Pet Memorial Jewelry: Types, Materials and What to Ask

Pet memorial jewelry is a pendant, ring, bracelet or bead that holds a small amount of your pet's ashes or fur, or carries a paw print, name or photo. The main types are a sealed chamber you fill yourself, a piece with ashes blended into glass or resin, and a lab-grown memorial diamond. It needs only a small portion of ashes, so you can keep the rest in an urn.

What types of pet memorial jewelry are there?

Our guides to types of cremation jewelry and ashes into glass explain the styles in more detail, and memorial diamonds from pet ashes covers that route.

Do you need ashes to have memorial jewelry?

No. Many people choose a piece with fur, a whisker or soil from a favorite spot, and others use an engraved name, paw print, nose print or photo. A print or lock of fur must be taken before cremation, so ask for it while your pet is still with you. If your pet was communally cremated or buried, these keepsakes still work. See pet memorial products for other ideas that need no ashes.

How much ash does jewelry need, and how do you send it?

Only a small portion. A chamber pendant holds a pinch, and a glass, resin or diamond maker uses a small amount too. Each maker sets its own amount, so ask before you send anything. Because jewelry holds so little, most families keep the rest in an urn. Our guide to pet urn options covers sizes and materials.

If you are posting ashes to a maker, use the rules of the Postal Service:

• USPS Publication 52 allows human and animal cremated remains, including keepsakes and jewelry, to go by domestic mail only as Priority Mail Express.
• The container must be strong, sealed and sift-proof, and it goes inside the USPS cremated remains box, with padding.
• Attach clear return and delivery addresses.

Questions to ask any maker before you send ashes:

1. How do you label and track my pet's ashes from arrival to return?
2. How much do you need, and what do you do with the unused portion?
3. Can I see photos of past work, and what happens if the piece is damaged or not as described?
4. What is the total price, including shipping, insurance and any changes?
5. How long will it take, and what if there are delays?

What metal should you choose?

The names of metals are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission's Jewelry Guides, so they tell you something real.

Plated pieces carry a thin coating that can wear off with daily use, so solid metal may last longer if you plan to wear it every day. Stainless steel is often chosen for everyday jewelry, but ask the maker exactly what alloy it is. If you have a sensitive skin or a known metal allergy, ask about nickel. The FTC's vermeil rule says that if a base metal such as nickel sits between the silver and the gold, this must be disclosed.

How do you keep the seal secure?

The most common concern with chamber jewelry is the closure. A screw can loosen over time, and ashes can be lost. Ask the maker how the piece is sealed and whether they recommend a jeweler's sealant for the threads. Check the closure now and then, and keep the piece out of harsh chemicals and water unless the maker says it is designed for it. If you lose a piece, you lose what is in it, which is another reason to keep most of the ashes safe at home.

Are memorial diamonds real diamonds?

A memorial diamond is grown in a lab. The FTC Jewelry Guides say a term like "laboratory-grown" or "laboratory-created" should be clearly disclosed, so the buyer knows the stone is not mined. Ask the provider for that wording on the certificate or invoice, and for the price, turnaround and return policy in writing.

When should you order?

There is no deadline. Many people order weeks or months after their pet dies, and waiting often leads to a piece you are happier with. Custom glass, resin and diamond work takes time, so ask for a written timeline. The ASPCA notes that grief is normal and suggests memorializing a pet in a way that includes the others who cared for them, so a family piece, such as matching pendants, can be a choice you make together.

What mistakes do people make?

• Ordering in a hurry. Nothing forces a quick choice, and waiting costs you nothing.
• Not asking what happens to leftover ashes. Ask before you send them.
• Choosing delicate jewelry for daily wear. A thin plated finish or fragile glass may not suit an active life.
• Skipping the seal check. A loose screw is the most common way to lose ashes.
• Not reading the return policy. Custom work is often final once it is made.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement runs chat rooms and support groups if you want to talk about your loss.

What to do next

1. Decide whether you want ashes, fur or a print in the piece, and ask for a paw print or fur while you can.
2. Compare two or three makers on price, materials, seal and what they return.
3. Read the return policy, and ask for the timeline in writing.
4. Keep the rest of the ashes safe while you wait. See what to do with pet ashes.