Anyone who has lost a dog or a cat knows it isn't "just a pet." They were there every morning and every evening, for years. The house feels different without them.
I make memorial pieces for people remembering parents and partners, and for people remembering a much-loved animal. Their grief is just as real, and their pieces are made with exactly the same care. Here's how pet memorial jewelry works, and what to expect if you'd like one.
Why jewelry?
An urn on a shelf keeps a pet's ashes safe, but it stays at home. A ring or pendant goes everywhere with you: to work, on walks, on the days you miss them most. You may find yourself touching it without thinking, the way you used to reach down to stroke a head or a back.
It's also private. Nobody else needs to know what the piece holds unless you choose to tell them.
How pet cremation jewelry works
The process is exactly the same as for a person. Each piece has a small hidden compartment built into the design. I place a little of your pet's ashes inside and seal it permanently at my bench. Once sealed, it never reopens, so nothing can leak or be lost, even with daily wear.
Only a very small amount is needed, so the rest can stay in an urn, be buried in the garden or be scattered on a favorite walk. [Tricia to add: roughly how much ash each piece holds.]
Everything is handmade to order in solid 14k gold or sterling silver, not plated metal or stainless steel, so it's made to last as long as your memories of them.
Choosing a piece
Any of my memorial pieces can hold a pet's ashes. A few to start with:
- Eternal Cremation Necklace: a simple, quiet pendant in 14k yellow gold or sterling silver, easy to wear every day.
- Locket Cremation Memorial Necklace: a sterling silver locket with a diamond.
- Heart Cremation Necklace: a heart in 14k yellow or white gold.
- Diamond Cremation Necklace: a pendant set with diamonds, in 14k yellow or white gold.
- Ashes Band with 6 Diamonds: if you'd rather wear a ring, this looks like any fine diamond band.
You'll find every piece in the Memorial Jewelry collection.
Ordering, step by step
- Choose your piece and metal and check out online, or call me first if you'd like to talk it through.
- I email you instructions for sending a small amount of the ashes to my studio safely.
- I make your piece by hand, place the ashes inside and seal it.
- It's shipped back to you in about 2–3 weeks. [Tricia to confirm: counted from order or from arrival of the ashes.]
If your pet's ashes haven't come back from the crematorium yet, you can still order. Just send them when you're ready. [Tricia to confirm.]
Questions people ask me
Can I use my dog's or cat's ashes?
Yes. Any pet's ashes can go into any of my memorial pieces, and the process is the same as for a person.
Can I add a little fur instead of, or with, the ashes?
[Tricia to confirm whether she accepts fur or hair.]
Can I open it later to add more?
No. The compartment is sealed permanently so the ashes can never be lost.
Can I have two pets' ashes in one piece?
[Tricia to confirm.]
How long does it take?
About 2–3 weeks, since every piece is made by hand to order.
Can I come to the studio?
Yes. My studio is at 102 E Front St, Hancock, NY 13783, open Thursday to Saturday 11 am–6 pm and Sunday 12–4 pm. You can also call me at (917) 279-3583.
Carrying them with you
They were by your side for years. A small piece of jewelry lets them stay close a little longer. Whenever you're ready, browse the Memorial Jewelry collection or call me at (917) 279-3583, and we'll find the right piece together.
— Tricia