How Cremation Jewellery Is Made

• ✓ Two main making methods: secret chamber (ashes sealed inside metal) and glass gemstone (ashes in molten/fused glass).
• ✓ Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) protect ashes; glass gemstones can show the ashes suspended in colour.
• ✓ Any unused ashes are labelled, kept safe and returned.

Cremation jewellery can help an individual to feel closer to those who have left us, and might bring strength and resilience during difficult moments in life.

Cremation jewellery can also help those who might struggle to let go of the ashes. The act of scattering ashes can feel very final and resolute, but keeping a small amount in a piece of jewellery can help with the grieving process. Individuals might wear their jewellery all the time in the immediate time after the death, but over time, it might become a keepsake that is kept safe at home.

What type of jewellery can I choose?

Perhaps the best part about cremation jewellery is that it will always be completely unique to you. There are so many different styles available, so you can choose something that fits perfectly into your existing jewellery collection. Keeping things discreet and low key can also help those who might feel self conscious about wearing memorial jewellery.

Examples of popular cremation jewellery styles include:

• Necklace pendants
• Bracelets
• Bangles
• Charms
• Earrings
• Cufflinks
• Dog tags
• Rings

When it comes to choosing the type of cremation jewellery, you’ll have a choice between secret chamber jewellery and glass gemstone jewellery.

With secret chamber jewellery, we create a small hollow within the piece. The ashes are placed inside and then the chamber is welded closed and marked with a small engraving.

With glass gemstone jewellery, one method is to roll the ashes into a piece of molten glass and then shape this into a charm bead or gemstone. This can be polished and then the ashes are often visible within the glass, even within an opaque colour. Another method is using fused glass to create the gemstone, where the ashes are always visible.

Hidden chamber jewellery is a popular choice for a number of reasons. First, it is completely discreet and looks like any other piece of jewellery. There is a common misconception that cremation jewellery will look a certain way. This type of jewellery subverts this expectation by allowing wearers to conceal their memorial jewellery in something discreet.

How is cremation jewellery made?

For cremation jewellery to be successful in keeping the ashes safe from harm, it needs to be made from reliable materials. Precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum are the ideal choice for this type of jewellery, as it will protect the ashes from damage.

We start with the basic jewellery design, the only difference being that there is a small chamber hidden within the centre of the piece. With rings, this might be in the shank, or below the setting. For simple rings or pave styles, a portion of the band can be made hollow. In a piece of jewellery like a bracelet, the ashes might be contained within a hollow link, or placed on a charm.

We then collect the ashes from the customer. We can either request the entire urn and then return this to you in an appointment, or we can give you the tools you need to collect a small portion of the ashes. We treat ashes with the utmost respect, and everything is labelled throughout the process. We also make sure to return any unused ashes after the jewellery is completed – no ashes would ever be discarded by us.

The ashes are carefully placed inside the chamber and covered with an enclosing piece of metal. We then permanently weld this chamber closed. Finally, we’ll polish and buff the opening so that it is completely concealed. There is no risk of the ashes falling out or coming loose for any reason. The chamber can be marked with a special stamp to remind you of the location.

How are cremation ashes gemstones made?

With glass gemstone jewellery, the approach is rather different. We start with small pieces of glass in the chosen colour. We can create gemstones in any colour to match your personality, or perhaps to match a birthstone.

Next, we melt this glass until it becomes soft and pliable. We can then roll the ashes into the glass. Another method is to used fused glass, we hand cut and arrange every piece of glass and carefully place the ashes throughout the piece. It’s also common to add some glitter into this mix to make the finished product visually interesting.

We can then shape the gemstone before cooling it down. Once cooled, the ashes will be forever suspended in the glass, keeping them safe. This gemstone could be shaped for a ring, placed on a pendant, or turned into a bracelet charm.

FAQs about cremation jewellery

Can I turn ashes into a diamond?

While it is possible to turn human remains into a diamond, we don’t offer this service, and we don’t recommend it. The process is very expensive – far more than it would cost to purchase a lab grown diamond – and it also results in a very yellow diamond with lots of inclusions. These can impact the visual qualities of the diamond and make it less attractive. A far better approach would be to save the ashes within the setting of a piece of memorial jewellery and then pair this with a lab grown diamond.

Why is resin unsuitable for cremation jewellery?

We don’t recommend resin as a suitable material for creating cremation jewellery as this is a plastic that will start to break down over time. Exposure to sunlight and water will speed up this process, and it could cause the jewellery to crumble, leaving the cremation ashes exposed. This can be hugely distressing to experience, as you will likely have a heavy emotional connection to the piece of jewellery.

How long does cremation jewellery take?

Each piece is made by hand, so it all depends on the lead times in our jewellery design studio. At present, most designs will take around 2 - 4 weeks to complete, and this reflects the dedication of our team to ensuring that every piece is handled with care. We’ll also keep you updated on the progress of your piece of jewellery throughout.

Secret chamber vs glass gemstone: quick comparison

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