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Memorial jewellery from ashes.

(106 Posts)
annsixty Wed 04-Jan-23 09:56:17

Have any of you had jewellery made containing ashes of loved ones?
Friends of mine very sadly lost their son to a massive and very unexpected heart attack a few months ago.

She told me that the females in the family were having rings or pendants made where the ashes are turned into stones of any. colour you choose.

I was very interested as I still have my H’s ashes ( waiting for mine to join them) and I thought how nice it would be to have rings made for my D and two GDs and myself.

I met up with her just before Christmas and she showed me the ring.
I was very underwhelmed, I know that it was expensive and it looked so cheap and frankly awful.

I went off the idea straightaway but then wondered if anyone had done the same with good results.
They also had had several teddy bears made from some of his very nice shirts.
These were really lovely, very well made and a super keepsake.

Bazza Fri 06-Jan-23 11:49:33

I don’t really understand the importance of a loved one’s ashes, let’s face it, it’s mostly from the coffin anyway. The people I have loved and lost are in my heart forever. Each to their own, whatever helps you through your loss.

TerryM Fri 06-Jan-23 11:39:41

I actually have a piece of jewellery from a close friend whose daughter passed away at a young age whom I was close to
Not really my cup of tea but....the body is gone one way or another. Whether it is rotting in the ground or ashes that the wind can blow away
Grammy Grammy you are aware not everyone is Christian?

GrammyGrammy Fri 06-Jan-23 11:29:24

StoneofDestiny

*For those who have cancelled God and ignored him in their lives it is surely Hell*

That's the most unChristian thing I've heard recently. So those that never got to 'know God' ie the babies, the mentally impaired, people cut off from hearing about 'God' ie those in civilisations cut off from the modern world, or those early civilisations before organised religion was a thing - are condemned to 'Hell'. Or indeed those living commendable and faultless lives who do not believe in 'God'. They are in for some eternal hell?
Not sure what sect of Christianity you are adhering to...........but it's a pretty judgemental and harsh one and way off beam from mainstream Christian teaching.

It is the very centre of traditional Christianity. It offends you but you don't get to change it to make it palatable to you. Ignore God (Jesus) in this life and he will ignore you in the next (Hell). Take it or leave it. That is the message of mainstream traditional Christianity.

StoneofDestiny Fri 06-Jan-23 11:25:21

For those who have cancelled God and ignored him in their lives it is surely Hell

That's the most unChristian thing I've heard recently. So those that never got to 'know God' ie the babies, the mentally impaired, people cut off from hearing about 'God' ie those in civilisations cut off from the modern world, or those early civilisations before organised religion was a thing - are condemned to 'Hell'. Or indeed those living commendable and faultless lives who do not believe in 'God'. They are in for some eternal hell?
Not sure what sect of Christianity you are adhering to...........but it's a pretty judgemental and harsh one and way off beam from mainstream Christian teaching.

nipsmum Fri 06-Jan-23 11:21:48

No sorry that's not for me. My ashes will be deposited beside my West Highland Terriers on our favourite beach. I am not at all sentimental.

Fae1 Fri 06-Jan-23 11:19:57

Agreed!

StoneofDestiny Fri 06-Jan-23 11:18:37

Sounds grim to me, as is the idea of getting loved ones ashes mixed in tattoos.
Surely we carry memories and thoughts in our minds - everything else is just a commercial idea for someone to make money.
Can you imagine how you felt if you lost the jewellery?

GrammyGrammy Fri 06-Jan-23 11:17:44

As a Christian it strikes me as pagan behaviour. Let the dead bury the dead. The persons body is done with. Let it rot and return to the earth. A human is more than the body. It is the spirit that really matters eternally. Is it in Heaven or is it Hell?
For those who have cancelled God and ignored him in their lives it is surely Hell. So those are the people who will make jewellery out of the ashes of a dead lost soul. It is all very tragic. And in purely human terms- vulgar. Let the dead go.

Moggycuddler Fri 06-Jan-23 11:14:25

I like the teddy bear idea, made with familiar clothes. Ashes and hair in jewellery seem a bit more slightly creepy to me, but everyone finds comfort in their own ways. I do have the ashes of beloved cats in little sealed wooden boxes.

