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I haven't been around for a while... and memorial jewellery

LJsapphire

LJsapphire

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 24, 2016
Messages
883
Hi, if you remember me.

I haven't been to this forum for a while. I haven't bought any new jewellery but I did buy a new home (by myself).

We moved in December, a minute drive from my parents. We are on the edge of the West Midlands conurbation (UK) and my new home backs onto woodland & fields :love: I love it here, compared to the middle of the city. Even though we had a kind of lockdown (I won't call it a proper lockdown because I know people who have experienced a much stricter one), I have been much happier.

Then my mum passed away suddenly in April. :cry2:
She was only 65, she went into hospital with suspected kidney problems and her heart stopped beating on the 2nd night. She had kidney problems a couple of years ago and spent 4 nights in hospital but got better..ish. There were problems over the last 18 months and she had lots of appointments and blood tests.
The digital autopsy found she had heart problems, which would have accounted for her symptoms. We didn't know she had heart disease :(

I came back because I have been looking into having a piece of jewellery made which incorporates her ashes. I have been reading back on previous threads & I know that it isn't everyone's cup of tea. I'm not talking about a "diamond" made from her remains, but I was thinking of having a piece made which includes the ashes in glass or resin/enamel. Probably a ring, I don't switch necklaces very often, rarely wear earrings and I don't wear bracelets.

I am still apprehensive that the jewellery will actually contain any of her remains, or if they just say it will. :confused: They are relatively inexpensive, £300-500 in white gold or platinum. I messaged a jeweller in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter about it, and I would be able to visit in person. They had to close due to the pandemic so I am waiting for them to reopen. There is another place in my village and she can combine ashes into metal but she is on maternity leave until October. She can also remodel existing jewellery so I could have something new made out of a piece that belonged to my mum (if my dad lets me have them... I haven't asked him about it).

The one in Birmingham also makes shaped wedding rings, originally I thought I could combine the memorial ring with my wedding ring but have decided against it.
Has anyone on here done anything similar?
 
I’m so sorry about your mom. I don’t have any bling advice but just wanted to send my condolences to you and your family. (((Hugs))).
 
Sending my condolences to you and your family.

I don’t have any bling advice though. I hope someone else more knowledgeable will help you out.
 
@LJsapphire I'm super sorry to hear about your mom. I don't really know a lot about memorial jewlery that incorporates these types of materials, but do know that some usually have do lockets. my 2nd cousins wife did that after she lost her husband to covid, but I think she ended up with something commercially purchased.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CharmedMemoriesShop she gets quite high marks and would need the cremains mailed to her to complete the task. She does do rings if you're not wanting to do a locket.
 
I'm sorry to hear your news :(

I guess the good thing with an unexpected passing is that any suffering is very limited in timescale.


I will ask my good lady about the memorial rings - IIRC one of the ladies she knows had some made in memory of her son.
 
Good to see you, but sorry it is under such sad circumstances. I would keep the wedding band and memorial ring separate. They are both such special pieces! One thought I had is that in the (hopefully never happens!) event that you lose one, you won't lose both. Keeping them separate also allows you some ability to pass one to one kid/family/whatever and the other to a different if you desire.

If I were looking at doing such a thing, I would start by calling my local jeweler who has done some custom pieces for me already. I know him and his work. He doesn't say that he does jewelry with ashes, but he doesn't say anywhere he doesn't. Worth asking! I would rather know that the quality would be high so that it would stand up forever.

I would also suggest looking at different designs and deciding what you like. What will you wear? Something with it in the metal? Or something with a locker type area to just contain a bit of ashes? The more you like the design, the more you will want to wear it. Also, the more classic it is the more likely a son/daughter/niece/nephew would want to keep it in the family down the road. Having it held rather than incorporated in the metal might work well here as it could allow it to be kept intact but turned into a pendant/brooch/etc if you or they wish in future.
 
OoohShiny said:
I'm sorry to hear your news :(

I guess the good thing with an unexpected passing is that any suffering is very limited in timescale.


