If you’re searching what is an ash necklace called, you’re probably not looking for trivia. You’re looking for steadiness—something you can hold onto after the calls are done, the paperwork is finished, and the world has moved on faster than your heart can follow. People use a lot of names for the same idea: an “ash necklace,” an “urn necklace,” a “memorial pendant,” or simply cremation necklaces. The language can feel confusing, especially when every website seems to use different terms for pieces that look similar.
One reason these searches have become so common is that cremation is now the choice many families make. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025, compared with a projected burial rate of 31.6%. The Cremation Association of North America reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024. As cremation becomes more common, remembrance becomes more personal—and families often build a layered plan: a main urn, a keepsake for sharing, and a small piece of cremation jewelry that can travel with you on ordinary days when grief shows up unexpectedly.
This guide is here to translate the terms in plain language, explain how different styles work, and help you shop with confidence—whether you want a simple urn necklace for ashes, an engraved cremation necklace, or something durable enough for everyday wear.
The simplest answer: what an “ash necklace” is usually called
Most of the time, an ash necklace is a cremation necklace—a necklace designed with a tiny internal chamber that holds a symbolic portion of ashes (and sometimes hair or dried flowers). You’ll also see the term “urn necklace,” which is simply a more technical description of the same thing: a necklace that functions like a miniature urn. If you want to browse broadly without getting stuck in naming differences, Funeral.com’s cremation necklaces collection is organized around the format (necklaces meant to hold a small portion) rather than one specific nickname.
The phrase “memorial necklace” is broader. Some memorial necklaces hold ashes; others don’t. A memorial necklace might be a locket with a photo, a piece engraved with handwriting, or a symbolic charm that carries meaning without holding anything inside. That’s why you can’t rely on the word “memorial” alone. If your goal is a true ash-holding piece, look for language like “urn chamber,” “fillable,” “holds ashes,” or “keepsake compartment,” and browse collections that are clearly labeled as cremation jewelry.
Cremation jewelry terms you’ll see, and what they usually mean
Once you know the main label, the rest of the vocabulary becomes easier. A “cremation pendant” is the pendant portion of the necklace; in everyday shopping, “pendant,” “necklace,” and “urn necklace” get used interchangeably. A “charm” may be a smaller pendant designed for a bracelet or for adding to an existing chain. “Keepsake jewelry” is an umbrella term that can include ash-holding pieces, hair keepsakes, dried-flower keepsakes, and other memorial formats—so it’s meaningful, but not always specific.
Another important distinction is between fillable jewelry and “ashes-infused” jewelry. Fillable jewelry has a chamber you can open and close. Ashes-infused jewelry typically means an artist incorporates a small amount of ashes into glass or resin, creating a permanent design that does not open. People often love ashes-infused pieces because there’s no worry about a screw loosening, but they require sending material to a maker and waiting for production. If you want something you can fill at home, you’re looking for a self fill cremation necklace or a piece sold with a fill kit.
How does an urn necklace work in real life?
If you’re asking how does an urn necklace work, the practical answer is: it’s a tiny container hidden inside jewelry. Most pieces use one of a few closure styles. The most common is a threaded screw that opens at the top, bottom, or back of the pendant. Some designs hide the opening under the bail (the loop that connects the pendant to the chain), while others use a small screw on the back plate. A few lockets have an inner chamber and a separate decorative front, which can feel more like traditional jewelry while still being functional.
Because the chamber is small, the amount of ashes used is small—usually a pinch, not a spoonful. Many families find this emotionally reassuring: the jewelry is a symbol, not the primary resting place. The “home base” is often still a full urn, like a traditional cremation urns for ashes selection, with jewelry acting as a daily companion rather than the only memorial.
Styles: choosing a pendant that feels like you, not like a product category
When people imagine cremation jewelry, they often picture a heart pendant, but the range is much wider. Some people want a visible symbol—crosses, hearts, angels, tree-of-life designs, or a bar engraved with a name. Others want something that looks like everyday jewelry: a slim cylinder, a small disc, or a simple teardrop shape. Many choose styles that match what they already wear, because the goal is comfort, not a constant announcement.
For pet families, the design language often changes in a tender way. Paw prints, pet silhouettes, and small heart shapes can feel like a private acknowledgment of a bond that mattered deeply. If you’re shopping for a companion, browsing pet cremation jewelry can help you find something that reads as love, not novelty.
Materials that matter: stainless steel, silver, and gold
Material affects comfort, durability, and how much maintenance you’ll need. If you want the most practical everyday option, a stainless steel urn necklace is often chosen because it’s durable, generally lower maintenance, and typically less expensive than precious metals. Sterling silver has a classic look and feel, but it can tarnish and may need gentle cleaning over time. Gold is where descriptions get tricky: “gold” can mean solid gold, gold-filled, or gold-plated, and those options behave very differently with daily wear.
Because jewelry marketing terms can be confusing, it’s worth leaning on clear consumer guidance. The U.S. FTC Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries explain how precious metal claims should be described and not misrepresented. In practical shopping terms, it means you should look closely at whether “gold” is solid, filled, or plated, and decide what matches your lifestyle. If you want a piece you can wear daily with fewer worries about finish wearing down, you may prefer solid precious metal or durable steel over plating.
“Waterproof” is usually a hope, not a guarantee
People often want reassurance that an urn necklace won’t leak. That’s a reasonable concern, and it’s also where marketing language can get slippery. Many pieces are better described as water-resistant under normal conditions rather than truly waterproof in a way that guarantees long-term performance through showers, swimming, and heat. What matters most is the closure and whether the piece uses a gasket or an O-ring, plus how you handle it over time.
