When someone you love dies, it’s common to want something small and steady—something you can touch on an ordinary Tuesday when grief shows up without warning. For many families, a memorial necklace becomes that quiet anchor: a piece of cremation jewelry you can wear close to your heart, or a simple pendant engraved with a name, date, fingerprint, or a few words that say what you still can’t. As cremation becomes a majority choice in the U.S., more families are also asking practical questions about keepsakes, travel, and everyday durability. According to the Cremation Association of North America, the U.S. cremation rate was 61.8% in 2024, with projections rising in 2025; the National Funeral Directors Association similarly reports cremation continuing to outpace burial and shares data on how families choose to memorialize.
This guide is designed to make the choices feel less overwhelming. We’ll walk through common cremation necklaces and memorial necklace types, which materials hold up best to daily wear, how closures and seals really work, and what “TSA-friendly” means if you’re traveling. We’ll also zoom out for a moment—because jewelry decisions rarely exist in a vacuum. They’re often part of broader funeral planning and the bigger question families eventually face: what to do with ashes.
What “memorial necklace” can mean: ashes, engravings, or both
A memorial necklace can be one of two things (and sometimes a mix). First, it can be a tiny container designed to hold a small portion of ashes—often called an urn necklace or “fillable” pendant. Second, it can be a non-fillable keepsake—like a locket with a photo, a bar necklace engraved with handwriting, or a fingerprint pendant—meant to carry memory rather than cremated remains. Both options are legitimate. In fact, some families choose a non-ash piece for everyday wear and keep an ash-holding piece for special days, travel, or private moments at home.
If you want to explore styles in one place, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry and Cremation Necklaces collections show the range—from minimal cylinders and bars to heart pendants, lockets, and more traditional designs. If you’re still deciding what kind of keepsake fits your comfort level, the Journal guide Cremation Jewelry Guide: Urn Pendants, Charms & Beads That Hold Ashes helps clarify what truly holds ashes versus what’s purely symbolic.
The main types of memorial necklaces (and who they tend to fit best)
Ash-holding “urn” necklaces are built with a small inner chamber. You’ll see them as bars, teardrops, hearts, cylinders, crosses, and occasionally more sculptural shapes. The chamber usually closes with a threaded screw, a tiny set-screw, or a top/bottom cap. These are best for someone who wants a physical portion of ashes close by and is comfortable with the responsibility of keeping the piece secure over time. They’re also a common option when families divide ashes among siblings, children, or close friends—especially alongside keepsake urns or small cremation urns at home.
Lockets and photo pendants can be fillable or non-fillable. Many lockets are meant for a photo, a pressed flower, a small note, or a fabric swatch (like a piece of a uniform or a beloved scarf). Some lockets are designed with a hidden ash compartment behind the photo insert, but not all are. If you love the idea of a “daily wear” piece but worry about spilling or losing ashes, a non-fillable locket can feel emotionally close without carrying cremated remains.
Fingerprint, handwriting, and engraved pieces are usually not designed to hold ashes. Instead, they hold identity: the curve of a fingerprint, the exact stroke of handwriting from a card, coordinates of a meaningful place, or a short phrase. For many people, this is the most comfortable everyday option—simple, durable, and less likely to create anxiety during security screening, swimming, or travel. These pieces can also pair beautifully with a home memorial that includes cremation urns or cremation urns for ashes on a shelf, alongside a candle and photo.
For a deeper look at shapes and filling methods, the Journal article Urn Necklaces and Ashes Pendants: Styles, Filling Tips, and Personalization Ideas walks through common designs and the small details that make a big difference—like how wide the opening is, and whether the closure feels sturdy in real life.
Durable materials for everyday wear (and what to choose if your skin is sensitive)
When people search for the “best” memorial necklace, they often mean one thing: it has to last. Grief changes, but a necklace that tarnishes instantly, irritates your skin, or snaps at the clasp can feel like one more loss layered on top of everything else. The most common durable materials you’ll see in cremation jewelry are stainless steel, sterling silver, and gold—each with strengths and tradeoffs.
