when I take my cuff ring off, I have the ridges and lines of my dad's fingerprint under there and it brings me a lot of comfort, knowing he is with me in some way day to day.

My daughter actually has a fingerprint band and it's a story worth sharing. Her and her boyfriend were getting ready to move south and move in together and it was coinciding shortly after her birthday. Under the guise of me needing additional fingerprints for our pieces online, they sent me in their fingerprints. Her boyfriend chose a silver band and a portion of her fingerprint was engraved on one half of the top and a portion of his on the other half. The interior of the band was engraved with 'I Love You.' We made sure to notate which fingerprint half was which and she wears it as a promise ring with his half closest to her heart. And of course she LOVES it!

Thumbprint bracelets are another option when it comes to fingerprint jewelry. The bracelets are available with two different styles of bands - one that is more bangle style and the other which is a little more decorative and faceted. The thumbprint charm is attached to the bracelet with a jump ring and slides freely on the bracelet.

If you're looking for something that has more of a delicate nature or you simply love the look of charm bracelets, this is a really terrific option. Any thumbprin pendant that we feature on our site can be made to be worn on a bracelet and we can even custom create a design of your own.

I will note that I personally think the bracelets are better for those with a larger wrist size. I have a very petite wrist and it is a little too loose fitting for my comfort. Never be afraid to send us an email to sales@jewelrykeepsakes.com with your wrist size and we will be happy to send you some options that would work best!

Our thumbprint jewelry with fingerprint and photo is a really unique way to show your dedication towards a loved one in multiple ways. A portion of the pendant is laser engraved with a print that you choose and the other part of the pendant has a black and white replica of your chosen photo that is covered with a clear enamel to protect the image.

This is a great example of a family heirloom! These types of pendants can help celebrate and tell stories of our veterans that served, of parents that were gone too soon or siblings that we never got the chance to meet. Thumbprint jewelry with a fingerprint is easily prerved over time by using only top quality metals and provides an heirloom keepsake where you can visually and tangibly touch a part of your history.

This concept I believe is vital to children and adolescents. When children and young adults learn about their family history and are embedded in those stories, it gives them a sense of belonging⁷. Those stories that they hear allow them the history of how their life unfolded through past family members. Having an heirloom for them to further that connection can help them to further connect the dots.

We took thumprint jewelry a step further in 2023 and begin creating designs that would incorporate a print with a small amount of ash resin. A very small amount of cremated ashes is mixed with the ash resin and allowed to harden. The end result is stronger than stone.

What we found was that not only did it give customers a splash of color that complimented the metal of their thumbprint jewelry but it also gave them countless other ways to show their love and dedication. The addition of the ashes brought a highly personal part of the deceased and the resin color almost always played a part as well. Might have been the birthstone color of the deceased, perhaps the color of their eyes or even the wearers favorite color. It created a personal, wearable, full of love and expression piece of jewelry that you simply can't find anywhere else.

Another one of my favorite customers. Lisa reached out to me back in the fall and was looking for something different. She wanted to incorporate her mom's fingerprint and some of her mom's ashes but she wanted it done in solid gold AND in the form of a keychain - three of them to be exact. And she wanted a little bit of text engraving on the back and then their phone number on the exterior rim in case the keychain ever got lost.

Thumbprint jewelry gifts are one of our more popular categories - who doesn't like to surprise someone with a highly personal and special gift? I do. We carry fingerprint kershaw knives, fingerprint keychains, cufflinks, tie tacs, lighters and so much more! The opportunities to be creative and choose a gift that is not only personalized with a part of a fingerprint and some words from a verse, a song, a book - that's what people love to receive

A couple Christmas's ago, my husband and his brothers were trying to come up with a gift for their dad. He has everything as tends to happen when we get older. He loves to hunt and fish so I suggested a kershaw knife. They each sent me their fingerprint and I edited them and got them ready for print.

With stainless steel jewelry, it is naturally hypoallergenic⁷ for those who have allergies to certain kinds of metal, and it does not break or bend under regular use. There are numerous types of stainless steel since it is composed of multiple metal alloys and is a durable and cost-effective alternative to traditional metals.

