Ashes to Jewellery

Turning ashes into jewellery is one of the most meaningful things you can make. For a client, you're creating the piece that lets them carry someone they love; for you, it's a genuine skill and, done well, a real part of a keepsake business. And while it carries real responsibility, the making itself is more approachable than most people imagine, once you've got the right supplies and a little practice behind you.

Here's how ashes actually become a piece of jewellery, what you'll need to do it, and how to get started without a client's irreplaceable ashes in your hands on day one.

What "ashes to jewellery" really means

At its heart, the process takes a small amount of cremation ashes and sets it permanently into a wearable piece. There are two main ways this is done. Most often, the ashes are mixed into resin and formed in a mould to create a small stone, a cabochon, a bead, an orb , which is then set into a necklace, ring or charm. Alternatively, for some designs the ashes and resin are poured directly into the setting itself.

Either way, the ashes become part of the finished piece rather than sitting loose inside a compartment. Only a small amount is needed, so a client never has to part with more than they're comfortable giving.

What you'll need to make it

A piece comes together from a handful of core supplies, most of which you'll reuse for every order:

A mould, if you're making a stone rather than pouring directly. Water-clear silicone moulds are ideal here, they suit UV resin, give a lovely clear finish, and need no sanding or polishing afterwards.

Resin, most commonly a good-quality UV resin that cures quickly under a lamp.

A setting to finish the piece, a ring, a pendant bezel, a bead core, in silver or gold-filled, depending on what you're offering.

Sparkles or colour, if you or your client would like a shimmer or a particular tone worked in.

You can gather these individually, or start with a kit or bundle that brings the essentials together, often the simpler route when you're finding your feet.

Practise first (this is the part that matters most)

Here's the thing no one should skip: There is no second attempt with a client's ashes. You can't ask for more. So your very first pours should never be on someone's keepsake.

This is exactly why we send donated practice ashes with our starter bundles, so you can learn the feel of mixing, pouring and curing on materials that carry no weight, and get comfortable before anything precious is involved. Do a few test pieces, get to know how your resin behaves, and you'll approach a real commission with confidence rather than crossed fingers. It's the single best habit a new maker can build.

The pieces you can offer

Once you're confident, a small set of supplies opens up a surprising range. Makers commonly offer charm beads for Pandora-style bracelets, cabochon pendants and necklaces, rings, and striking orbs where the ashes are suspended in a clear sphere. Direct-pour designs, where the setting is filled straight, give you another option again. Offering two or three shapes is usually plenty to start: You can always widen your range as you go.

A tip worth its weight

One habit our own makers swear by: When you're setting a client's ashes, make two pieces at once rather than one. Take both out of the mould, photograph them, and let the client choose their favourite. You can offer to set the second as a spare, many clients happily pay for the extra, and it means that if one piece isn't quite perfect, you've a ready alternative. It turns a nerve-wracking single attempt into something far calmer.

Handling with the care it deserves

Beyond the craft, this work asks for a gentle, organised approach. Keep each client's ashes clearly labelled and worked on individually, so there's never any doubt about whose is whose. Keep them informed, be honest about timescales, and treat every enquiry with the tenderness the situation calls for. That care is as much a part of what you're offering as the piece itself, and it's what turns a first-time customer into someone who recommends you.

Building it into real work

If you're hoping this becomes part of a living, it genuinely can, built on a real skill and pieces people are glad to pay for, rather than any shortcut. Start small, practise properly, photograph your work well, and let those first pieces bring in the next enquiries.

If you'd like to begin, take a look at our supplies and starter bundles for ashes jewellery, and do ask if you'd like a steer on what to order first. Everyone starts somewhere, and we're glad to help you start well.