The Ashes With Art Standard: Our Process
Placing Your Order
Your journey begins by selecting a design that feels right for you. Once your order is placed, we will contact you to confirm the details and answer any questions you may have.
If you require an order pack or ring sizer, this will be sent to you with everything needed to return your loved one’s ashes to us safely and securely.
From this point onwards, your order is handled as a single, dedicated piece of work, ensuring care and attention at every stage.
In-House Crafting Begins
As soon as your order is placed, work begins on your jewellery. Our jewellers start by creating the precious metal foundation of your piece in our Worthing and Birmingham studios, carefully crafting it to your chosen design, size and metal.
This stage prepares your jewellery so it is ready for the careful incorporation of your loved one’s ashes.
All work is carried out in-house by our team across our studios. Nothing is outsourced to external workshops, allowing us to maintain consistent quality and control throughout the process.
HALLMARKING
Once your jewellery has been prepared, it is sent (without any ashes or glass elements) to the Birmingham Assay Office, where it is officially hallmarked with our Ashes With Art makers mark and the appropriate precious metal stamp.
Receiving and Logging Your Ashes
When your ashes arrive at our studio, they are carefully received, recorded and securely stored as part of our chain of custody process.
Each order is individually logged and matched to your jewellery, so your loved one’s ashes can be tracked throughout every stage. You will receive confirmation once they have arrived safely.
From this point, your ashes are handled with care and attention throughout the process, ensuring they remain clearly identified and securely managed at all times.
We typically require only a small amount of ash for your jewellery, with any remaining ashes carefully returned to you once your piece is complete.
Wherever possible, your ashes are handled by a consistent member of our team throughout the process.
Each order is handled separately and clearly identified throughout the process to ensure accuracy and care at every stage.
Incorporating Ashes Into Your Jewellery
Once your jewellery has been prepared and your ashes have been received and logged, we move to the stage where they are carefully incorporated into your chosen piece.
Depending on the design, we use one of two specialist methods developed and refined in-house.
Sealed Chamber Method
In sealed chamber designs, a small amount of ash is placed within a discreet internal compartment inside the jewellery. This chamber is then permanently enclosed within the precious metal, securing the ashes as part of the structure of the piece.
Because the ashes are not visible, this method allows for a wide range of traditional jewellery designs, including those set with diamonds and gemstones.
Glass Artisan Method
In glass designs, a small amount of ash is carefully incorporated into specialised art glass using controlled, high-temperature processes. The ashes become part of the material itself, creating a visible and unique memorial within the finished piece.
Each glass element is individually created by hand, resulting in subtle variations that make every piece unique.
Why We Use Glass or Sealed Chamber — Not Resin
Some memorial jewellery is created using resin, a polymer material that holds ashes within the design.
At Ashes With Art, we instead use sealed chamber construction or specialised glass techniques, allowing ashes to be securely enclosed within precious metal or incorporated directly into the material itself.
| Sealed Chamber / Glass | Resin |
|---|---|
| Ashes enclosed within metal or incorporated into glass | Ashes held within a resin setting |
| Designed for long-term wear | May require more care over time |
| Traditional jewellery construction or kiln-formed glass | Polymer-based material |
Learn more about the differences between methods in our detailed comparison guide .
Precious Metal Finishing and Setting
Once the ashes have been incorporated, your jewellery moves to the final stages of finishing and setting. Each piece is carefully completed by our jewellers, ensuring the design, setting and overall finish meet our standards.
We use hallmarked precious metals, including sterling silver, gold and platinum, with each piece finished and inspected before completion.
This stage ensures your jewellery is ready to be worn, combining careful craftsmanship with the durability expected of a lasting memorial piece.
Responsible Materials & Resin-Free Construction
We create memorial jewellery using traditional fine jewellery techniques and carefully selected materials. Our approach prioritises long-term durability, responsible sourcing and permanent construction methods.
We never rely on poured resin to seal ashes or create compartments. Where glass is used, it is kiln-fired and permanently fused. Many designs secure ashes or hair inside solid precious metal chambers that are laser-welded shut, and gemstones are set by hand using traditional techniques.
You can read more about our sourcing standards on our Ethical Sourcing page , explore why we don’t use resin on our Resin-Free guide , or read the glass vs resin comparison guide .
Completion, Certification and Delivery
Once your jewellery has passed our final quality inspection, it is carefully prepared for completion and delivery. Each piece is finished, checked and beautifully presented to ensure it arrives in perfect condition.
Your order includes a certificate of authenticity, confirming that the ashes or hair provided are those within your finished piece.
We will contact you to arrange delivery or collection at a convenient time. All deliveries are sent using a secure, signed-for service, ensuring your jewellery reaches you safely.
Any remaining ashes are carefully returned to you using the same secure handling processes followed throughout.
