Deciding how to
honour the memory of your loved one is difficult. We understand the range of
emotions people go through in the early stages of grief, and creating a fitting
memento is important.
You want a way of
remembering, and knowing that your loved one is with you.
In the first few
weeks following a ceremony, the sense of emptiness can feel a little
overwhelming. Speaking from personal experience, memorial jewellery can provide
great comfort and a sense of relief. Wanting to make a symbolic gesture is
common, and is something memorial jewellery can provide.
The tradition of
bereavement and memorial jewellery isn’t a new concept. Having an item of
jewellery to remember someone who has passed away dates back as far as the
Ancient Roman times.
However, it wasn’t
until the Renaissance period that rings similar to the keepsakes we create
today were made. Rings with inscriptions of the name and date of death were
given to family and friends.
‘Memento Mori”
jewellery came next, during the Georgian period. Designed as a reminder of your
own mortality, the jewellery featured skulls and skeletons, which was probably
one of the reasons why the popularity of memorial jewellery didn’t pick up
until the Victorian era.
Whitby Jet
jewellery, made famous by Queen Victoria, signified the increasing demand for
refined bereavement keepsakes.
Technological
advances meant that photos could be worn within pendants, and hair could be
woven into a range of items, so the sophistication of jewellery in memory of a
loved one rose.
Now, memorial
jewellery has never been more elegant.
There are a whole
host of options available depending on how you’d prefer to remember your loved
one. Below we’ll guide you through some of the options available, with a wide
range of choices depending on what means the most to you.
Signatures
A signature is said
to reflect who you are and how you’d like people to see you – according to
analysts at least, who decipher the psychology behind whether you include your
middle name, how your script falls, and much more.
Signatures,
historically, indicate your public appearance.
Everything from the
size of the signature to the slant and dotting reveals something intricate
about your personality, which makes the engraving of a signature on
commemorative jewellery all the more special.
For years, it has
been the most formal representation of your loved one. Why they chose that
particular style is something we often don’t think to question – it’s simply
theirs.
This makes their
iconic swirl of handwriting, on everything from birthday cards to notes as
simple as a shopping list, incredibly sentimental.
Engraving
signatures and handwriting on a keepsake is an incredibly popular method of
daily remembrance. We developed a range of signature memorial jewellery that
allows our customers to remember in a meaningful way.
Pendants and necklaces
are often the most popular choice. Made of sterling silver and gold, stunning
pendants provide beautiful ways of displaying your loved one, or keeping them
hidden under your clothing with you at all times.
However, pendants
aren’t for everyone. There are a range of unique items that can be engraved
with signatures that could have a specific meaning to you or your loved one,
whether that’s a tag, a flask or a ring.
Fingerprints
Nothing is more
personal than a fingerprint. Even though fingerprints are grouped into one of
the following general patterns – the hook, bullseye, twin loop, peacock, peak,
hill, spiral and the loop – even twins can’t have the same fingerprint, which
signifies the meaning behind fingerprint jewellery.
Fingerprints are the
perfect reminder of life, as fingerprints are formed whilst still in the womb,
and are one of the only things on our body that remains unchanged throughout
our life. It’s more than a mark – it’s a reflection of how your loved one
behaved and lived their life, which is an incredible memory to wear.
You can engrave a
completely unique pattern on a range of pendants and rings, however you can
also engrave individual items such as guitar picks and cufflinks, providing you
with an extra special memory whilst carrying around the things that inspire
you.
Photos
A picture paints a
thousand words. We cherish images of our loved ones, holding onto them and
passing them down generations as a reminder of our family.
Although often
tinged with sadness, a regular activity following the passing of a family
member is looking through photo albums and remembering the memories you made
together. In this time of sadness, photos can often bring joy, as forgotten
memories come to light and are shared with the family – whether that’s
uncovering childhood pictures we were previously unaware of, or photos we’d
simply forgotten about that provide a lovely reminder of them.
With images
providing a documented story of life, photos often lift spirits, providing a
beautiful visual timeline. This is the reason many people choose to engrave
images of their loved ones on jewellery, as it provides a way of holding them
near.
Of course, there
are beautiful photography items for around the home, with glass frames and
canvas prints, that do more than a simple photo frame could ever do.
We also find that
people enjoy having photographs on everyday objects that they would previously
fail to consider. Take a golf ball for instance – a photo print provides the
perfect opportunity to focus on making the green, or maybe even an excuse for
missing it, but the experience is made all the more special with the photo
there.
Ornaments
Unique glass
ornaments make sure the memory of your loved one lives forever. Glass ornaments
have always been a symbol of passions and interests of the owner, giving them
huge significance in the home.
With the first
glass ornaments being produced in 1597, and brought to fame in 1846 following
an illustration of Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree being published, they have
always been a fitting remembrance for loved ones.
Advances made in
engraving technology now allow you to remember your loved one by adding photos
– both plain and in colour – as well as wording to beautiful boxed ornaments.
This results in
beautiful pieces for throughout the home that provide an heir of subtlety. What
makes engraved ornaments truly special is when the light catches them, as their
glow grabs your attention and helps you remember for a split second.
Cremation Pendants
Cremation pendants
are a fitting tribute, and one of the most intimate ways of remember your loved
one. Your loved one’s ashes are contained within a vessel, meaning they are
truly with you at all times.
However, when they
first originated, cremation jewellery and pendants didn’t contain any ashes.
Instead, as we alluded to earlier, they contained intricately woven hair that
resulted in elaborate items of jewellery.
Jewellery made out
of hair has long been known as the most intimate piece of jewellery someone
could give. In fact, in the Victorian era and American Civil War, jewellery
with elements of hair woven into it was given as a keepsake (sometimes referred
to as a love token).
These items were
passed down through generations because of the significance of the items and
the sacrifice involved in making the jewellery. Traditionally however, these
were only to be worn for the first few years of mourning, however it was Queen
Victoria herself who broke this tradition and wore her jewellery for the rest
of her life.
Advances in
technology allow the most wonderful way to keep a loved one close to your
heart. Jewellery can be designed with methods of holding ashes within it,
either stored in a void within the jewellery itself or made directly into the
items.
As with commemorative
jewellery made with hair, ashes are added to understated heirlooms that
guarantee your loved one will never be forgotten.
If your loved one
preferred a burial, rather than a cremation, you can still use a pendant to
remain close to them. Often, people enclose a scattering of sacred ground
following the funeral, or an item of particular significance – anything that
helps you feel at ease with the pendant around your neck.
The cross shape has
traditionally been the most popular vessel for ashes due to its religious
significance. However, there is also the popular bullet-style shape that has
emerged in recent years, providing a modern, functional variant to the
religious alternative.
Normington & Sons: Helping families since 1957
Normington &
Sons is a family-run, local funeral director in Wakefield. Established in 1957,
we pride ourselves on going the extra mile to provide your loved one with the
funeral that they deserve.
Building on decades
of experience, we’ve become experts in all elements of handcrafted memorial
jewellery. If you have any special requests, please don’t hesitate to let us
know and we’ll try our best to incorporate them. We offer an extensive range of
options that you can discuss with our staff today, including:
●Bracelets, rings, and earrings
●Engraved jewellery
●Resin gems that preserve ash or
hair
●Urn pendants
Please don’t
hesitate to get
in touch
for more information today.
