Caring for Cremation Ashes Jewellery
Cremation ashes jewellery has seen a rise in popularity in recent years as it's a nice way to remember a loved one while keeping them close to you at all times. This could be in the form of a bracelet, pendant, ring, charm or even earrings. In some ways, these have the most sentimental value of anything they own, which will likely be passed on through generations. It’s just not human ashes that are used in these; more of us are using pet's ashes in jewellery to remember them.
Some people wear these daily, and others just wear them for special occasions. Whichever you choose to do, you still need to make sure you look after them by storing, cleaning, and generally learning how to prevent damage. We will now review ways to help you look after your cremation ashes jewellery.
Ways to prevent any damage to cremation jewellery
As mentioned, cremation jewellery can be made from human or pet remains and various metals, such as gold, silver, stainless steel, or rhodium. Many people wear these daily, and who could blame them?
Chemicals
Without us knowing, our cremation jewellery will likely be exposed to different chemicals daily. Think about it: you wash your hands multiple times a day without giving much thought to what the hand lotion is made of. Many of us put perfume on every day, which may contain chemicals that can tarnish our jewellery over time. Then there are things like general house cleaners or doing the dishes that we don’t consider. If you wear your jewellery every day, then these are all small things you need to consider daily.
Moisture
Linked in with the above, moisture does not mix well with cremation jewellery. If you know you are going for a swim, a bath or a shower, it makes sense to remove it to be on the safe side. Also, for things like going for a run or a workout where we are likely to produce large amounts of sweat, it's also worth removing it. You will not notice it over a week or two, but you will see marks over time, and it may be too late to reverse the changes.
How to care for Cremation Jewellery
You can’t just clean your cremation jewellery with any old cleaner you find in your cupboard. It must be treated carefully, as most commercial cleaners will harm it. Don’t pick out your kitchen cleaner or use anything like Cilit Bang. Cleaning your cremation jewellery is simple, and you have a few options.
A lint-free cloth is the best option. Rub your cremation jewellery with the cloth alone —there is no need to add anything else. This will help remove anything built up and expose the natural colour. If that doesn’t get it as clean as you want, add a bit of warm, soapy water. Just make sure you dry it afterwards and remove any moisture.
Consider using a cremation jewellery cloth kit as part of your regular maintenance routine. This kit can help restore the lustre of your cremation jewellery. When polishing, be sure to follow the grain direction to prevent any unintended scratches. Here you will find our polising kits for gold, silver and stainless steel cremation jewellery.
You could take it to a high-street jeweller. They will charge you a small fee, but they will professionally clean it for you and restore it to its best. This could be good if you are going out and want to wear it for a special occasion.
You have to be extra careful if your cremation jewellery is made with glass or enamel, as these are more prone to damage from harsh chemicals, or the surface could be damaged more easily.
How to Store Cremation Jewellery
Cremation jewellery should be treated differently from standard jewellery; after all, it contains the remains of a loved one. To help care for your cremation jewellery, we have put together a few options and ideas for storage.
Display Boxes
When you purchase your cremation jewellery, it will likely come with a display box. These boxes will have a nice soft interior where the jewellery will fit in perfectly. If you are storing these near the window, close it, as you don't want the jewellery exposed to sunlight every day.
A Dedicated Space
You could also create a dedicated space. While this is not necessarily a way to care for it, it will be a place where you put it when you are not wearing it. This will help you prevent yourself from losing it, as you know it will be in its special place.
Repairs
Like any jewellery, cremation jewellery is prone to becoming damaged, and maybe even more so than normal jewellery. The best advice we can give for this is to get some professional help. Don't try to repair it yourself. They have all the special tools, and they repair jewellery on a daily basis and will be able to do a lot better job. It is also worth checking it thoroughly over now and again to check for any signs of wear and tear, as catching these early can help prevent more significant issues.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas on how to care for your cremation jewellery. The key is to keep it simple: just use a cloth, store it in a dark place when you are not wearing it, and take it off if you are doing anything that will involve a lot of moisture. If you follow those steps, your cremation jewellery will last a lifetime and be able to be passed on to future generations.
