Marking the death of a loved one is a deeply personal choice. A growing trend in 2025 is for cremation jewelry, which allows the individual to keep their loved one’s spirit close by at all times.
Wearing a loved one’s ashes is a universal symbol for undying love and can help a person to move forward with their life, even in the face of unimaginable loss.
If you’ve never heard of cremation jewelry before, you’re not alone. While the practice has been around since the Stone Age, it hasn’t really been a mainstream trend.
Or perhaps it has simply existed outside of the mainstream due to our reluctance to talk about death and loss?
If you’re curious to learn more about cremation jewelry and how it can support someone during the grieving process and beyond, read on.
What is cremation jewelry?
Cremation jewelry contains a small amount of the cremation ashes of a person or a pet. How it holds the ashes will vary depending on the type of jewelry chosen. The most popular styles include:
- Hidden compartment jewelry: With this style, the ashes are placed in a secret compartment within the jewelry and then permanently sealed.
- Glass gem jewelry: With this style, the ashes are incorporated into a glass gemstone that can be set in your chosen piece of jewelry.
- Resin jewelry: This is an outdated method that suspends the ashes within resin. This is not ideal for a lasting memorial, as the resin will start to break down over time.
- Ashes diamonds: This is an incredibly expensive process that turns cremation ashes into a diamond using the same methods used for lab-grown diamonds. The result is often an inferior diamond that has a very yellow shade and lots of faults due to the materials used. You can buy this beautiful jewelry from https://www.asheswithart.com.
How does it help with the grieving process?
Wearing a piece of jewelry containing the ashes of a loved one can help in many different ways. First, it provides a connection to your loved one and can make the grieving process easier.
Scattering the ashes is often an important step, but it can feel very final, and the individual might not be ready to let go. Keeping a small amount in a piece of jewelry can help with grief processing.
Second, it provides a subtle source of support that isn’t obvious to everyone around you. The person can reach for their jewelry in times of need and feel the presence of their loved one. This can help them to resume tasks like work and socializing without feeling alone.
How do you design a piece of cremation jewelry?
Designing a piece of memorial jewelry is a deeply personal task. While you might give the jewelry as a gift, it’s important to give the grieving individual the final say in what they wear.
Rings are a popular choice following the loss of a partner or spouse. This might replace their wedding band or engagement ring, or they might wear them alongside these until they are ready to stop wearing them – if they ever reach this point.
Necklaces and bracelets are popular following the loss of a grandparent or parent. This style is subtle and understated and provides something to hold on to and reach out for when feeling vulnerable.
Women might have their parent’s ashes placed in earrings that they can wear for special occasions like their wedding day. Likewise, men might choose a signet ring or cufflinks for the same reason.
And finally, the loss of a pet might be marked with a small pendant that can be worn until the
individual feels at ease with their loss.