Cremated With Jewelry: What Happens to Rings and Watches

In most cases, jewelry is taken off before a cremation and given back to the family. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) says personal items such as jewelry and watches are removed from the container and returned with prior arrangement. Families sometimes ask for a ring or locket to stay on, and a crematory may allow that in some cases but not others. Anything left on is very unlikely to come back as a recognizable piece, so decide before the cremation, not after.

Can a person be cremated with jewelry on?

Sometimes, but it is not the default. CANA says families sometimes ask for items of significance to be cremated with the person. In some cases this can be allowed, and in many it cannot, because not everything is combustible and some items may damage the equipment or harm the operator. The funeral director advises the family on what can and cannot go into the container.

Each crematory sets its own policy, so ask early. It helps to know in advance which pieces matter most to the family, because the decision is irreversible once the cremation starts.

What happens to jewelry during cremation?

A cremation usually runs between 1,400 and 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, according to CANA, though required temperatures vary by state. Jewelry that stays on is not returned as a piece:

• Metal. CANA says metal in the cremated remains can come from surgical implants, dental fillings, casket handles or jewelry that was not removed. It is separated from the remains before they are pulverized, and CANA says it is typically recycled. Many crematories send recovered metal to a recycling company and either keep the payment or donate it to charity, according to the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA).
• Gold teeth and crowns. The FCA says gold liquefies during cremation and mixes with the ashes, so it cannot be collected later. Having a dentist take a crown out first is rarely worth the effort or the expense.
• Other materials. CANA says not everything is combustible, so treat any piece left on as lost.

The cremated remains of an adult usually weigh between four and six pounds, according to CANA, and they are bone fragments. They are not a place where a piece of jewelry will turn up.

What are your options for keeping jewelry with your loved one?

If several relatives would like a piece, agree on who keeps what before the jewelry is handed back. If the person left a will, jewelry is usually handled as part of the estate, so the executor is the person to ask about who receives what. If relatives disagree, an estate attorney can explain your state's rules.

How do you arrange it with the funeral home?

1. Tell the funeral director what you want, early. Say which pieces are involved and whether you want them returned, worn at a viewing or included in the cremation.
2. Ask how the crematory records your choice. Policies and paperwork differ, so ask where your instruction is written down.
3. Ask for an inventory of personal items. Know exactly what was received and what is being returned.
4. Take a photo if you like. A picture of your loved one wearing the piece keeps the memory even if you keep the jewelry itself.
5. Disclose any implants. Pacemakers must be removed before cremation. See our guide to pacemakers and cremation.

CANA also suggests asking each provider how it disposes of or recycles prosthetics such as artificial hips and knees, which is a good question to raise when you compare crematories.

What if you want jewelry made from the ashes?

Many people searching this topic actually want a keepsake. NFDA's glossary defines a keepsake as an item designed to hold a small portion of cremated remains, including miniature urns, jewelry and photo frames. The FCA lists incorporating the ashes into jewelry among the choices families have. Costs and quality vary widely, so compare makers carefully. Our guides cover cremation jewelry prices, cremation rings and the best cremation jewelry companies, and the memorial keepsake finder compares options by budget.

What about clothing and other items?

The same logic applies to clothes, photos, letters and other keepsakes. The crematory decides what is safe to include. Our guide to being cremated in your own clothes covers what to ask. If you want to see what happens at each stage, read what happens during cremation.

What to do next

1. Decide which pieces matter and who should keep them.
2. Tell the funeral director what you want done with each piece, before the cremation is scheduled.
3. Ask for an inventory of personal items and a plan for returning them.
4. Choose whether to place any keepsake with the urn, and check the urn's size and any cemetery rules.