Here at Ashes With Art we have developed our process across the last 20 years. We ensure that from the minute you choose your glass art memorial or cremation jewellery, you understand what happens next and feel safe in the knowledge that your piece is being created by experts who respect and understand the impact of a lost loved one within a relationship, family and community. Below is an overview of our processes. You can see our processes in action by either visiting in person or watching our insights video which can be seen here.
When an order is placed, we will call you confirm we have received it and check each and every detail is correct. If you have ordered online we will send you everything needed to send the ashes to us, including a freepost returns envelope.
As soon as the order is placed, we start to make your jewellery. This is expertly hand made by our master craftsmen who make each piece to your size and design in the precious metal of your choice.
With ashes received, we start to make your cremation glass art. To create the desired effect of your chosen artwork, we hand cut and arrange up to 200 individual pieces of glass. Once the cutting and arrangement has taken place your artwork will then be fired in our kilns for 3 days ensuring optimal quality and strength.
Once your jewellery has been made, we send it (without the glass or ashes) to the Birmingham Assay Office where it is officially hallmarked with our very own Ashes With Art makers mark and precious metal hallmark stamp.
Whilst your jewellery is being hallmarked, our glass specialists hand craft your cremation ash gemstone. This is a highly skilled process and takes years of learning to perfect. Each stone is shaped, hardened and then polished. It takes approximately 3 days to make each cremation ash gemstone.
As soon as the hallmarked jewellery is returned from the Assay Office, we begin to set the piece. Each piece is set by hand using traditional techniques that have been used for hundreds of years. We don't cut corners and use glue to do this as this could result in the stone falling out.
Once the glass art memorial is made, we then need to clean and polish all elements of the piece. With this complete, we then finish the artwork with frosted toughened glass.
At this stage your cremation jewellery is ready for engraving. We have 2 in-house engraving machines and we engrave rings on the inside, pendants and cufflinks on the back and beads on each side of the bead cap.
Each piece we make goes through rigorous quality checking process ensuring it is perfectly finished and of the very highest standards. Once approved, each piece is then photographed 3 times for reference.
Once the quality checks are complete, we then certify each and every piece we make. This is our guarantee that the ashes that have been provided are those that are in the piece. Our certificates are sealed in a hand wax sealed envelope.
Once everything is ready, we carefully wrap each piece ensuring it is beautifully presented and ready for collection or delivery.