There’s a moment many families recognize after a cremation—sometimes days later, sometimes months—when the immediate logistics quiet down and a different question rises up: What do we want to carry forward? A full-size urn might feel right for a home memorial. A scattering plan might feel like the truest goodbye. And for many people, a necklace becomes the most livable kind of remembrance: something close, private, and present on ordinary days.
That’s why memorial necklaces matter. Not because they replace an urn or a service, but because they can fit into real life—workdays, errands, family gatherings, anniversaries—when grief is still there but you’re learning how to walk with it.
This guide explains the main memorial jewelry types—including cremation jewelry that holds ashes—along with the tradeoffs that tend to surprise families (durability, privacy, maintenance, and how “secure” a closure really is). Along the way, you’ll also see how a necklace can fit into a bigger funeral planning picture that might include cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, and even options like water burial or scattering.
Why memorial necklaces are more common now
More families are choosing cremation, which naturally expands the kinds of memorials people consider. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025, with long-term projections continuing to rise. When cremation becomes the norm, families often move from a single “final resting place” idea toward a more flexible plan: one central memorial plus smaller, personal keepsakes that different relatives can hold in their own way.
That’s where necklaces come in. A necklace can be a gentle bridge between “I need something tangible” and “I don’t want to make a permanent decision yet.” It can also help when family members live far apart—one home may keep the primary urn, while others prefer a discreet piece of keepsake jewelry they can wear.
The main types of memorial necklaces
The phrase memorial necklace covers several styles that behave very differently day-to-day. The “right” one depends less on aesthetics and more on what you want the necklace to do.
Cremation pendants and ashes necklaces
A cremation necklace for ashes (also called an ashes necklace) is built with a tiny internal chamber meant to hold a symbolic amount of cremated remains. Many families picture this as “holding ashes,” but in practice it’s more accurate to think: a pinch, sealed securely, carried with intention. The jewelry is not meant to hold “all” the ashes. It’s one part of a larger memorial plan, usually paired with an urn.
If you want to browse designs to understand what these look like in real life, Funeral.com’s Cremation Necklaces collection is a helpful starting point, and the broader Cremation Jewelry collection includes necklaces, bracelets, and pendants in different materials and closure styles.
What tends to matter most with cremation jewelry isn’t the shape—it’s the closure. A threaded screw, a gasketed seal, or a well-fitted compartment makes the difference between “comforting” and “I’m constantly worried I’ll lose what’s inside.”
If you want an in-depth walkthrough of closure styles, filling, and shopping comparisons, Funeral.com’s Journal guide, Cremation Jewelry Guide: Urn Pendants, Charms & Beads That Hold Ashes, is a practical companion to this article.
Lockets and photo pieces
A photo locket memorial piece is a different kind of intimacy. Instead of holding ashes, it holds an image, a tiny note, or a small symbol that feels personal. Lockets can be easier for some people emotionally: they provide connection without the weight of carrying remains.
The tradeoff is durability. Hinges and tiny closures are delicate compared to a solid pendant. If you’ll wear it daily, you’ll want to think in terms of “everyday jewelry engineering,” not just design. A locket worn to sleep, the gym, or the beach can loosen over time.
Fingerprint jewelry and engraved pendants
A fingerprint necklace often contains no physical contents at all. Instead, it carries a pattern, a touch, a line of identity. Many families find this style especially comforting when they want something deeply personal but prefer not to keep ashes in jewelry.
Similarly, an engraved pendant can be simple and powerful: a name, initials, dates, coordinates, or a short phrase that feels like the person. In daily life, engraving can also be more private. The meaning can be visible to you without announcing itself to strangers.
Charm-style keepsakes and everyday privacy
Some memorial necklaces are meant to blend in. A bar pendant that looks like minimalist jewelry. A small charm that sits close to the collarbone. A piece that can be tucked under a shirt when you don’t feel like explaining it. That privacy isn’t a small detail—grief changes day to day, and many people appreciate having control over when a memorial is visible.
How to choose the right memorial necklace for your life
It helps to choose in the same way you’d choose any everyday item: by imagining real scenarios.
Start with how often you’ll wear it
If you’ll wear it daily, prioritize durability first—then beauty. Daily wear means friction, sweat, lotion, perfume, temperature swings, and the occasional accidental tug. In that case, the best memorial necklace is the one you won’t have to baby.
If you’ll wear it occasionally (anniversaries, significant dates, services), you can choose something more delicate without setting yourself up for frustration later.
