There are lots of ways to remember a loved one and memorial jewellery is something that has been around for millennia.
We've more options in present day - from incorporating ashes / hair in glass or resin, to the very traditional method of plaiting hair and making that into bracelets or brooches.
I offer a simple and subtle way to carry a piece of your special one with you; I'll create an embellishment / focal piece by incorporating some of the ashes into the Art Clay Silver at the clay stage, so that when I fire the clay (at a temperature lower than that used in the crematorium) the ashes are permanently bonded within the piece. This results in piece that is subtle and durable - with a texture slightly less smooth than traditional silver, enabling you to run your finger over it and sense your loved one.
Photos show an example of some stud earrings and the process in making them. These were based on a star theme, as requested. You will, of course be able to choose your own design / theme and style of jewellery, adding gems or not, as you wish
I've detailed how I made this in my blog:
https://dawngilldesigns.wordpress.com/2026/06/15/scraphappy-june-2026-memorial-jewellery-art-clay-silver/
This is made fully to order and the price shown is the starting point for a simple necklace/pendant with a co-ordinating charm made using the filings and scraps that result from refining the pendant before I fire it - see collages for examples working to my customers chosen themes
Please contact me to discuss your wishes before placing an order as the final price will depend on the gem chosen and the style of jewellery you wish.
Please choose your postage from the options at checkout - choose 'collection' if you are local to Exeter and expect to be able to pop round and pick it up, or if we've already discussed personal delivery. Otherwise, Next Day Guaranteed is my recommended method, as Royal Mail won't cover silver items against loss or damage for any other delivery methods.
All my silver is now bought as certified recycled eco-silver, made from 100% scrap / recycled silver which has been fully refined to ensure it is of the same quality as traditional sterling, but of course without the environmental impact of mining it.
Memorial jewellery ashes incorporated within silver - made to order
Sterling Silver will eventually oxidise or tarnish. It's a natural process that can be slowed down by regular wear and by keeping unworn items away from the atmosphere. If you leave your jewellery out on display, this oxidisation will be faster. You can polish up your items, with a soft cloth, some silver polish, or a buffing cloth such as Town Talk, which is readily available from any high street jewellers in the UK
Fine silver is 99.9% silver, and because of this the tarnish rate is much, much slower. Again, a buff should do the job for polishing it back up. If I have patinated your silver already, be gentle when buffing!
Each piece should stand up to regular wear, but , as with all jewellery, please remove it before washing, using chemicals or applying perfume etc
Apply body lotion and perfume a few minutes before putting on your jewellery to help slow down tarnish
The sterling silver used in these items was sold to me by my bullion dealer ass certified recycled.
he gemstones I use have been sold to me by reputable dealers as untreated (unless stated specifically in the listing). They are a natural, organic creation from the earth and each one will be slightly different. You can see examples of this on my Facebook page.
I select the stones that I think go together best for each project, hence my comments that each item is individual.
Reviews
From the very beginning, I felt that Dawn understood exactly what I was hoping to create. I had an idea in mind, starting from a lovely wrap-around ring that Dawn had already created and with her wonderful advice, guidance, and craftsmanship, she turned it into something even more special than I could have imagined.
Dawn beautifully incorporated two gorgeous gemstones and a delicate star into my memorial ring, creating a truly meaningful piece that I will treasure forever.
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