Compare Ashes With Art to Other Memorial Jewellery Brands

Resin ashes jewellery uses a liquid plastic material (resin or epoxy) that is poured into a setting and left to harden around the ashes. Resin is affordable and easy to work with, but it can yellow, scratch, soften, trap moisture, or react to heat and sunlight over time.

Resin-free ashes jewellery is made using traditional fine jewellery techniques. Ashes are placed inside a professionally crafted sealed chamber. Instead of resin, makers also use kiln-fired fused glass, lab-grown gemstones, and natural gemstones.

Resin-free jewellery is generally more durable, waterproof, UV-safe and long-lasting because it uses the same materials found in high-quality fine jewellery.

It depends on the materials used.

• Fine jewellery made with metals, gemstones or kiln-fired fused glass is typically fully waterproof and UV-safe — it can be worn in the shower, sea, pool and daily life without damage.
• Resin ashes jewellery is not waterproof. Resin can absorb moisture, soften with heat, or become cloudy when exposed to water, cleaning products, lotions, chlorine or saltwater. Resin is also not UV-safe.

If you want ashes jewellery that can be worn all the time, look for resin-free jewellery made like traditional fine jewellery.

The lifespan depends on how the piece is made.

• Resin-free ashes jewellery (precious metal plus gemstone or glass) can last a lifetime with normal care. These materials can be cleaned, polished, repaired, resized and restored by professional jewellers.
• Resin jewellery has a shorter lifespan. Resin may yellow, scratch or crack over time, especially with heat, sunlight, moisture or daily wear.

For jewellery intended to last for decades, pieces made using traditional fine jewellery techniques offer the best long-term durability.

Resin is widely used in craft jewellery, but it is not considered a fine jewellery material. This is why you won't find it in respected high-street jewellery shops or on luxury and fine jewellery brand websites.

While safe to wear, resin can yellow or become cloudy, soften with heat, absorb moisture, react to cosmetics or cleaning products, crack or scratch easily, and lose clarity over time.

For sentimental items intended for lifelong wear — especially rings — resin may require extra care and may not offer the same durability or security as solid precious metal, glass or gemstones.

For everyday wear, the best option is resin-free ashes jewellery made in the same way as traditional fine jewellery. Look for solid precious metals (silver, gold, platinum); hand settings crafted by jewellers that don't require glue or bonding materials; kiln-fired fused glass, lab-grown or natural gemstones; and waterproof, UV-safe materials.

These materials withstand daily activity, water, sunlight and long-term wear. Resin jewellery is more fragile and typically needs to be removed for washing, swimming, heat exposure and many everyday tasks.

The best metals for ashes jewellery are solid precious metals, which offer long-term durability, hallmarking for authenticity and the level of craftsmanship expected from fine jewellery.

Sterling silver (925) is strong, affordable and always UK hallmarked to confirm purity. Solid 9ct and 18ct gold resists tarnishing, suits everyday wear and must be professionally hallmarked. Platinum is the most enduring metal used in ashes jewellery — naturally white, exceptionally strong, hypoallergenic and always hallmarked.

Precious-metal ashes jewellery allows secure traditional settings, professional resizing and repairs, long-term daily wear and hallmarking for guaranteed authenticity.

Yes — as long as it is made using traditional fine jewellery techniques. Jewellery made from solid precious metals with sealed settings can be resized, polished, re-tipped, re-shanked, stone-set or re-set, and professionally restored.

Resin-based jewellery cannot usually be resized or repaired. Heat from resizing can damage resin, and structural repairs may not be possible.

Kiln-fired glass is a high-quality material created by heating glass in a kiln until it fuses and hardens. In memorial jewellery, this technique produces a durable, non-resin gemstone in which ashes can be safely included.

Benefits include long-term clarity, resistance to clouding, waterproof and UV-safe properties, and a solid, gemstone-like finish. It is far more durable than resin and suitable for daily wear.

Glued stones (also called bonded settings) can loosen over time, particularly if exposed to water, heat, lotions or perfume, everyday wear, or accidental knocks.

In fine jewellery, stones are usually set using claws, bezels or pressure settings, which do not rely on glue. This provides far greater long-term security. If you want a piece for everyday wear, look for traditional gemstone settings instead of bonded or glued stones.

Fine jewellery (metal plus glass or gemstone): clean gently with warm water and mild soap, suitable for daily wear, can be professionally polished or serviced — no special restrictions.

Resin jewellery: must be kept away from water; avoid heat, UV light, lotions and cleaning products; can scratch or yellow; cannot usually be polished or restored.

If you want low-maintenance jewellery, choose resin-free pieces.

Each brand follows different procedures, but in professional jewellery studios: ashes are labelled and securely stored, only one set is worked on at a time, ashes are precisely measured and placed, chain-of-custody procedures are followed, and any unused ashes are returned safely.

Looking for brands with transparent handling procedures can provide extra assurance.

Yes — if it is made using resin-free materials such as precious metal, fused glass, natural gemstones or lab-grown gemstones that are properly set, not glued. These materials are durable, waterproof, UV-safe and suitable for daily wear.

Resin jewellery is more delicate and usually needs to be removed for showering, swimming, exercising, heat exposure, cleaning, and applying lotions or perfume.

Several factors influence price: metal choice (silver vs gold vs platinum); gemstone material (glass, lab-grown, natural); craftsmanship and construction — whether something is made by hand or mass-produced; whether it uses resin or fine jewellery techniques; country of manufacture; time required for handcrafting; and aftercare and servicing options.

Resin jewellery is typically cheaper because materials and production are lower-cost and quicker. Fine jewellery costs more because it uses precious metals, skilled jewellers and durable, long-lasting materials.

Both are excellent resin-free options. Fused glass gemstones are UV-safe and waterproof, durable, available in custom colours with visible ashes and inclusions, and more affordable. Lab-grown or natural gemstones are extremely hard and scratch-resistant, come with certification (diamonds), retain high value, and offer a luxury fine-jewellery appearance with discreet inclusion.

Both are superior long-term materials compared to resin — the best choice depends on your preferred style.

Custom design availability varies. Some brands offer fully bespoke memorial jewellery, some offer limited personalisation (colours, engravings), and some do not offer customisation at all.

If you want a piece tailored to your ideas — shape, colour, stone type, metal or style — look for brands with an in-house jewellery workshop and a professional design service.

For jewellery intended to be worn often — especially rings, pendants and bracelets — fused glass is stronger, more stable and more durable than resin. It is also a recognised fine-jewellery material that works with traditional gemstone settings.

Resin can look beautiful when new, but it does not offer the same long-term durability, clarity, or resistance to heat, water and sunlight. Choosing glass gives you a piece designed for daily wear and lifelong longevity, using the same principles applied in traditional jewellery making.