How do I choose the right ashes ring to honor a loved one?

• ✓ Decide on everyday vs occasion wear first; that guides profile, band width and setting choices.
• ✓ For discreet security choose sealed hidden-compartment ashes jewellery; for visible colour consider memorial glass.
• ✓ If considering “diamonds from ashes”, compare with glass and traditional settings here: Memorial Glass vs Diamonds.

Choosing to turn your loved one’s ashes into a memorial ring might feel like a very modern invention, but humans have been creating memorial jewellery since the Middle Ages. It has always been popular to add ashes or hair to small keepsakes as a lasting tribute to those who have left us.

With this in mind, we’re looking at the process of choosing the right style and type of ring for your memorial keepsake. We’ll explore the practical and emotional considerations that you need to keep in mind while making this important choice.

What is an ashes ring?

Ashes rings are a kind of memorial keepsake that can be created to house the ashes of a loved one or a pet. These will often contain a hidden compartment within the band of the ring where a small amount of the ashes are safely stored. While they are commonly used for ashes, it’s also possible to store locks of hair or pet fur within the ring.

There are lots of different types of memorial rings available, including simple bands, signet rings, gemstone rings and diamond rings. Choosing the right ring is a deeply personal choice, and we would recommend taking your time to select the ring kind for your needs. Consider the following factors when choosing a memorial ring:

Everyday or occasional wear?

The first question to ask yourself would be about how often you plan to wear the ring. Will you wear this every day for comfort and reassurance? Or do you imagine it will be a ring you’ll only wear on special occasions?

For an everyday wear item, we’d recommend something simple and sleek. You might choose to wear a simple band on your ring finger, or a signet ring on your little finger. Thumb rings are also a popular choice as they stand out.

For occasional wear, you might opt for something more elaborate. It’s possible to add diamonds and glass gemstones to your ring to make them more ornate. You might wear this one on your middle finger as it’s more of a statement piece.

Glass gemstones can also be made with the ashes of a loved one enclosed inside, which will further enhance the emotional significance of the piece.

Space for an inscription?

If you have imagined adding an inscription to your ring, you might want to choose a ring with a wider band so you’ll have more space for the writing. If you don’t want an inscription in the band and are looking for something sleek and discreet, then a thinner band might be suitable.

Diamonds or no diamonds?

Turning ashes into a diamond is certainly possible, but the results are often unsatisfactory. Diamonds made from ashes are often very yellow in colour and have lots of inclusions that impact the sparkle.

A far better solution would be to add a lab grown diamond to a band that contains the ashes in a hidden compartment. This will enable you to enjoy a more visually stunning diamond as the centrepiece of your jewellery.

Pave diamonds are also an option for an eternity ring with a deeply emotional attachment. We have even helped customers to add ashes into engagement rings and wedding bands to ensure those who have left us can still be part of special occasions.

Warm or cool toned metals

The final decision you will need to make will be the choice of metal. Those who prefer cool tones might consider a silver or platinum ring, while those with warm-toned skin might like the look of gold or even rose gold.

When it comes to budgets, silver will be the most cost-effective option, followed by gold. The strongest option would be platinum, but it’s important to remember that your ashes will be safe no matter which precious metal you choose. The specially sealed compartment is welded closed and the metal will keep the ashes or hair safe.

Take your time with the selection process

If you’re struggling to make a final choice, we recommend taking your time with your selection. Start by ordering a ring sizer so you can at least figure out which finger you will wear the ring on. From there, you’ll be able to narrow down things like the thickness of the band, the colour of the metal and if you’d like to include glass gemstones or diamonds.

If you’re designing something you’ll wear every day, we recommend choosing something discreet and low profile, as this will fit seamlessly with any outfit. If you are planning to save your ring for special occasions, then you can choose something that makes more of a statement.

Prefer a discreet look or visible colour? Discreet rings use a sealed chamber inside the band (ashes jewellery), while visible flecks and colour come from memorial glass. If you’re weighing diamonds-from-ashes, compare with glass here: Glass vs Diamonds.

Choosing an ashes ring: quick comparison

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