Memorial Necklaces

We were recently honoured to create a deeply personal commission: a memorial necklace set inspired by Victorian mourning jewellery. Using both a lock of hair and ashes, the result is a timeless tribute to a cherished loved one.

In the Victorian era, it was common to wear jewellery made in memory of a loved one. Locks of hair were intricately woven and set into brooches, rings, and lockets, often paired with materials like jet, pearls, or onyx. These pieces weren’t just decorative — they were tangible expressions of love and remembrance.

At Thorpe & Brown, we’ve brought that tradition into the present, creating bespoke memorial jewellery that’s rich in meaning and designed to honour individual stories.

This particular commission featured two interrelated necklaces, designed to be worn together or separately — offering both flexibility and layered symbolism.

• The Heart-shaped pendant, crafted with woven hair and surrounded by a pearl border with intricate detailing, was made to contrast beautifully with the deeper tones of the accompanying onyx pendant.

The gold chain holding the heart pendant was the client’s own, so we matched the chain style to extend the necklace to the appropriate length.

• The second necklace features a faceted onyx chain, chosen to complement the antique aesthetic of the onyx pendant. Inside the pendant are the ashes of the loved one, carefully and respectfully incorporated into the design. Black rhodium plated to contrast the bright gold of the heart.

Together, these pieces reflect the sorrow of loss and the brightness of memory - offering a poetic and wearable tribute to someone dearly missed.

Each detail of this set was thoughtfully considered - from the hand-weaving of the hair to the setting each of the pearls. Our goal was to create jewellery that honours our clients loved ones. Our Goldsmith Lily spent many hours working on the finer details of this design, to make sure it was absolutely perfect, and our customer was overjoyed with the results.

We specialise in custom memorial jewellery that reflects your story. Whether working with hair, ashes, or other sentimental tokens, we create each piece by hand in our Leicestershire studio, with great care and respect.

If you’re looking for handmade memorial jewellery in Leicestershire, Thorpe & Brown would be honoured to work with you. Whether you visit our Burbage workshop or enquire online, we’ll guide you through a bespoke process designed around your memories and needs.