Stainless steel is often the most practical choice for daily wear: it’s tough, resists corrosion, and tends to be friendlier for sensitive skin than mystery alloys. It’s also a common choice for travel because it handles temperature changes, sweat, and humidity well. If a listing is vague—“silver tone” without a clear metal type—treat that as a small red flag. “Stainless steel” should be stated plainly, not implied.
Sterling silver can be beautiful and meaningful (especially if your loved one wore silver), but it requires a little more care. Silver can tarnish with moisture, lotions, perfumes, and everyday air exposure. That doesn’t make it a poor choice—it just means it may need occasional polishing and a dry storage routine. If you’re someone who wants to wear your necklace constantly (including showers and workouts), stainless steel may be less stressful long-term.
Gold (especially solid gold) is durable and classic, but it’s also the most expensive. Gold-filled or vermeil can be a middle path, but plating can wear down over time—particularly at the chain and clasp, where friction happens daily. If skin sensitivity is part of your decision, choose clear material labeling and avoid pieces that don’t disclose what’s under the plating.
Closures, seals, and what “waterproof” really means
For ash-holding necklaces, durability isn’t only about the metal—it’s about the closure. A secure threaded screw closure is often more reliable than a friction-fit cap. Some pieces include a tiny gasket or O-ring to improve sealing. Others rely on thread tension plus a small amount of jewelry adhesive applied after filling. The safest mindset is this: “water-resistant” is not the same as “life-proof.” Even a well-made pendant can loosen over time if it’s opened repeatedly or tugged at by a heavy charm and chain.
Practical tip: if you plan to wear a fillable necklace every day, choose a design that doesn’t need to be reopened. Fill it once, seal it well, and treat it as a long-term keepsake. If you want something you can open and close often (for example, to swap keepsakes), a locket that holds a photo or note is usually better than an ash compartment.
How much ashes do you need for a necklace (and how to fill it calmly)
Families are often surprised by how little is needed. A typical urn necklace holds a very small amount—often described as a “pinch” or a fraction of a teaspoon. That can be comforting, because it means you don’t have to make a dramatic decision about dividing ashes. You can keep most of the remains together in cremation urns for ashes at home and share tiny portions among immediate family members through jewelry or keepsake urns.
If you’re filling a necklace at home, the goal is not perfection—it’s steadiness. Choose a quiet time. Lay down a clean sheet of paper or a tray with raised edges. Keep a small funnel (or a folded paper funnel), a toothpick or skewer to guide ashes gently, and a soft cloth nearby. Many families find it emotionally easier to fill jewelry from the inner bag (or a temporary container) rather than from a large decorative urn. For a step-by-step, spill-minimizing walkthrough, Funeral.com’s guide Urn Necklaces and Ashes Pendants explains setup, sealing, and what to do if you feel nervous halfway through. If you’d rather not handle ashes at all, some jewelers and funeral homes will assist with filling, or you can choose a non-fillable engraved piece for daily wear.
TSA tips for traveling with ashes (and what “TSA-friendly” means for urns and jewelry)
Travel adds pressure because it turns grief into logistics: airports, timelines, paperwork, and the fear of something going wrong in public. The good news is that traveling with memorial jewelry is usually simpler than traveling with a full urn—especially if the necklace is small, sealed, and worn or packed in a personal item. Still, it helps to understand how screening works and why the phrase “TSA-friendly” exists.
On its Transportation Security Administration guidance page for cremated remains, TSA notes that cremated remains are permitted, but screening is the key: the container must allow officers to see what’s inside using X-ray, and if the container creates an opaque image, it may not be allowed through the checkpoint. TSA also states that, out of respect for the deceased, officers will not open a container—even if a passenger requests it—and that the final decision rests with the TSA officer at the checkpoint. TSA also warns that some airlines do not allow cremated remains in checked bags, so it’s important to check airline rules before you fly.
So what does that mean in plain language? “TSA-friendly” does not mean an official TSA certification. It usually means a container is more likely to be clearly X-rayed—often lighter materials like certain woods or plastics rather than dense metals or stone. For a full urn, that can be the difference between a smooth screening and a heartbreaking delay. For a necklace, the risk is typically lower, but you can still reduce stress by traveling with a piece that is securely sealed and doesn’t require explanation or handling at the checkpoint.
