What Happens to Ashes When They Are Made Into Jewellery? A Complete Guide
Choosing to have a loved one's ashes made into jewellery is an incredibly personal decision. And if you've never ordered memorial jewellery before, it's completely natural to have questions about what actually happens to the ashes.
How are they put into the jewellery? How much do you need to send? Will you be able to see them? And what happens to the ashes that aren't used?
Here we'll take you through the process, from sending your loved one's ashes to us through to receiving your finished piece.
What is ashes jewellery?
Ashes jewellery, sometimes called cremation jewellery or memorial jewellery, is jewellery created using a small amount of cremation ashes.
Rather than simply storing ashes inside a hollow pendant, our memorial stones are individually made with the ashes incorporated into either glass or resin.
The finished stone is then set into a piece of jewellery, allowing you to wear something that looks and feels like beautiful jewellery while holding an incredibly personal meaning.
We make ashes rings, necklaces and other memorial jewellery in sterling silver, gold and platinum, with designs ranging from understated everyday pieces to more elaborate settings.
How much ash is needed to make jewellery?
Very little.
We ask customers to send approximately one teaspoon of ashes in the storage bag supplied with their inclusion pack.
Only a small amount is required to create the memorial stone itself. Sending a little more gives us enough to select suitable particles and create the finish you've chosen.
You don't need to separate or prepare the ashes yourself.
How do I send ashes for memorial jewellery?
Once you've placed your order, we'll send you an inclusion pack containing everything you need to safely return your ashes to us.
Your pack is labelled with your details and order information so that your inclusions can remain identifiable throughout the process.
You don't need to send the entire contents of an urn. Around a teaspoon is plenty.
What actually happens to the ashes?
This depends on whether you choose glass ashes jewellery or resin ashes jewellery.
Both methods incorporate the ashes into the memorial stone, but the finished appearance and properties are quite different.
How are ashes put into glass jewellery?
For our glass memorial jewellery, your chosen glass is heated until molten.
The glass is then pressed onto the ashes, incorporating them into the glass before additional glass is added around them.
Once the glass has been formed, it is carefully annealed.
But this isn't where our process ends.
Our memorial glass is then cut and hand-faceted to create a gemstone-style stone. The facets reflect light in much the same way as a traditional gemstone, giving the finished piece depth and sparkle.
The result doesn't have to look obviously like memorial jewellery.
It can simply look like a beautiful piece of fine jewellery, with its significance known only to you.
Can you see the ashes inside glass jewellery?
Yes, although their appearance can vary considerably.
The ashes are encapsulated within the glass and viewed through your chosen glass colour.
Because every set of cremation ashes is different, the exact appearance can't be replicated or completely controlled. Some particles may appear lighter, darker or more prominent than others.
The glass colour makes a difference too.
Crystal clear glass gives the clearest view of the inclusions, while coloured glass changes how the ashes appear as light passes through the stone.
Even the same stone can look noticeably different in daylight, artificial light, shade and direct sunlight.
That's part of what makes each piece unique.
How are ashes put into resin jewellery?
Resin gives us considerably more freedom over colour and finish.
Your chosen colour, shimmer, sparkle or decorative finish is used to create the background of the memorial stone.
If you'd like your ashes visible, they can be carefully positioned so that they can be seen through the clear upper layer of resin.
If you'd prefer something more discreet, the ashes can instead be incorporated into the colour so that they are much less noticeable.
This makes resin particularly suitable if you have a very specific colour or appearance in mind.
Glass or resin: which is better for ashes jewellery?
Neither is automatically the right choice for everyone.
Glass is usually the better choice if durability and longevity are your priority. Our faceted memorial glass has the appearance and sparkle of a gemstone, requires minimal care and will not yellow over time.
Resin is the better choice if customisation is your priority. It allows us to create an enormous range of colours, shimmer effects, flakes and finishes, as well as giving greater control over how visible the ashes are.
Resin does require more careful aftercare and should be protected from prolonged exposure to water, heat, chemicals and UV.
If you're undecided, our Glass vs Resin: Which Should You Choose? guide goes into the differences in much more detail.
Will ashes jewellery look obviously like ashes jewellery?
It doesn't have to.
This is something that matters enormously to us.
We don't believe you should have to choose between wearing something sentimental and wearing jewellery you genuinely love.
