Memorial jewelry is thought to have started in the 15th or 16th century. It was primarily made up of human hair braided or weaved into jewelry such as bracelets, rings or lockets. It was mostly an art form contained with in the upper classes due to the expensive gold and precious jewels used to form the jewelry. Even famous historical figures such as Napoleon or Queen Victoria have been known to cherish such pieces of hair jewelry.
These pieces were true art forms, using the human hair to make intricate loops and braids. The tradition of hair jewelry continues to this very day with artisans making modern day pieces available for sale over the internet. This sort of jewelry allows the wearer to have a keepsake of a loved one with them at all times. Hair was traditionally used for memorial jewelry because it resists decay and remains intact hundreds, even thousands of years after death.
Memorial jewelry has made a huge comeback in the last few years as people struggle to cope with grief and loss. Some people have kept cremation urns on their fireplaces to keep the departed's ashes in. Memorial jewelry has made it possible to carry your loved one's ashes close to your heart in a necklace. These necklaces have a tiny compartment hidden inside of them to safely contain crematory ashes. The compartments are sealed with glue to prevent the ashes from coming free. There are more than just necklaces available though -- everything from pins to rings to bracelets to key chains are being used to hold a keep sake of a lost loved one.
The keepsake kept in such "secret compartments" can range from the actual ashes to the dirt from a grave or memorial to a piece of hair. The jewelry is widely available over the internet in every form imaginable (and some unimaginable). Many of these pieces do not look like memorial jewelry and can safely be worn without anyone but the wearer knowing exactly what it is. That way you can wear the necklace (or whatever) without everyone commenting on it. You can tell people exactly what it is -- or not.
There are many specialty areas in this marketplace. For example, my loss was a second trimester miscarriage. There are a wide range of jewelry designs targetted specifically toward lost babies and children. The designs include anything from angel wings to tear drops to baby footprints which can actually be engraved from a molding of your baby's foot or hand. My necklace is a silver infinity symbol with a tiny screw in the bottom of it. The designs can range from the plain to jewel encrusted.
Another specialty market I found surprising was pet loss. They have a variety of dog bone designs or kitty footprints or rabbits or turtles etc. etc. As pets become more and more like members of our families, their losses too are felt more and more deeply. Every person and situation is different but I personally experienced a little bit of peace when I finally had my necklace around my neck. It's a subtle reminder to yourself of your loss, your pain and your memories of the person that was lost. Some jewelry can be more symbolic -- such as a butterfly with the baby's birthstone on it.
Some people may think that it's gross, depressing or macabre to carry a dead person's ashes with you. However, grief and loss effect each person differently. It's reassuring to remember loved ones -- regardless of how long they lived. These reassurances and memories can enable the mourners to be able to put their lives back together after a deep loss.
