Tangible Memories: The Beauty of Memorial Keepsakes
Lisa Vance, Jewelry Designer
October 5, 2024
When a loved one is gone, we often crave something tangible to hold onto. Memorial keepsakes and memorial jewelry have surged in popularity as beautiful, discreet ways to keep a connection close to your heart.
Types of Memorial Jewelry
- Cremation Jewelry: These pieces (pendants, rings, bracelets) have a small hollow chamber to hold a tiny amount of ashes, a lock of hair, or dried flowers from the funeral service.
- Fingerprint Jewelry: Using a digital scan or ink print, a loved one's unique fingerprint can be engraved onto silver or gold charms. It's a deeply personal touch.
- Diamond from Ashes: For a truly lasting tribute, carbon can be extracted from cremated remains or hair to create a genuine, lab-grown diamond.
Other Unique Keepsakes
Beyond jewelry, consider memory bears made from a favorite shirt, blown glass ornaments incorporating ash, or custom-engraved garden stones. These items serve as daily reminders of the love that remains.
People Also Ask
What is memorial jewelry?
Memorial jewelry is jewelry that incorporates a small memento of a deceased loved one, such as cremation ashes, a lock of hair, or dried flowers. It allows the wearer to carry a tangible reminder close to them at all times.
Can ashes be turned into a diamond?
Yes. Companies like Eterneva and LifeGem can extract carbon from cremated remains or hair and use it to create a lab-grown diamond. The process takes several months and costs between $2,000 and $20,000 depending on carat size and cut.
What are the most popular types of funeral keepsakes?
Popular funeral keepsakes include cremation jewelry (pendants, rings), fingerprint charms, memorial photo books, memory bears made from clothing, garden stones, and personalized memorial candles. These items help families maintain a tangible connection to their loved one.
Funeral KeepsakesMemorial JewelryCremation Jewelry