Our approach is to create beautiful jewellery that you would be proud to wear even without knowing the story behind it.
The inclusion can be as visible or as discreet as the design allows.
Some customers want to see the ashes clearly every time they look at their jewellery. Others prefer a subtle piece where nobody else would ever know what it contains.
Both are completely valid choices.
Can pet ashes be made into jewellery?
Yes.
The process is the same whether the ashes are from a person or a much-loved pet.
Pet ashes can be incorporated into both glass and resin memorial jewellery, so you don't need to look specifically for a separate type of pet ashes jewellery.
Can more than one person's ashes be put into the same jewellery?
In many cases, yes.
Ashes from more than one loved one can be incorporated into a memorial piece. This can be particularly meaningful when creating jewellery in memory of parents, grandparents, partners or several much-loved pets.
If you're considering combining inclusions, contact us before ordering if you're unsure which design would work best.
What happens to the ashes you don't use?
Only a small amount of the ashes you send is required to create your jewellery.
Any remaining ashes are safely returned to you with your completed piece.
Is every ashes stone different?
Yes.
Even when two customers choose exactly the same jewellery design, metal and glass or resin colour, their memorial stones won't be identical.
Cremation ashes naturally vary in colour, size and composition, and their distribution within a handmade stone varies too.
Rather than trying to make every memorial stone look identical, we think that individuality is part of what makes it special.
What colour should I choose for ashes jewellery?
This is largely personal.
Some people choose a loved one's favourite colour. Others choose a birthstone colour, something that reminds them of a particular place or memory, or simply the colour they would most enjoy wearing.
If your priority is seeing the ashes clearly, crystal clear glass is one of the best options.
If you'd prefer something more subtle, coloured glass can soften their appearance.
With resin, there is even greater flexibility, including pearl, shimmer, sparkle and decorative finishes.
It's also worth remembering that glass can look dramatically different under different types of light. We've photographed this in our guide to why ashes in glass jewellery changes appearance in different lighting.
What jewellery can be made with cremation ashes?
Ashes can be incorporated into a wide variety of jewellery, including:
- Ashes rings
- Memorial necklaces and pendants
- Earrings
- Gold memorial jewellery
- Sterling silver memorial jewellery
- Platinum memorial jewellery
The best design isn't necessarily the one marketed most obviously as a memorial piece.
Think about the jewellery you already wear.
If you normally choose simple, contemporary rings, you may be happiest with a subtle memorial ring. If you love statement jewellery, there's no reason your memorial piece shouldn't reflect that too.
Choosing something you'll actually want to wear
Memorial jewellery carries an extraordinary amount of meaning, but it is still jewellery.
That's why we think one of the most important questions isn't simply "How can I put ashes into jewellery?"
It's:
"What would I genuinely love to wear?"
You can then choose the material, colour and inclusion style that allows that piece to carry your loved one's ashes with you.
Your jewellery doesn't need to announce its meaning to the world.
It just needs to mean something to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ashes Jewellery
How much ashes do I need for ashes jewellery?
We recommend sending approximately one teaspoon. Only a small amount is required to create the memorial stone.
Are the ashes actually inside the jewellery?
Yes. In our memorial jewellery, the ashes are incorporated into the glass or resin stone rather than simply being represented by a memorial design.
Can I see the ashes in the finished jewellery?
They can be visible if that's the finish you choose. Crystal clear glass makes inclusions particularly easy to see, while coloured glass or resin can create a more subtle appearance.
Can ashes be hidden in memorial jewellery?
With resin, the ashes can be incorporated into the colour to make them considerably less visible. Other designs and colours can also create a more discreet memorial.
Is glass or resin better for cremation ashes jewellery?
Glass offers excellent longevity, a gemstone-like finish and minimal aftercare. Resin offers much greater customisation of colour and finish but requires more careful aftercare.
Can dog or cat ashes be made into jewellery?
Yes. Pet cremation ashes can be incorporated into memorial jewellery in exactly the same way.
What happens to the ashes that aren't used?
Any remaining ashes are returned to you with your completed jewellery.
Does ashes jewellery have to look like memorial jewellery?
Absolutely not. Memorial jewellery can look like any other piece of fine jewellery. Its meaning can remain completely private to the person wearing it.