If you’ve found your way here, chances are you’re looking for a meaningful way to remember someone special. Or perhaps, to help someone you love do the same. We know that’s not an easy place to be and you deserve to take your time with it. Choosing memorial jewellery is such a special way to create something personal for you and for them, something that not only honours their story and identity in a singular piece but also provides you the comfort and connection you need.
At Inscripture, we’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of people honour their loved ones through handmade memorial jewellery and keepsakes. It doesn’t matter whether you’re ready now or simply exploring your options, we want to be here to guide you through what memorial jewellery is, where it comes from and the different types to help you through this grief.
What is Memorial Jewellery?
Memorial jewellery, also sometimes known as remembrance jewellery, mourning jewellery or even grief jewellery, is designed to help you keep someone you love close. They’re beautiful and precious keepsakes that preserve something meaningful either within or on the design, like a message, a memory or even a real part of your loved one themselves.
It could be an engraving of their handwriting, a photo that always makes you smile or a tiny portion of their ashes safely enclosed within a pendant. Whatever form it takes, your memorial jewellery should be something that offers you comfort and connection, becoming a permanent reminder that their love is still by your side, even if they’re physically not.
What is the History of Memorial Jewellery
The tradition of memorialising loved ones through jewellery has existed for centuries. The earliest known examples date back to ancient Rome where people wore rings engraved with the names of the deceased as a sign of remembrance.
During the Renaissance, this evolved into “mourning rings,” often inscribed with initials or dates to commemorate someone who had passed.
However, it was during the Victorian era that memorial jewellery became more widespread. After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria’s lifelong mourning inspired millions to wear black attire and create their own memorial keepsakes in remembrance of loved ones. Queen Victoria famously wore the gemstone Whitby Jet, a British stone found on the North Yorkshire coast that has a deep, ink black hue within lockets along with the hair and photos of her husband.
The premise of memorial jewellery hasn’t changed much since then. People still choose to hold their loved one’s remains close, whether it’s ashes or hair held within ashes jewellery, as well as bringing to life their favourite memories with photo engraved jewellery. But now, there’s even more options for customisation, especially here at Inscripture. Our designs can also incorporate fingerprints, pawprints and handwriting so your keepsakes are even more personal.
What Does Memorial Jewellery Represent?
Many people think of memorial jewellery as being sad and depressing, because of its associations with loss. But it’s not sad at all. Instead, it represents, in its entirety, love. It represents real bonds, real stories and real personalities of the people and pets that live within us.
For some, it’s a daily reminder that their loved one is still with them and for others, it’s a little piece of comfort and a way to hold on to a part of their story. No matter why you’re looking to create your own memorial keepsakes, create something that makes a difference to you based on what you need.
The Different Types of Memorial Jewellery
There’s no single way to remember someone. That’s why we offer a range of designs to help you find a piece that feels right to you and your loved one. Here are some of our best-selling memorial jewellery collections:
Handwriting Jewellery
The handwriting of someone you love will never not feel like magic. The way they scrawl their letters is instantly recognisable and feels like a real part of them is with us. So with handwriting jewellery, you can take the little details of their penmanship and turn it into beautiful necklaces, bracelets and charms.
All we need is a photograph of the handwriting you want to carry with you, whether it’s a sign-off on an old birthday card, a love note or simply their name, and we’ll capture every little looped letter and dotted “i” perfectly.
Photo Jewellery
And when words can’t quite capture the story you want to tell, use a photo that means the world and create Photo Jewellery. This stunning collection turns your memories into wearable art, holding your chosen picture in perfect detail.
Each piece is carefully engraved using advanced technology to replicate even the smallest details, creating memorial jewellery that feels alive with memory and emotion.
Fingerprint Jewellery
For those that want to keep a real part of their loved one with them, something that could only belong to them, Fingerprint Jewellery is a beautiful choice. Since each of our fingerprints are one of a kind, just like the person it belongs to, these keepsakes let you keep their touch and identity by your side.
Again, all we need is a photo of their print, whether it’s one you’ve taken previously or you’ve asked the funeral director for. Then, we’ll immortalise every unique line and ridge in stunning detail onto your chosen charm, pendant or keyring.
Pawprint & Nose Print Jewellery
For many of us, pets are part of the family and life isn’t the same when they’re gone. Our Paw Print & Nose Print Jewellery collection is designed to honour that bond, capturing the distinct prints of your pet and turning them into something you can hold close.
Like a human’s fingerprint, our pet’s pawprints and nose prints are unique to them so whether you’ve recently lost your pet or want to celebrate the love you still share, these pieces offer a special way to keep a real part of them near.
Ashes into Jewellery
If you’ve chosen cremation but aren’t sure what to do with your loved one’s ashes, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with finding a way to honour their memory while still keeping their remains close and respected. It’s why so many have turned to Ashes into Jewellery to do both.
Our Ashes into Jewellery collection allows us to carefully encapsulate a small portion of ashes within resin which is set at the centre of your chosen design. You can choose from a range of beautiful Eternal Hues resin colours to reflect their personality and add sparkling diamond dust with Aura Shimmer and choose how visible their inclusions appear.
Every piece is handmade with the utmost care and respect in our UK studio. Once your order is placed, we’ll send you an Ashes Collection Kit with everything you need to safely send a small portion of ashes to us. We then set them within your chosen design, sealing them in place so you have a lasting tribute and a way to keep their essence with you.
Self-Fill Ashes Jewellery
If you prefer to fill your ashes jewellery yourself, our Self-Fill Ashes Jewellery and Urn Jewellery might be the right choice. These hollow designs arrive with a small funnel kit so you can add ashes, soil or hair in your own time, privately and meaningfully.
Many of our designs can also be engraved with handwriting, photos, or pawprints, allowing you to combine remembrance and personalisation in one beautiful piece.
Choosing the Right Piece for You
There’s no right or wrong way to honour a loved one. The most important thing is finding what brings you comfort. Some people choose a necklace they can wear close to their heart. Others prefer a charm they can add to an existing bracelet, or a keepsake they can hold in their hands when they need to feel connected.
Take your time. These decisions are personal and deserve care and thought. And whenever you’re ready, we’ll be here to help you find a piece of memorial jewellery that feels right, crafted with compassion, precision and respect for the memory it holds.
