5 Facts About Cremation Jewelry

With the significant increase in the number of people choosing to be cremated instead of buried, there are many new urn and keepsake options available to families who choose cremation and many more options coming available every month. One type of keepsake that is experiencing much more interest is cremation jewelry. This unique keepsake remembrance item lets you keep your loved one close with pendants, bracelets, rings, keychains, and gemstones - a beautiful way to honor and remember a loved one!  

Below we highlight five facts about cremation or memorial jewelry.

5 Interesting Facts About Cremation or Memorial Jewelry

1. Cremation jewelry isn’t only for cremated ashes. Cremation or memorial jewelry securely holds a memento of a loved one and most families include a small portion of a loved one’s cremated ashes. However, if you don’t have the ashes or prefer not to include them, other meaningful things can be placed in cremation jewelry instead. This includes a lock of hair, soil from the burial or scattering site, or even a small piece of the clothing of a loved one.

2. Cremation jewelry comes in many different types and styles. Many cremation jewelry pieces look like fine jewelry and nobody would even guess ashes are included. In addition, with the increased interest in cremation, there are now many different unique cremation jewelry pieces available. This includes pendants that can be worn as a necklace or placed on a keyring, bracelets, rings, tie tacks, etc. Below we highlight some of the most common ones:

• Pendant Necklaces - pendants that hold ashes are available in various materials, metals, and sizes and hold a small amount of a loved one’s ashes. Most of the  - pendants can also be personalized with names, dates, designs, or phrases to make the jewelry piece extra special.

• Bracelets - bracelets are becoming more and more popular and they can hold ashes either in a section of the bracelet, or throughout the entire piece that goes around a wrist. These unique jewelry pieces make for a beautiful way to honor and remember a loved one!

• Rings - a cremation ring can either be smooth or braided and includes a small compartment to hold some of the ashes. These beautiful jewelry pieces are designed for women, men, or gender-neutral and come in stainless steel, sterling silver and gold.

• Keychains - keychains are great for anyone who doesn’t want to wear ashes in jewelry, but wants to keep a small portion of a loved one’s ashes close by. With keychains, ashes are placed in a hollowed interior or pendant. 

3. Cremation jewelry can be a diamond or stone. Memorial diamonds have become quite popular over the past few years! These high-quality pieces can last for generation and make for a beautiful remembrance piece. Memorial diamonds are lab-created and made with both heat and pressure. After they’re created, these unique diamonds can be placed in your favorite jewelry settings, from rings to necklaces.

4. Cremation jewelry is intended for everybody. Cremation jewelry is available in masculine, feminine, or gender-neutral styles and are made from a variety of materials and in a many different shapes and sizes. When it comes to choosing the right piece of cremation jewelry for you or a family member or friend, it’s a good idea to consider the following:

• Wearability – How often do you wear jewelry? If you work with your hands, you might prefer a cremation necklace. If you prefer a more casual style, consider a ring. 

• Discretion – Many pieces of cremation jewelry resemble any other piece of jewelry and other people can’t tell the piece contains ashes.  If you prefer discretion, consider one of these pieces and avoid a vial or locket. 

• Durability – Check reviews of the manufacturer to help make sure the piece you’re interested in purchasing is durable (some are more durable than others!). You don’t want to risk having any of the ashes spill out!

5.  Care for cremation jewelry like any other jewelry piece. Caring for cremation jewelry is similar to any other jewelry piece, except it’s one with much more sentimental value. It’s always a good idea to avoid wearing this piece during certain activity if there’s a chance it could be scratched, tangled, or pulled off of you. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for cleaning and caring for the piece and pay close attention to the metal type if you’re looking at any off the shelf cleaning solution. In addition, even though your loved one’s ashes are secured in the piece, it’s still a good idea to avoid immersing the piece in water.

Is Cremation Jewelry Right for Me?

Cremation or memorial jewelry comes in many different shapes, sizes and materials – there is something for everyone! If you don’t like to wear jewelry, consider a keychain or a piece to simply keep with you.  Alternatively, consider another keepsake item like cremation glass with the ashes infused inside, a small keepsake urn, or a keepsake planter, among many other options.