Decide what you want to include: ashes, a photo, or meaning
Ask yourself one quiet question: Do I want this necklace to carry something physical, or something symbolic? Both are valid. If you’re choosing cremation necklaces, remember they hold a very small portion—so it helps to have a plan for the rest.
That plan might include a primary urn from Cremation Urns for Ashes, a compact memorial from Small Cremation Urns for Ashes, or shared pieces from Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes.
A necklace works best when it’s not carrying the emotional pressure of being “everything.”
Pay attention to closure style and secure design
If you’re choosing an ashes necklace, look for language that describes how the chamber closes (threaded screw, sealed compartment, gasket). You don’t need the most complicated mechanism—you need the most dependable one for your habits.
A helpful way to think about it is: the more active your life is, the more you want a closure that feels like it belongs in a practical object, not a delicate trinket.
Choose metals for comfort, skin sensitivity, and long-term wear
People often shop memorial jewelry with their heart (understandably), but your skin will have opinions too. Stainless steel is popular for everyday wear because it’s durable and generally low-maintenance. Sterling silver has a classic look but can tarnish, especially with frequent wear and moisture exposure. Gold and gold-tone options vary widely depending on how they’re made and plated, and they can be a better choice for some sensitivities—but they also tend to cost more.
Rather than chasing the “perfect” metal, aim for the metal that best matches your reality: how often you’ll wear it, whether you sweat or swim in it, and whether you’ve reacted to jewelry in the past.
Care tips that keep memorial jewelry looking good and feeling safe
Most issues families have with memorial necklaces are not dramatic—they’re ordinary: tarnish, scratches, loose chains, and the slow wear of daily life. A few gentle habits make a difference.
- Take it off before swimming, showering, or applying lotion/perfume if you’re able.
- Wipe it with a soft cloth after wearing (especially if it sits against skin all day).
- Store it in a dry place when you’re not wearing it, ideally in a small pouch or jewelry box.
If your necklace holds ashes, treat closure checks like you would a seatbelt: not anxious, just routine. A quick glance now and then builds confidence.
How memorial necklaces fit into a bigger cremation plan
A necklace is often part of a larger “what to do next” decision set: where the primary remains will rest, whether you’ll scatter, whether different family members want keepsakes, and how to make all of those choices without rushing.
Keeping ashes at home
Many families consider keeping ashes at home, at least for a season. There’s no single “right” timeline—some people keep ashes at home for years, others only until a scattering date. If you’re thinking about safety, placement, children, pets, and visitor etiquette, Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally answers the practical questions in calm, specific language.
Water burial and scattering options
Some families feel drawn to water burial or a ceremony by the sea, a lake, or a river. If that’s part of your plan, it may shape what you keep at home afterward—sometimes a small keepsake urn, sometimes a necklace, sometimes both. Funeral.com’s guide Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony walks through what families typically do and what to think about ahead of time.
Pet memorial necklaces and pet urns
For pet loss, memorial jewelry can be especially meaningful because pets are woven into the smallest routines—morning coffee, evening walks, the quiet of the couch. Some families choose a small cremation necklace for ashes for a pet, while also keeping a pet urn at home.
If you’re exploring options, Funeral.com’s Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes collection includes full-size and keepsake-style options, and there are more specific collections for Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes and Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes.
Cost questions families ask when choosing memorial jewelry
It’s completely normal for jewelry decisions to bring up budget questions. In many families, the necklace isn’t the only expense—it’s one piece of a broader picture that includes cremation provider fees, potential services, and an urn.
If you’re trying to understand the numbers behind the phrase how much does cremation cost, Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost? Average Prices and Budget-Friendly Options explains common price ranges and what tends to change costs from one place to another.
Often, clarity around cost reduces pressure—because you can separate “what we need right now” from “what we can add later.” A meaningful memorial plan doesn’t have to be purchased in one single moment.
Choosing with confidence, not urgency
A memorial necklace is not a test of love. It’s a tool for connection. If the idea feels comforting, you’re allowed to choose it. If it feels too intense right now, you’re allowed to wait. And if different relatives want different things—an urn for the home, a small keepsake, a necklace for daily wear—that’s not a conflict. It’s a family finding multiple ways to keep someone close.
When you’re ready to browse gently, start with Funeral.com’s Cremation Necklaces and Cremation Jewelry collections for wearable options, then consider whether you also want a home memorial through Cremation Urns for Ashes, small cremation urns, or keepsake urns that can be shared.
At each step, the goal is the same: choices that feel steady, respectful, and possible.
