A celebration of the life of someone you shared a special connection with, as well as a loving tribute to the time you spent together, a cremation ring made from ashes is one of your most treasured possessions. While tattoos will fade and plants will wither, a beautiful ring made from genuine gold can be worn and passed on when it is cared for properly.
To help make sure your unique cremation ring stands the test of time, here’s a simple guide to take care of it in the best way possible. Follow our advice on how to wear, store and clean it and your ring can retain its appearance for longer.
Different types of gold
Cremation rings made from human and pet ashes come in a variety of different types of gold. At Heart In Diamond, we offer the following:
- 9k yellow gold
- 18k yellow gold
- 9k white gold
- 18k white gold
Each type of gold is slightly different and because of this, you’ll need to take a marginally different approach to look after it.
Yellow and white gold get their colour from different alloy mixtures, which vary by manufacturer and fineness. White gold may also have a rhodium finish. Ask which alloy and finish are used in your ring, especially if you have a known metal sensitivity.
Gold’s karat number indicates its purity. For example a 9k gold ring is made up of 9 parts gold and 15 parts alloy, while an 18k gold ring is made up of 18 parts gold and 6 parts alloy. A pure gold ring is 24 karat gold.
Higher-carat gold contains a greater proportion of gold and is generally softer, but the durability of a ring also depends on its alloy, band thickness, setting and construction. Follow the care guidance supplied for the finished piece.
Wearing
When you first receive your cremation ring, you’ll probably never want to take it off. But to ensure your precious gift stays looking its best, there are some times when you should remove it in everyday life. These include when you:
- Engage in exercise using your hands
- Swim in a pool, sea or other natural body of water
- Clean your home
- Prepare and cook food
- Shower
Although the above are mostly common daily activities, they can be incredibly damaging for your ring. You can easily lose your ring forever when swimming or showering, while exercising, cleaning and cooking can physically damage it, causing dents and scratches.
Storing
Storing your gold ashes ring properly is just as important as remembering to take it off when you’re doing things which could potentially harm it. The best place to store your jewellery is always inside a clean fabric-lined jewellery box. This way you reduce the risk of scratches and you’ll always know where your ring is when you’re not wearing it.
If you do not have a jewellery box, use a clean soft pouch or cloth that will not shed fibres or scratch the metal. Keep the wrapped ring somewhere secure and separate from harder jewellery.
However you decide to store your ring, remember to store it separately from all your other pieces of jewellery. Gold is a soft metal susceptible to scratches and dents. Putting it away on its own stops it from getting damaged.
Cleaning
For a gold ring set only with a diamond, mild washing-up liquid and lukewarm water may be suitable. Do not soak a ring that includes resin, glass, enamel, pearls or another sensitive material; follow the maker’s instructions for the complete piece.
If gentle washing is suitable for your ring, use a very soft brush around the setting without forcing the claws. Rinse carefully and stop wearing the ring if the stone moves or a claw catches on fabric.
Rinse your ring in warm water before blotting it dry with a piece of kitchen roll or a soft towel. Leave it to air dry fully before storing it safely or wearing it.
If the above steps don’t improve the appearance of your ring, it’s time to seek the help of a professional jeweller. Search online or ask your local jewellery shop for their guidance. They’ll be able to recommend professional cleaning products or can polish any scratches which have appeared over the years.
Take proper care of your cremation ring
A gold ashes ring is something incredibly precious which needs to be taken care of. Although regularly removing your ring, storing it safely and cleaning it every now and then might sound a hassle, it’s a small price to pay to keep the memory of your loved one alive for years after they’ve passed.
Appropriate cleaning, careful storage and periodic setting checks can help the ring remain wearable for many years.