Cremation ashes in jewelry

Jewelry Discussion
1

I have a client that wants to do something with their late husband’s
remains (legally, just kidding). Cremation diamonds are extremely
expensive. Anybody have an idea besides a bottle with a screw on
top?

Thanks
Rick

2

Hi Rick,

Some of the glass bead makers are using cremated remains in the
making of lamp worked beads.

The results have been rather nice.

K.

3

I placed some of my father’s ashes in a heart shaped locket and
sealed it mother lived it. Also, I have purchased a few small
amphora shape bottles with stoppers that can be sealed. Quite
lovely.

4

Hi Rick,

I had a client a few years ago with this same request. You might get
some ideas from the website for Ashes to Ashes, if needed. Hope that
helps.

All the best,
Donna Williams

5

Send her to a potter to make a glaze out of the ashes. Have him/her
make a small medallion with the glaze on it and then set it in a
pendant.

There is always the old Poison Ring with the hinged top. You’d need
to seal the ashes inside under a good strong sapphire watch crystal.

Check out religious reliquaries too. Lots of different ways to
present remains. Some very cool.

Have fun and make lots of jewelry.

Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com

6 
I have a client that wants to do something with their late
husband's remains (legally, just kidding). Cremation diamonds are
extremely expensive. Anybody have an idea besides a bottle with a
screw on top?

Try mixing some of the ashes in a small bit of investment. Paint it
in anycolor and set it like an opal. Maybe you can put some of the
mood ring paint on it…

John Vandergriff II

7

Hi there, I have used a company for many years–Rembrandt Charm Ltd.

They have a glass capsule that opens and can be filled. It’snumber
#3356 and you can check it out on line at:
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80ft

They carry them in sterling silver, gold plate,10kt and 14kt.

Hope that this helps…

8

Hi Rick, Consider asking a glass bead artist to make a special bead
that incorporates some of the ashes. I remember reading that it is
doable. Cheers, Karen

9

Assuming by “remains” you mean ashes, several things come to mind.

If you grind them really fine you can use them as pigment to paint a
grisaille portrait of her husband. That would be nice as a brooch or
locket.

You could mix them with transparent resin and cast a bunch of cabs
or beads for a necklace or bracelet, or even a full parure.

You could make a necklace of closed containers–cubes, spheres,
cylinders, ovoids, etc.–each of which contains a portion of the
remains.

You could make a tubular bangle bracelet filled with a portion of
the ashes.

There are often bits of charred bone among the ashes. Sieved out
these can be sealed in spheres to make maracas.

You could replace the pebbles inside a rain stick with the ashes.
Should make a kind of gentle shooshing sound.

If we’re not talking about cremains, in Tibet they make a lot of
interesting things out of human bones.

Elliot Nesterman

10

You might try a borgia style poison ring or locket, but with the
ashes sealed in a permanently closed compartment… and if the
ashes were not stripped of precious metals (fillings) you could
incorporate some dental gold. I know it sounds a bit gothic, but why
not? Obviously your client is not squeemish.

I have titanium hips and a bunch of reconstructive hardware that
were the bionic leftovers from my mother. Someday I intend to use
them in some pieces.

I do suggest that you ask the client to list design inspirations
(faves) and three design/style things they hate. You learn more from
what a person dislikes and avoid wasted time in design.

Eileen at FLORON

11

In Sarasota, Florida area there is a company mixing cremains with
limestone, shell & plaster. They use molds of indigenous coral, and
place the resulting ‘sculpture’ in an artificial reef thats being
built just offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. They even have
opportunities for dedicating a section for your other family members.
I have also heard of cremains being used in glass sculptures. Dale
Chihuly Museum is in the same general area (St. Petersburg), and they
are associated with a local glass work studio & many area artists.
Perhaps you could contact them for some names to get an idea of
pricing & design options.

Best Wishes,
Sharon in Sanford

12

I have a friend who asked at lampwork artist to incorporate small
amount of ash into a glass lampwork bead. It turned out beautifully.
It is simple and lovely. You would never know what was in it unless
she told you.

Camille

13

Try melting a small bit of the ashes. You might get an interesting
glass.

14 
Try melting a small bit of the ashes. You might get an interesting
glass.

What a clever idea, Bruce! I never would have thought of that! Will
a jewelers torch get them hot enough to melt?

Thanks,
Donna

15

Human ashes are what? Carbon, calcium, trace minerals? Certainly not
much silica. I don’t think it would melt. At least not at torch or
oven temps. Jerry in Kodiak

16

In the past I have hollowed out a section in a heavy band ring,
filled itwith some of the ashes and then soldered a capping over the
top, closingthe cavity, then engraved initials on the the raised
capping section. This seemed to satisfy my customers. Hamish

17

Metal Clay works well for this. Remember that upon firing, the clay
shrinks, but the ashes don’t, so design accordingly or there will be
a bump where the ashes are. I made an urn shaped like a locket and
did not anticipate this happening. Thankfully, the bump is on the
back of the piece and my customer likes it. She can reach up and rub
the spot where she knows the ashes are anytime she feels the need.

Janice Lea