In the first days after a cremation, many families discover they’re holding two kinds of weight at once: the practical responsibility of deciding what to do with ashes, and the emotional reality of missing someone in small, ordinary moments—walking the dog, driving to work, folding laundry, sitting in a quiet house. A full-size urn can feel steady and grounding, but it stays in one place. cremation jewelry is different. It moves with you. It can be private, subtle, and deeply personal—less about “moving on,” and more about staying connected while life keeps asking you to show up.
That desire is becoming more common as cremation becomes the majority choice in the U.S. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the projected U.S. cremation rate for 2025 is 63.4%. When more families choose cremation, more families also face the same next question: how do we honor this life in a way that fits who they were—and how we live now?
This guide walks through the main types of cremation necklaces and other memorial jewelry that holds ashes, how they differ from “ashes-infused” keepsakes, what materials and closures matter for daily wear, how much ashes you actually need, and a calm, spill-minimizing way to fill and seal a piece at home. Along the way, I’ll point you to Funeral.com resources and collections so you can move from questions to options without feeling rushed.
What cremation jewelry is, and what it isn’t
Most people mean one of two things when they say cremation jewelry.
The first is jewelry designed to hold a tiny portion of cremated remains inside a concealed chamber—an urn necklace for ashes, an ashes pendant, a bracelet, or a charm bead. This is sometimes called keepsake jewelry for ashes, and the key feature is a physical compartment plus a closure you can open and secure.
The second is “ashes-infused” jewelry, where ashes are incorporated into glass, resin, or another medium during a crafting process. These pieces can be beautiful and symbolic, but they usually do not open and close at home; the ashes are embedded rather than stored in a chamber. That distinction matters when you’re comparing products online, because the photos can look similar even when the construction is completely different.
If you want a clear, gentle overview before you shop, Funeral.com’s Journal guide Cremation Jewelry 101 is a reassuring place to start.
The main types of cremation jewelry that hold ashes
When you’re grieving, it can be surprisingly comforting to reduce decisions to something tangible: “What will I actually wear?” “Will this snag on sweaters?” “Can I sleep in it?” The good news is that most cremation jewelry pendant styles fall into a few familiar formats.
Urn necklaces and pendants
An urn necklace for ashes is typically a pendant with an internal chamber. Some are classic shapes—hearts, teardrops, cylinders, bars—while others lean symbolic, like a cross, tree of life, or paw print. If you want to browse styles without overthinking it, Funeral.com’s Cremation Necklaces collection is curated specifically for wearable, secure designs.
If you’re drawn to a simpler “jewelry-first” look, you’ll often find that slim bar pendants or small cylinders feel most like a normal necklace—subtle enough for everyday life, meaningful enough to touch when you need grounding.
Charms and pendants that pair with your own chain
Some families prefer to choose the pendant separately and use a chain they already wear. This is especially common when someone has a signature necklace they never take off. Funeral.com’s Cremation Charms & Pendants collection is useful if you want to start with the piece itself and decide the chain later.
Cremation bracelets
Bracelets can be a better option for people who don’t like the feeling of something around their neck, or who want a piece they can touch more easily during anxious moments. Some styles look like bangles; others are chains with a bead-like chamber. You can see the range in Funeral.com’s Cremation Bracelets collection.
Charm beads
A cremation charm bead is usually a small bead-shaped chamber that can be worn on a bracelet or necklace, sometimes alongside other meaningful charms. For many families, this format feels less like a “memorial item” and more like a personal story worn in layers—birthstones, initials, a small remembrance bead.
How cremation jewelry fits into funeral planning
It’s easy to think of jewelry as an “extra,” but for many families it’s part of practical funeral planning— especially when ashes will be shared, scattered, or moved later. If you’re keeping most remains in a primary urn and dividing a small amount among children or siblings, jewelry can play a similar role to keepsake urns.
If you’re sorting out a plan that includes a home memorial now and a different disposition later—scattering, cemetery placement, or water burial—jewelry can also offer continuity. A family might scatter most ashes at sea, for example, while keeping a symbolic pinch in an ashes pendant that can be worn on anniversaries and hard days.
For the “big picture” options (primary urn, small keepsakes, pet memorials), Funeral.com’s collections hub can help: cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, and keepsake urns.
Materials that matter: stainless steel, sterling silver, and gold
When you’re shopping for buy cremation jewelry online, the same pendant shape can vary wildly in comfort and longevity depending on material. This isn’t about “better” or “worse”—it’s about matching the piece to real life: your skin sensitivity, your budget, and whether it will be worn daily.
Stainless steel is often chosen for everyday wear because it’s durable, affordable, and generally low-maintenance. It tends to resist tarnish and stands up well to normal bumps and friction. If someone works with their hands, travels often, or simply wants a dependable cremation necklace they don’t have to baby, stainless steel can feel like a relief.
Sterling silver offers a classic look and a bit more “traditional jewelry” presence, but it can tarnish over time. That doesn’t mean it’s fragile—just that it may need occasional polishing, and it may not be your first choice if you want a truly worry-free piece. Many families still choose sterling because it feels familiar, giftable, and sentimental.