I will ask my good lady about the memorial rings - IIRC one of the ladies she knows had some made in memory of her son.
Click to expand...

Thank you, yes I do think that it was better that she didn't suffer too much. She passed in her sleep so at least she wasn't aware. I was checking her phone and ipad in case there were any last messages but I couldn't find anything so it seems she didn't know herself.

TooPatient said:
Good to see you, but sorry it is under such sad circumstances. I would keep the wedding band and memorial ring separate. They are both such special pieces! One thought I had is that in the (hopefully never happens!) event that you lose one, you won't lose both. Keeping them separate also allows you some ability to pass one to one kid/family/whatever and the other to a different if you desire.

If I were looking at doing such a thing, I would start by calling my local jeweler who has done some custom pieces for me already. I know him and his work. He doesn't say that he does jewelry with ashes, but he doesn't say anywhere he doesn't. Worth asking! I would rather know that the quality would be high so that it would stand up forever.

I would also suggest looking at different designs and deciding what you like. What will you wear? Something with it in the metal? Or something with a locker type area to just contain a bit of ashes? The more you like the design, the more you will want to wear it. Also, the more classic it is the more likely a son/daughter/niece/nephew would want to keep it in the family down the road. Having it held rather than incorporated in the metal might work well here as it could allow it to be kept intact but turned into a pendant/brooch/etc if you or they wish in future.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I have been looking at different designs. I think I would like the remains combined with either the metal or the glass/resin rather than a filling type setting. I have decided to keep the wedding ring and the memorial piece separate. Forget me Not - ashes ring.jpg

This is a piece by the jeweller in Birmingham that I like, he said on his facebook post that it was about £500 in platinum with diamonds
Ashes ring angels meadow.JPG

this is another one that I've seen online, this one is £350 in white gold but only swarovski crystals, not diamonds.
 
Hi @LJsapphire - it's lovely to see you, altho in such sad circumstances. My very deepest condolences for your mother.

I know this isn't the direction you're heading at all, and I know you don't switch out necklaces very often, but I had a charm made which can be put on either pendant or bracelet, and I was planning to use it to contain a tiny part of my dogs' ashes. It's the teardrop in this photo:

740392

It's made hollow, and can have a smidge of ashes inserted during making. I was planning to engrave my dogs' initials into it, and in the bottom, flush set a gem of their birth stone.

I think this, as a stand-alone charm on a bracelet - would be so elegant and meaningful. Ditto added to a pendant.

Nothing like what you're considering, I know, but just a thought.
 
LJsapphire said:
I do like the teardrop @mrs-b, it is very pretty & looks nice amongst your other charms.
Click to expand...

I hope you find something perfect for your memorial piece. I ended up doing a memorial pendant for my dog, who was the love of my life. It means everything to me, so I know how significant these pieces can be. Hugs to you. <3
 
To come back to my earlier post, I did ask my good lady about the memorial rings but she couldn't recall anything specific, I'm afraid.

She did remember that some people have had ashes incorporated into tattoos, though?!
 
LJsapphire said:
Thank you, yes I do think that it was better that she didn't suffer too much. She passed in her sleep so at least she wasn't aware. I was checking her phone and ipad in case there were any last messages but I couldn't find anything so it seems she didn't know herself.




Thanks, I have been looking at different designs. I think I would like the remains combined with either the metal or the glass/resin rather than a filling type setting. I have decided to keep the wedding ring and the memorial piece separate. Forget me Not - ashes ring.jpg

This is a piece by the jeweller in Birmingham that I like, he said on his facebook post that it was about £500 in platinum with diamonds
Ashes ring angels meadow.JPG

this is another one that I've seen online, this one is £350 in white gold but only swarovski crystals, not diamonds.
Click to expand...

Both are beautiful! I don't know what prices are in your area, but even converting to USD that is still less than I would expect. Ask lots of questions!
 