If you’re flying with a full urn (or a larger keepsake), Funeral.com’s travel guide Flying With Cremated Remains: TSA Rules, Airline Tips, and Travel-Friendly Urns walks through what to expect at screening, why carry-on is usually safer than checked baggage, and how to choose a container that’s more likely to pass X-ray without complications. If your travel plan includes a necklace plus a keepsake urn, consider pairing jewelry with something from Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes or Small Cremation Urns for Ashes, while keeping the main urn secure at home until you’re ready for your next step.
For many families, the most calming “travel folder” is simple: keep a copy of the cremation certificate (or the documents you received with the remains), a contact number for the funeral home or crematory, and the airline’s policy page saved on your phone. If mailing is easier than flying, the U.S. Postal Service provides detailed instructions for shipping cremated remains in USPS Publication 139, and Funeral.com’s step-by-step guide Mailing Cremated Remains: USPS Rules, Required Kits, and How to Ship Ashes Safely explains the process in plain language.
If you want guidance specifically about wearing or packing jewelry through security, the Journal article Can You Travel With Cremation Jewelry? TSA Screening, Packing Tips, and Avoiding Loss offers practical advice for keeping a piece secure, avoiding last-minute opening or refilling, and choosing a travel routine that protects both the jewelry and your peace of mind.
How memorial necklaces connect to the bigger questions: home, scattering, and next steps
It’s normal for a necklace decision to show up before you’ve decided the “big” plan. Many families choose jewelry first because it’s tangible and immediate—something you can do while the rest of the world keeps moving. Over time, though, most people circle back to larger decisions: keeping ashes at home, placing them in a cemetery or niche, scattering in a meaningful place, planning a water burial, or creating multiple keepsakes so no one carries the weight alone.
Industry research reflects that variety. On its statistics page, the National Funeral Directors Association shares that many people who prefer cremation also have strong preferences about memorialization, including keeping cremated remains at home in an urn. If that resonates, Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally covers everyday realities—kids, pets, visitors, placement, and how to prevent spills—without judgment. If you’re still weighing container types for your long-term plan, How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Fits Your Plans connects practical choices (lid security, material, size) to real-life outcomes (home display, burial, travel, or scattering).
For families drawn to ceremony on water, Funeral.com’s guide Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony explains what typically happens and how to plan respectfully. And if cost is part of your planning reality—as it is for many families—Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost? Average Prices and Budget-Friendly Options pairs compassionate context with practical price factors. Having a clear sense of how much does cremation cost can reduce the feeling that you’re making decisions in the dark.
One more note, because many families are grieving a pet as well: the same memorial necklace choices often apply to pet ashes. If you’re choosing keepsakes for a companion animal, Funeral.com’s collections for pet urns and pet urns for ashes include options that feel personal without being overly formal, including Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes, Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes, and Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes. Some families choose a small pendant for daily comfort and a figurine urn for home—two different kinds of “closeness” that can coexist.
Shopping wisely: a few questions that protect you (and the person you’re honoring)
Buying memorial jewelry online can feel strangely vulnerable. You’re not shopping for fashion; you’re trying to choose something that carries love in a durable form. A helpful way to shop gently is to focus on questions that reduce regret later: What is the metal, exactly? How does the chamber close? Is the chain sturdy or easily replaced? Is engraving clear and permanent? What’s the return policy if the size or feel isn’t right? Does the product description match what you actually need—a fillable piece, or a symbolic one?
If you want a curated place to compare daily-wear options, start with Funeral.com’s Cremation Necklaces collection, then cross-check against the educational guides linked above so you know what you’re looking at. If your plan includes both jewelry and a home urn, it can also help to browse Cremation Urns for Ashes, Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes, and Small Cremation Urns for Ashes side by side—because seeing the range can make it easier to imagine what “right” looks like for your household and your grief.
A memorial necklace doesn’t have to solve everything. It can simply be one meaningful decision you make with care. Whether you choose an ash-holding piece, an engraved pendant, or a locket with a photo, the goal is the same: a steady reminder that love doesn’t disappear just because someone is gone. And if travel is part of your story—whether you’re bringing ashes home, attending a memorial, or scattering in a place that mattered—knowing the basics ahead of time can help you move through those moments with more calm and fewer surprises.
