Honouring and carrying loved ones through ashes jewellery
- Jul 29
- 5 min read
Losing a loved one is often one of the most difficult times in our lives. Processing not being with that person anymore, not being able to pick up the phone and talk about the world with them, seems impossible to believe.
The stages of grief are not linear and are our own journeys to go through. As with heirloom jewellery, many hold on to the ashes of loved ones to keep them close, often choosing to incorporate them into meaningful jewellery designs.
In recent years, I've had more requests to honour loved ones in this way. Naturally, this felt fitting with remodelling sentimental heirlooms.
When experimenting, I have developed three particular design styles which form part of my Memorial Collection:
The Trace Texture: An imprint of memory into wax, cast into precious metal
Forged From Ashes: Capturing the texture of ashes in liquid precious metal
The Cross or Orb Vessel: Ashes held safely within its core, encased in precious metal
The Trace Texture
The sensation of touch is a deeply intimate feeling. When we miss someone, it is often their physical presence: holding a hand, the warmth of a hug. This tangible, human connection inspired The Trace Texture.
My goal is to create a series of textures that serve as a "Trace" of a loved one, using their ashes to create a unique, organic texture in the metal. A surface that can be touched, offering a tangible connection to a loved one. To make the connection even deeper, by casting in your own heirloom gold, every element of the piece carries your story.
When creating this new ashes design, the vision was to showcase an elevated technique to create a unique textural ring.
I kept some of my Nan’s ashes, hoping one day to reimagine them; this design would honour her by incorporating them within this piece.
I chose a unisex signet ring, and first began by carving the final ring form in wax. I then used heat to imprint the ashes into the wax with controlled pressure. This technique is considered, allowing me to know what the final design will look like.
The resulting imprint felt organically beautiful. To finish, I flush-set one of her remaining diamonds into the deeply textured surface, a final sentimental touch to symbolise my wonderful nan, and a way to hold her close every day.
A Trace Texture pendant chosen by you
I expanded on the Trace Texture by asking my lovely followers to choose their favourite design out of three concepts. They chose the top left design as their official winner! 🏆
Curious to see the final design and process? Click here!
Forged From Ashes
The process of this style begins by carefully laying out the ashes onto a carbon mould in the studio. In life, it isn't common that we'd look so closely at ashes, yet upon closer inspection, they are made up of organic textures: tiny ridges and fragment shapes.
Next comes the heat, where I melt the precious metal until it glows white-hot and flows like liquid sun. When that liquid metal is poured over the ashes, the extreme heat causes the metal to flow into every tiny crevice and contour of the ash. As it instantly cools, the ash leaves its distinct mark permanently impressed into the surface of the metal.
Although similar to 'The Trace Texture', the 'Forged With Ashes' technique sees the ashes physically blended within the metal. Here, no two pours look the same, as the metal sets into an organic, volcanic texture that cannot be predicted.
After the metal has set, I gently clean away the surface ash, leaving behind only the effect created during the pour. In some designs, I have noticed specks of the ash become permanently fused into the grain of the metal itself. It is a singular and unique imprint.
Once again, the sentimental impression allows for touch and connection with a loved one. Below are designs I created for Sarah and Clare; click to hear each of their stories.
The Cross/Orb Vessel
If the Trace Texture is about outward touch, these vessels are intimate and treasured sanctuaries. They are designed to hold precious memorial ashes safely within their core.
The vessel itself is comprised entirely of precious metals, shaped into an orb or a cross. Rather than sealing with a traditional metal cap, your loved one’s jewellery is sealed with a flush-set diamond or a bezel-set gemstone of your choice.
Susan's cross vessel sealed with a diamond
Susan came to me with an emotional story.
Her first love and father of her children, Derek, had passed away before Christmas.
His passing stirred up a lot of emotion for her, and she wanted to create something that symbolised this chapter of her life.
Amongst her sentimental pieces were Derek’s wedding ring and a cross he had bought her, which she wore both on her wedding day and for the birth of her two children. She also had her broken engagement and wedding ring, plus her mum’s original wedding ring.
She asked me to reimagine the cross she’d worn all these years, and intertwine Derek’s ashes into the pendant. A piece that would encompass and hold together this chapter of her life.
I came up with three designs; this chosen design uses the white gold to create a vine which wraps around the cross, symbolic of wrapping that special part of her life. The sapphire from the engagement ring sits in the middle of the cross, and below the cross, the diamond seals in the ashes.
Watch her reimagining story here; the photo at the end is of Susan wearing the piece. She tells me it’s so special and she hasn’t taken it off since I presented it to her ♥️
The Orb Vessel
These vessels take the form of an orb. I chose an orb because its uninterrupted form symbolises eternity and wholeness. It felt like a fitting way to honour a loved one's memory, and these both honour my lovely nan. The ashes become part of a simple, timeless shape that represents a life lived in full. Again, each design is sealed with a beautiful gemstone, holding a loved one safe within.
The below designs are yet to be revealed; stay tuned to hear more.
Reimagining a loved one's ashes
Would you like to reimagine a loved one's ashes into one of these meaningful designs?
I would love to help bring this to life for you.
As long as you have ashes, we could use recycled hallmarked gold or 925 sterling silver to honour a loved one.
However, we can of course personalise even further by using heritage stones, or choosing a gem that holds sentimental meaning, maybe a colour they always wore, or their birthstone.
Another meaningful touch would be to remodel any heirloom gold or silver you may have. It could be broken, old, or worn jewellery that belonged to someone you cherished: perhaps an old wedding band, or a mismatched earring.
Whichever pieces you would like to use, we can melt down and reimagine them, providing a comforting sense of continuity with loved ones who wore them, and providing a way to hold them close once again.
If you would like to discuss creating a bespoke piece of memorial ashes jewellery, or if you have heirloom metals you would like to explore repurposing, please reach out. We can talk through the options at whatever pace feels right for you.
