Does anyone have experience with cremation jewelry?

I have heard of getting the ashes compressed into a diamond. But it was on a tv show, like Boston Legal or Castle or House. But I thought that was really cool.

I had this made from the ashes when I lost my childhood dog. There are many different companies that create these now. It’s a beautiful way to carry him with me and I don’t have to explain it to anybody unless I want to.

I wanted to do that with my Dad’s ashes. I still do.

I would take the container to a jeweler and have them affix the pieces together so they don’t come apart. You could have it put on a chain without a catch so you would be sure not to lose it.

Funeral jewelry was quite common in the 1800’s. In particular, rather intricate pieces made from the hair of the deceased and worn as pins, bracelets, watch fobs, etc. Likewise, miniatures were painted of the deceased and worn as necklaces.

For anyone who might think it is macabre wearing keepsakes that hold physical remains of loved ones is not new. In fact it began in England and France in the 17th century and became popular and commonplace in the United States during the Civil War.Source
The Victorians went so far as dressing up the recently deceased and having their picture taken with the living posed as if still alive.

That being said I have a mourning ring with the initials of my first husband on the inside of the band. It has a winged skull on the front but no place for cremains or I would add them.

My friend just had her Moms ashes compressed into a beautiful diamond that she had set in a ring. Unfortunately it was expensive and cost around 5k.

I would do as @barnaclebill suggests and have the pendant sealed. If it were I, with curious kids, I would most definitely have it sealed and then also engraved so that it is a full tribute and will never be mistaken as meaningless even after I passed away.

@Dog I want to be pressed into a diamond after I past away. I think the idea is beautiful.

A friend of mine passed away and many of his dearest buddies had his ashes mixed up with ink and professionally got tattoos with his ashes. Most got Tattoo’s that he had, e.g. “made in taiwan”. I thought it was sweet.

It is possible to turn the ashes into artificial diamonds, too. You might consider that.

I have the sterling Tri-bute Pawprint necklace at this site. My mom got it for me after my search dog Zach died.

It comes with a little funnel to help get the ashes inside. The challenge for me was that Zach was a big dog and his bag of ashes is sealed. The necklace takes only a tiny amount of ashes and I was afraid of a giant mess that would make me an emotional wreck. Instead I used the little spoon tool that came with the necklace to put some of his hair inside the thing. The screw threaded opening stays closed (I have never had any issues), but I might have used some kind of sealant had I really put the ashes in the necklace.

Also know that handling the ashes can stir up some deep emotions as well. I found a fairly intact piece of bone in Zach’s ashes that I could feel through the heavy plastic. I was able to push it up where I could see what the lump was and could have lived without seeing it.
Using the hair really solved this for me. I still feel him close to me in a way that is reflective of his life rather than his death.

I think that’s a sweet idea.

@all Thank you for your input. I definitely want the necklace, simply ‘cause I want to carry Tigh around with me. He always told me he’d be there, no matter what, so yeah… This is kinda the only way that can happen now.

Some of my friends did get tattoos with his ashes mixed in with the ink, which is something that I might do still, but the tattoo needs to be perfect. I’ve been thinking about what it might be and I finally have some ideas that satisfy me.

@Kayak8 Yeah… When I got the ashes yesterday, I could see bone fragments, as well. It was definitely bittersweet. I was okay just seeing them, but as soon as I was holding the ashes in my hands, things got emotional for me. I kept thinking, “I shouldn’t be able to carry him around like this.” But on the other hand, it was weirdly comforting. I didn’t get a single thing that he had when he was alive, which hurt pretty badly, but now I have him. Eh, I don’t know.

I have a knot in my stomach just reading this. I’m sorry.