MadeInYorkshire Thu 05-Jan-23 18:50:43

I had a ring made, it's lovely - all my pets' ashes over the years and my horses tail etc ... am sure it was from a company called 'ashes into glass', but there are LOADS of things you can do, have a look at ETSY ...

I have a lock of my daughter's hair, so am looking for a locket, but also am looking for a beautiful bauble that I can put some of it in too, as it was waist length xx

Fleurpepper Thu 05-Jan-23 18:15:44

I am so sorry it upset you. but what difference does it make? They are ... ashes. It is the love and memories that matter.

CyberBug123 Thu 05-Jan-23 18:13:40

I had some of my late mums ashes made into a lovely pendant which I wear, not every day, but daughter and I have a laugh and fond memories whenever we're shopping, eating out, etc and 'grandma' comes with us because she would love it. We do talk about her often and always remember her with love. On the other hand when a close relative died recently her ashes were scattered at the crematorium in the memorial garden and I found that very upsetting, all those peoples ashes scattered on top of one another just seemed like she had been thrown away - just me maybe being too sensitive.

Oldbat1 Thu 05-Jan-23 18:05:02

Not for me. Didn’t even collect my parents ashes - they were eventually spread at the crematorium. I don’t have any of my pets ashes back either.

Fleurpepper Thu 05-Jan-23 17:53:31

watermeadow this is how I feel about all the loved ones I lost- pets or people. Once death has taken place, nothing is left but memories and what happens to the body is just not important.

watermeadow Thu 05-Jan-23 17:34:31

I had my last dog’s ashes returned to me but wish I hadn’t. The box means nothing and she lives on in my head and heart.

Chestnut Thu 05-Jan-23 12:57:15

Apparently you can get someone's DNA from their hair but only if you have the root. I presume maybe more than one hair would be best. Also, I'm not sure how important the age of the hair might be. Most hair gatherings are from cuttings so I can't do my parents' DNA from their hair cuttings.

karmalady Thu 05-Jan-23 11:00:10

I had a few ashes put into a small gold pendant and also into a gold ring, most of the ashes were actually put under a new oak tree in a young memorial forest.

I don`t wear the jewellery as a matter of course, only when I think appropriate eg when I came to view my new house, a big decision and it helped focus me, as my husband was a structural engineer. A big decision, a special journey, that sort of occasion

On that visit, my intuition told me yes straight away and 3 1/2 years later I am happy to be in a beautiful warm new build home, no problems whatsoever.

The jewellery is beautiful, got it from ashesintoglass

Daddima Thu 05-Jan-23 10:38:02

I met a woman who had her husband’s ashes in a tattoo of a feather on her midriff. Not for me.

harrigran Thu 05-Jan-23 09:50:34

I would never have had DH's ashes made into jewellery, I loved him so much but the thought of keeping a portion of him on my body was a no no. I didn't even have his ashes, he was scattered in the memorial rose garden.

maddyone Thu 05-Jan-23 06:01:40

I wish I’d taken a bit of my mum’s hair now, just to keep.

Morvenne Thu 05-Jan-23 00:02:39

I have a small lock of hair of a loved one in a locket. Ashes made into anything doesn't appeal to me.

I like the idea of the memorial rose bush.

maddyone Wed 04-Jan-23 23:48:37

I agree with others in that as I said up thread, it’s not for me, but what others do is fine, especially if it brings them comfort.

Fleurpepper Wed 04-Jan-23 18:44:02

Honestly, no- really not for me. Each to their own though.

Mollygo Wed 04-Jan-23 18:24:26

My sister does have jewellery made from dad’s and MiL’s ashes and it’s quite tasteful. It doesn’t appeal to me-I’d rather have a photo in a locket or on the shelf.
If you like the jewellery, then why not?

AreWeThereYet Wed 04-Jan-23 18:16:01

I like the idea of using someone's old clothes to make a keepsake. Ashes, though, no thanks. Not in jewellery or anything else.

I've promised Mr A a right royal haunting if my ashes end up in the house or anywhere else once I'm dead.