Memorial keepsake jewelry represents our loved ones and holds sentimental value, so it’s important to care for it properly to ensure it lasts for years to come. This blog will provide helpful tips for maintaining your jewelry, from how to properly store jewelry to gentle cleaning methods. Whether the jewelry gets worn daily or just on special occasions, these tips will help preserve its beauty. We’ll also share some of our favorite memorial keepsake jewelry and gifts. 

Memorial jewelry is the practice of wearing a piece of jewelry to honor the memory of a loved one who has passed. It can be made from a variety of materials and include hair, fingerprints, ashes, engravings and more. Though we may think of modern rings and necklaces, the use of mourning jewelry actually dates back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians. They incorporated jewelry in their burial processes. Ancient Roman women would wear mourning rings, often inscribed with the name of the deceased and phrases like “Ave atque vale” - meaning Hail and Farewell. Jumping ahead, the Victorian era of the mid 19th century saw the peak of memorial jewelry when Queen Victoria mourned the death of her beloved Prince Albert. The Queen commissioned numerous pieces to honor her late husband and other relatives. Around the same time, America was experiencing massive loss of life during the Civil War which created a big demand for items of mourning. Mourning jewelry of the time often featured a tribute to the subject, commonly with a memorial inscription, their initials, a lock of their hair, a small painted portrait or a photograph. Today, memorial keepsake jewelry plays a role in comforting those grieving and bridging a divide between past and present. 

Let’s be clear: jewelry is special. It doesn’t take up a lot of space so it’s easy to collect it over the years. I have a charm my parents gave me when I was eight. I don’t wear it but it sits in my jewelry box and I smile anytime I come across it. Same for a pretty shell necklace that belonged to my late grandmother. I had never worn it until last month when I took it on a special anniversary trip to the Maldives and intentionally wore it during a photo shoot with my husband. It felt like I was carrying a little piece of her with me. Emotions can seep into these jewelry pieces and bring back a flood of memories with a simple touch. Keepsake jewelry is very special since it is worn in honor of a deceased loved one. It’s important to care for our jewelry - especially our beloved keepsakes -  to prolong the life of each piece. 

How to properly care for your keepsake jewelry depends on what material it is made from. Most jewelry can be cleaned with a basic solution of dish soap and warm water. But some gems can’t withstand harsher chemicals so it’s always best to err on the side of caution and if you aren’t sure, contact a professional. All silver jewelry from Laurelbox is real sterling silver. That means it can be prone to tarnish so clean it regularly with a silver jewelry cloth or cleaning solution. If sterling silver is stored in a humid environment, it will tarnish more quickly so keep that in mind. 

For gold-filled jewelry, clean regularly with the mild soap solution and rinse and then dry completely with a soft cloth. Gemstones are delicate so be careful in handling and avoid any vigorous scrubbing. 

To extend the life of any piece, avoid wearing it in oceans, pools, or chlorinated environments. Before you hit the gym or that hot yoga class, remove your memorial keepsake pieces. Sweating and jewelry don’t mix well. It’s also a good idea to avoid applying lotions and suntan oil while wearing memorial jewelry pieces. Check out this Better Homes & Gardens article that includes various ways to clean all types of jewelry along with some DIY cleaning solutions. 

So now that you know *how* to clean all your keepsakes, let’s talk about our favorite pieces of memorial jewelry. Back in 2016, when we lost our second son Cooper at full term in the delivery room, I was given a few pieces of jewelry in his memory and each piece was and is special. Laurelbox founder (and dear friend!) Johanna sent me the Forget Me Not necklace and I remember how much holding it encouraged me on those long painful days. A number of years ago, a friend lost her brother to suicide and I sent her the Wear My Initial necklace with his initial and I can’t tell you how many times she thanked me for that gift. When we lose those closest to us, there is something powerful about seeing their name or initial or footprint in real life and being able to hold it in a tangible way. It keeps their spirit alive and assures us that their life mattered. I also love the Heart to Heart necklace, especially as we approach Valentine’s Day. That would be a really thoughtful gift for someone grieving their spouse or any loved one this season. Other keepsake memorial jewelry options could be these specialty engraved cufflinks for the man in your life grieving.

We hope you found this blog helpful in providing tips for taking care of memorial keepsake jewelry. These special pieces are designed to be cherished for years to come and so it is important to take the time to care for them in the proper ways. Whether you have silver, gold fill, gemstones or something else, there is a proper way to care for each piece of keepsake jewelry. Spend a few minutes going through your jewelry box and giving each item a shine-up. It won’t take long but the reward will be keepsake jewelry that looks as good as the day it was given! If you are looking to add to your keepsake pieces, or would like to encourage a grieving friend, look no further than Laurelbox and their custom jewelry collection.