It is impervious to oxidation, meaning it will not discolor or blacken over time nor will it leave any markings on your skin. Beyond this, stainless steel does not get scratched very easily and it retains its luster even after daily wear.

Stainless steel can be adorned with an array of beautiful finishes to make it look like sterling silver or white gold and can be plated with rose gold or yellow gold.

With sterling silver jewelry, you will get a much higher polish and natural finish than most other metals and due to its softness, gemstones can be mounted on easily.

Sterling silver is also hypoallergenic and is a popular choice as it can be easily molded into necklaces, pendants, and rings with a wide variety of attractive colors and finishes.

Sterling silver will tarnish if not properly maintained⁸ and may be more prone to scratching. Sterling silver continues to be a mainstay in the industry due to the versatility and beauty the metal presents.

With copper jewelry, it must be mixed with other metals like tin and zinc to make it into an alloy as its pure form is too malleable and therefore not very strong.

However, in an alloy form, it is extremely durable and can hold up to everyday wear. Copper will oxidize and this is often where you hear that the jewelry turned skin green. It is called oxidation reaction⁹. The metal reacts to the oxygen in the air as well as the oils in your skin and leaves a greenish residue. We apply a thin clear coat to all of our copper jewelry in order to prevent oxidation reaction.  

Copper thumbprint jewelry is a fantastic choice if you are looking for a piece that has a high luster or is engraved in high definition. And the unique color of copper jewelry contrasts nicely with all skin tones.

Solid 14k gold and white gold jewelry is the best of the best when it comes to beauty, longevity and overall investment. Solid gold has great durability and whether you choose yellow gold or white gold, the color is appealing with every skin tone and ideal for both men and women.

It's important to keep budget in mind if you're choosing solid 14k yellow or white gold for thumbprint jewelry. The metal itself is more valuable so therefore there is going to be a higher price point. Also, all of our solid 14k gold thumbprint jewelry is made to order and one of a kind.

Solid gold thumbprint jewelry is the best option if you are looking for a family heirloom to pass down to future generations.

Text engraving is offered on most all of our thumbprint jewelry - either on the back or the front or sometimes both - and is an option that many of our customers take advantage of. It's an ideal way to add your loved one's name, dates of birth or death or even a short phrase, bible verse or song lyric.

There are different font styles as well. This is another way in which you can choose a style of font that you find visually appealing or that reminds you of the deceased. The number of characters varies from design to design and, in those instances where you need a few more characters, give us a call at 1-877-723-7229. We usually can find a way to make it work.

And it's not just text that you can have engraved. Most of our thumbprint pendants can be engraved with a signature trace or an additional fingerprint. This is a touching and personal way to not only be able to touch the fingerprint of your loved one but to also run your fingertips over their handwriting and feel the words.

On our thumbprint and resin jewelry, you are not bound to choose the resin color in the photo. You can switch out the resin color for any resin color on our site and we can make that adjustment. The resin adds a pop of color and is a beautiful accent to the metal of your jewelry.

If you can't find the color of resin that you are looking for, send an email to sales@jewelrykeepsakes.com. We have access to hundreds of colors and can help you find the exact shade you're looking for. We recently just did a fingerprint pendant for a woman that wanted a turquoise color in honor of her son's birthday in December. After a few emails back and forth and some mixing on our end, we got the exact turquoise color she was hoping for.

The way a necklace hangs on the body is different for everyone. From the length of an individual's torso to neck size and simply what a person finds aesthetically appealing or comfortable. Thumbprint pendants can be personalized simply by choosing a chain in a different length or style.

We offer a number of different styles that come in a variety of lengths. Choose from 18", 20", 22", 24", 26" and 30" lengths. Our upgraded premium chains are made of .925 sterling silver and come in the following styles: rope, box, snake, box, coreana, men's rope and men's curb chains.

Birthstone heart hangers are another option when it comes to personalizing thumbprint pendants. Our birthstone rider hearts are availble in silver, gold plated, black plated and rose gold plated and the small heart has a center birthstone. The heart hanger will rest beside the thumbprint pendant and provides an alternate way to accent the jewelry.