If you want a realistic, daily-life explanation—what sweating, showering, and swimming can do to seals and finishes—Funeral.com’s guide Is Cremation Jewelry Waterproof? Showering, Swimming, Sweat & Material-by-Material Guidance walks through expectations by material, without pretending there’s a magical “never worry again” answer.
Filling a self-fill cremation necklace without making a hard moment harder
Many families choose a self fill cremation necklace because they want the intimacy of doing it themselves, on their own timeline. Others prefer a funeral home or trusted person to help. Either approach is valid. If you do fill it at home, the safest approach is gentle and slow: pick a quiet time, cover your workspace with paper, keep the jewelry tools close, and open the chamber carefully over the paper so nothing is lost if your hands shake. Use a small funnel or the included fill kit to transfer a tiny pinch, then wipe the threads clean before closing, because stray grains can interfere with a snug seal.
Some people want to permanently seal the screw with an adhesive or threadlocker for peace of mind, while others want the option to reopen. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, Funeral.com’s guide Do You Need Glue for Cremation Jewelry? Sealing, Threadlocker Options & Safety Tips explains when extra sealing makes sense and when it may be unnecessary. For a broader step-by-step mindset—how to set up, how to prevent spills, how to clean up calmly—Funeral.com’s article How to Transfer Ashes into a Cremation Urn is also helpful, because the same spill-minimizing habits apply whether you’re filling an urn or a pendant.
Engraving and personalization: making it yours without overthinking it
For many people, a name and date is enough. Others prefer a short phrase, initials, a meaningful symbol, or coordinates that quietly point to a place that mattered. An engraved cremation necklace can also be a way to prevent regret later; if the jewelry ever gets separated from you, the engraving makes it easier to identify and return. The practical tip is to keep engraving readable and durable: fewer words, clear spacing, and a style that won’t disappear into a decorative texture.
Personalization isn’t only about jewelry, either. Some families build a matching set of memorial items—a primary urn, a few keepsakes for siblings, and one piece of jewelry for daily closeness. That combination can be especially grounding when grief is shared across households. If you’re considering dividing ashes respectfully, keepsake urns and small cremation urns can help each person have a tangible connection without forcing one “correct” plan on everyone.
Buying tips that protect both your money and your heart
When you buy cremation jewelry online, the most helpful questions are surprisingly practical. Look for a clear explanation of how the piece opens and closes. Confirm whether a fill kit is included. Check the chain type and see whether the pendant can be moved to a different chain if you prefer your own. Read the material description carefully, especially if you’re considering gold cremation jewelry and want to know whether it is plated, filled, or solid. And pay attention to care guidance: a piece meant for occasional wear is different from something built for daily life.
It also helps to remember what cremation jewelry is not. For most families, it is not a substitute for a main urn. It’s a companion piece—something wearable that fits into daily life while a primary container remains at home, in a niche, or in a family plan for burial or scattering. If you’re still mapping out those bigger decisions—home memorial, cemetery placement, future scattering—Funeral.com’s guide How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Actually Fits Your Plans connects the “jewelry choice” to the full picture of where the ashes will live over time.
How cremation jewelry fits into broader funeral planning
Sometimes an ash necklace is the first memorial item someone buys because it feels urgent: you want closeness now. But over time, families often circle back to bigger questions—where the ashes will rest, how to create a memorial space, whether to share, scatter, or keep everything together. That’s where funeral planning becomes less about a single purchase and more about a sequence of choices that can evolve gently.
Many families keep a full-size urn at home, then use keepsake urns or small cremation urns to share a portion. Others find comfort in keeping ashes at home for months or years, especially when travel or family circumstances make a cemetery decision feel too final. If you’re navigating those household questions—placement, safety, family comfort levels—Funeral.com’s guide keeping ashes at home is a steady, practical reference.
And for families drawn to nature-based rituals, water burial ceremonies can be a meaningful way to say goodbye—sometimes using biodegradable urns, sometimes combining a scattering with a keepsake plan. If that’s part of your story, Funeral.com’s article water burial ceremony guidance explains what to expect so your memorial choices (including jewelry) fit the ceremony rather than competing with it.
Cost is part of the reality, too, especially when families are trying to be thoughtful while already stretched thin. If you’re balancing an urn, keepsakes, and jewelry while also wondering how much does cremation cost in the first place, Funeral.com’s guide how much does cremation cost breaks down common expenses in plain language so you can plan without surprises.
Pet urns and pet jewelry: honoring a bond that deserves dignity
For pet families, the language changes but the heart of the question stays the same: “How do I keep them close in a way that feels respectful?” A small paw-print pendant or a simple charm can be a gentle daily comfort, and it often pairs well with a dedicated urn at home. If you’re looking for a home memorial, Funeral.com’s pet urns selection includes styles for many sizes and personalities, and for families who want something sculptural and specific, pet cremation urns in figurine designs can feel like a quiet tribute rather than a generic container.
Sharing can matter here, too. Households often grieve together, and siblings may want their own small memorial piece. In those cases, pet urns for ashes in keepsake sizes can help each person feel included, especially when the main urn stays in one home while family members live apart.
Closing thoughts: choose the term that helps you find what you actually need
So what’s an ash necklace called? Most often, it’s a cremation necklace or urn necklace for ashes, and the best term is the one that leads you to a piece that feels safe, wearable, and emotionally true. When you’re shopping, focus less on the label and more on the mechanics: how it opens, how it seals, what it’s made of, and whether it fits your life. A good piece of cremation jewelry doesn’t just look right in a photo—it feels like a small, steady anchor in the real world, on the days you least expect to need one.
If you’d like a broader overview of types, how they’re made, and what styles are most common, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 is a gentle next read, and browsing the full cremation jewelry collection can help you see which designs feel like “you,” not like a category someone assigned you in grief.