Gold (solid gold, vermeil, or gold-plated styles) is often chosen for heirloom meaning and skin sensitivity. The practical difference is in how the gold is made: solid gold holds up best, while plated options can wear over time depending on thickness and daily use. When you’re comparing, look for clear descriptions of metal type, plating thickness (if given), and care instructions.
Closure styles and “waterproof” claims
A lot of anxiety around cremation jewelry comes down to one fear: “What if it opens?”
Most pieces use one of a few closure styles, and understanding them can help you choose with confidence.
- Threaded screw closure: A tiny screw (often at the top, side, or bottom) opens the chamber. This is common and secure when properly tightened.
- Set-screw closure: A small screw locks the closure in place. It can be very secure, but you’ll want to keep the tiny tool in a safe spot.
- Magnetic or click closures: More common in fashion jewelry; for ashes-holding pieces, look for clear details about an internal seal.
You’ll also see “waterproof” or “water resistant” language. In real life, think of most ashes-holding jewelry like a ring with a stone setting: it’s designed for daily wear, but prolonged water exposure, hot showers, pools, and ocean salt can stress seals over time. If you want the most peace of mind, prioritize pieces that include a gasket or specify a sealing method, and plan to add a small seal at home when you fill it (more on that below). Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry collection is a helpful starting point because it focuses on pieces made specifically as memorial jewelry that holds ashes, not novelty items.
How much ashes do you need for a pendant?
Almost always, less than you think.
A typical cremation jewelry pendant holds a symbolic amount—often a pinch, sometimes less than a quarter teaspoon depending on the piece. The goal isn’t to carry “enough.” The goal is to carry meaning.
This is one reason keepsake urns and jewelry work so well together: a primary urn can hold the full remains, while small cremation urns and cremation necklaces let multiple family members keep a personal connection without complicated dividing. If your family is navigating those decisions, Funeral.com’s Journal article Keepsake Urns and Sharing Urns puts language around what many families are already feeling.
How to fill cremation jewelry safely at home
If you’ve searched how to fill cremation jewelry, you’ve probably seen everything from casual “just pour it in” advice to complicated tutorials. The truth is: the best approach is slow, contained, and calm.
Start by choosing the right moment. Filling jewelry right after a loss can be emotionally intense. If you can, do it when you won’t be interrupted and when you feel steady enough to pause if grief rises.
Choose a clean, stable surface and place a soft towel or cloth down first. This prevents the jewelry from rolling, and it makes any tiny amount of ash easier to see and contain. Many people like to work over a shallow tray or a sheet of clean paper folded into a gentle “V” to guide any spill back into the container.
Open the pendant chamber carefully and keep all parts together—cap, tiny screw, gasket, tool—so nothing disappears. Use the small funnel that often comes with the piece; if you don’t have one, a folded paper funnel can work in a pinch. Add a tiny amount at a time. If ashes look coarse, don’t force them—some pieces have very small openings. A toothpick or small scoop can help guide a small pinch into place without pushing.
Before you close it, pause. Some families like to take a breath, say a few words, or simply hold the pendant in their palm for a moment. This step isn’t required— but it can make the process feel less like “assembling an object” and more like completing a ritual of care.
To seal, gently tighten the closure without over-torquing it (which can strip threads). For extra peace of mind—especially if you plan to wear it often—many families use a tiny dot of clear jewelry-safe sealant on the threads. The goal is a removable seal, not permanent glue, so you can open it later if your plan changes. If the pendant has a gasket, make sure it sits evenly and isn’t pinched.
Afterward, wipe the piece with a soft cloth and wash your hands. If you used paper or a tray, fold and tap any residue back into the original container. Slow is safe.
Shopping online: what to compare beyond the photo
When you’re searching buy cremation jewelry online, it helps to look past the shape and ask a few practical questions: Is the material clearly stated? Does the listing explain the closure type? Is a filling kit included? Are dimensions and weight listed so you know how it will feel on your body?
Also consider how the jewelry fits into your broader plan for keeping ashes at home. Some families wear jewelry daily while keeping a full-size urn in a safe place. Others keep jewelry only for special occasions and prefer a stable home memorial as the everyday center. If you’re thinking through the home side of that decision, Funeral.com’s Journal guide Keeping Ashes at Home is a compassionate, practical read.
And if your loss is a pet—where grief can feel both enormous and strangely invisible to outsiders—there are equally thoughtful options. Funeral.com’s pet urns for ashes collection and the more specific Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes and Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes collections can help you find a memorial that feels like them, not generic.
A final word of reassurance
If you’re reading this while still raw with grief, it may help to hear the simplest truth: you don’t have to decide everything at once. A primary urn can come first. keepsake urns and cremation jewelry can come later. Your plan can change as your heart changes. Even the broader landscape is shifting— CANA has long reported cremation’s continued growth over time, and as cremation becomes the norm, families increasingly personalize memorialization in many different ways. The “new normal” is that there’s room for your way.
When you’re ready to explore pieces that hold ashes, you can start gently with Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry and Cremation Necklaces collections, or read Cremation Jewelry 101 to steady your decision-making before you shop.
