3 Things to Avoid When Designing Cremation Jewelry

Cremation jewelry is a symbol of your most cherished memories and the love shared with a loved one who has passed. It will likely be one of the most meaningful pieces of jewelry you ever design and own.

With that in mind, this piece needs to withstand daily wear and the elements. To help protect your memorial jewelry from potential damage, here are the top three things to avoid when designing your custom piece.

#1 Tip: Avoid Soft or Porous Materials 

When designing cremation jewelry, start by thinking about materials. Prioritize gemstones that are hard and long-lasting—ideally 8 or higher on the Mohs hardness scale. Great options include sapphires, rubies, tourmalines, and diamonds. Why? Because cremation jewelry is meant to be worn every day, and you want it to withstand daily wear and tear.

Pro Tip: If your birthstone is a softer gem, consider placing it on the inside of the band or shank, where it won’t come into contact with the elements. This way, you still get that personal touch—without compromising durability.

#2 Tip: Never Gold Plate

Never gold-plate cremation jewelry. This type of jewelry is worn daily, and gold plating (even at 2–3 microns thick) will start to fade or wear off within 6–12 months. For a piece this meaningful, you want something that will last for years.

Most gold-plated jewelry is made with base metals such as copper, brass, or sterling silver. These metals tend to oxidize, even when plated. Oxidation appears as dark spots across the surface of the metal, giving it a tarnished look. These base metals can also leave green marks on your skin.

Instead you should choose solid metals like:

• 14k or 18k gold
• Platinum

There’s also the option of sterling silver, though it does oxidize and will require more maintenance. You can expect to clean your silver jewelry every few months using a silver polishing cloth to remove any dark marks that may form.

Longevity is key when crafting a memorial piece that’s meant to last.

#3 Tip: Say No to Screw-Top Mechanisms

Many cremation necklaces on the market feature screw-top lids, but these are rarely fully waterproof. The ridges of the screw need to be perfectly aligned in order to seal. This is very had to accomplish and can be easily damaged if accidentally turned the wrong way.

As a result moisture can leak in over time—something you definitely don’t want near ashes. That’s why we never recommend screw-top urn jewelry.

At Fine + Flux, we specialize in personalized cremation jewelry and have developed our own technique to securely seal ashes inside each piece—permanently and water-tight. We create a small compartment inside the ring or necklace and place the ashes inside. It is then caped and welded shut. This technique is made for utmost durability and safety for the ashes. The process of inserting the ashes is always filmed, to insure clients of it's authenticity.

To shop our jewelry keepsakes, you can view our ready to order designs here. For personalized memorial jewelry, send us an email via our contact page. We look forward to working together!