I have nothing to contribute but did want to say I'm so very sorry at the unexpected loss of your Mom. A piece of memorial jewelry is
a lovely idea.
 
OoohShiny said:
To come back to my earlier post, I did ask my good lady about the memorial rings but she couldn't recall anything specific, I'm afraid.

She did remember that some people have had ashes incorporated into tattoos, though?!
Click to expand...

A friend suggested a tattoo. I have one which I got done when I was 18. Since then I have become too much of a wimp to put myself through pain. I think I would have a symbolic tattoo if I were to have one, but not containing ashes.

Thank you for asking.
TooPatient said:
Both are beautiful! I don't know what prices are in your area, but even converting to USD that is still less than I would expect. Ask lots of questions!
Click to expand...

I think I'm leaning towards the Birmingham one, who I can go and see in person. I might be able to watch the process. If I am happy with it I would use him as well for my shaped wedding ring, so the potential for repeat custom might be helpful.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom when she had just turned 65 as well. It was so difficult for so long. Take care. I think I would go with the local place so you can easily communicate your needs and wants and it should go smoothly.
 
So terribly sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I don't have any information on memorial jewelry either.
 
@LJsapphire sorry to hear of your mum's paasing :(2
I did notice when we were arranging my mum's funeral they had a display board discreetly in their office hallway that showed different jewlery options using ashes
my mum was burried so it didn't apply to us so i didn't take much notice

If you were happy with the place that looked after your mum you could ask them if they have any recommendations
 
@LJsapphire - my sincere condolences. I am sorry to hear about your mother. Welcome back to PS, it's so very nice to have you. And congratulations on your new home. Please let us know what memorial jewelry you decide upon. Take care.
 
@LJsapphire I'm so very sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful mum. It is lovely to see you back, and congratulations on your new home! My heart goes out to you, I hope PS can bring you a little bit of joy and comfort x
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you're able to find the perfect piece to remember her by.
 
Daisys and Diamonds said:
@LJsapphire sorry to hear of your mum's paasing :(2
I did notice when we were arranging my mum's funeral they had a display board discreetly in their office hallway that showed different jewlery options using ashes
my mum was burried so it didn't apply to us so i didn't take much notice

If you were happy with the place that looked after your mum you could ask them if they have any recommendations
Click to expand...

Thanks, they had a card for the lady in the same village but she is on maternity leave. She mixes the ashes with the metal rather than a “stone”so I’m leaning towards the one in Birmingham.
 
It's lovely to see you back, but I echo the others also in the condolences on the loss of your mum. Big hugs to you & I think incorporating her ashes into a piece of jewellery is a great idea.

I love the sound of finding someone who will let you watch the part where they mix the ashes into the resin & then add the resin to the ring. That would be super special & meaningful. I have no suggestions, but I hope you can find someone to work with.
 
pearaffair said:
My heart goes out to you. So sorry for your loss.

Wanted to make sure you had seen these stuller options: https://www.stuller.com/search/results/?query=Ashes
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've seen similar over here. I don't really want one that holds the ashes in a container, I'd prefer it if they were combined into the jewellery. I understand that at least if it was an ash-holding piece I would have more control over putting them in there myself. I'll speak to the jeweller and see what he can do.
 
@LJsapphire, I am so very sorry for your loss. Deeply and truly sorry. I can't help much with suggestions but the two you posted are lovely. I hope you find the perfect way to commemorate your mother and I wish you peace and comfort. XXX
 
LJsapphire said:
Thanks, I've seen similar over here. I don't really want one that holds the ashes in a container, I'd prefer it if they were combined into the jewellery. I understand that at least if it was an ash-holding piece I would have more control over putting them in there myself. I'll speak to the jeweller and see what he can do.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Sorry if I missed that earlier in the thread!
 
hi my niece had a necklace made with some of my sisters ashes, its very important to her, my sister was 65 also, her death sent me down a dark black hole, i am so sorry that your mom died and i hope you can make something you will hold tightly. :angel::angel: and love
 
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