The birthstone hearts can symbolize the birthday of the deceased or your own birthday. Or any other month that holds particular meaning. Choose the month you got engaged or perhaps the 'gotcha' month for when you adopted your pet. The options are endless and the only requirement is that the birthstone means something special to you.

The sterling silver decoative cuff ring is one of our favorites and a customer favorite as well. The cuff style us designed to slide easily over the knuckle then sit securely at the base of the finger. The slight concave nature of the top of the ring gives it a modern touch and this ring is ideal as an accent ring.

Not only do I love this ring but I actually own this ring. It was gifted to me by mom and my brother for a birthday and the inside of the band has my dad's fingerprint. I love it because I am a minimalist when it comes to my jewelry and I never take the ring off. And I love it because I feel close to my dad - like he's holding my hand.

I'll be honest in that I had some trepidation when I received the ring. I thought that the bottom of the ring would pinch my finger. Not the case. The ring is very comfortable, fits securely without being tight. And this was a ring that we did a custom order on (check it out below) and I'm obsessed with the way the custom ring turned out.

This pendant is another top five favorite of ours and, truth be told, it's gorgeous in every finish. The oval shape is very unisex and this pendant has a broad appeal for men and women alike. The front face of the oval really showcases the beauty of the pendant and the size of the face allows for a generous portion of the fingerprint to be engraved.

I think my favorite part of the pendant is how versatile it is. This is one that you can put on and never take off. It transitions with ease from work attire to casual attire and there is nothing showy about the oval thumbprint pendant. It's got a nice weight to it and is just a really nice way to remember someone you cherished in a manner that is very discreet. I think this particular fingerprint pendant would be a great option for a young adult that has maybe experienced loss for the first time.

As a company that loves our country and supports our military personnel, this pendant is very special. Dog tags became official in the early 1900's and were used as a way for the military to identify those that were killed or severly injured¹⁰. The tag was worn under the clothing of the solider. In 1916, a second tag was added and one tag stayed with the body while the other tag was used for burial record keeping. Over time, the look and markings changed - at one point the Navy etched a sailor's print on the back - however, the concept of using the dog tag as a personal identifier remained the same.

This pendant is a wonderful gift idea for any spouse, child, parent or sibling of military personnel. Not only do you have a reminder of them with you always but it's a great way to have a visual reminder of them as well. The silver dog tag fingerprint pendant serves as an indentifier of your soldier, reminding them of you that you are keeping them close at heart while they are deployed.

Not everyone wears jewelry so having products that fit a wide range of lifestyles is important to us. The round my love stainless steel fingerprint keychain features an engraved fingerprint on the front with a small heart at the center. Additionally, you can fit a fair amount of engraved text on the back side of the round and the stainless steel makes it very durable.

I love this keychain because I think it's a great way to incorporate those that have left before us into our lives. Think about a grandson that never got to know his grandfather past some faded memories as a child. What a wonderful gift this is to give him on the day he gets his license, a way to remind him that his grandfather will always be with him in the passenger seat. I also think that any of our fingerprint keychains are ideal for those that drive truck for a living or that spend a lot of time on the road. They allow them to take a memory of home with them on their travels.

This is another one of our go-to fingerprint items and is our favorite - and our customers' favorite too! The kershaw style knife is made of stainless steel and is a basic duty knife. The back of the knife features a sturdy clip and the knife has a decent weight and a slim design.

There are so many wonderful orders surrounding this knife. We had a woman whom lost her husband and she gifted a knife to her husband's 8 best friends on the day of his celebration of life. We just recently engraved a knife with a badge of a local pd and put the retiree's badge number, title and the name of the township and it was gifted to him by a colleague as a retirment gift. The knife has been gifted countless times during the holidays and is just a really unique idea when you aren't sure what to get or how to show you care.

Custom made solid gold fingerprint coin. This coin features stunning detail with a deep engraved fingerprint that you can feel. Being made of solid gold, this coin is extremely valuable with just the gold content alone. This piece was made as a keepsake that the customer wanted to carry in their pocket daily.

Custom back star fingerprint necklace. This star was made to resemble and pay tribute to the Armed Forces since the keepsake was to commemorate a veteran of our country. This is a simple design that looks gorgeous in black. The base metal is Sterling Silver.