Choosing Your Keepsake Jewellery: Stone Size, Colour and Meaningful Details

Choosing a keepsake can feel deeply personal. You may know exactly what you want to preserve, but feel less certain about the ring, pendant or other piece that will hold it.

Alongside choosing a style you love, it helps to consider how you would like your treasured inclusions to appear. Would you like to see individual strands of hair or fur? A gentle scattering of ashes? Or would you prefer a discreet keepsake, with its meaning known only to you?

At Memories of You, I individually handcraft each keepsake stone in Sunbury, Victoria. These are some of the things I encourage you to consider before choosing your piece.

Start with how you would like to wear your keepsake

A ring lets you look down and see your keepsake throughout the day. A pendant can rest close to your heart, while earrings, bracelets and charms offer other ways to carry a memory with you.

Think about the jewellery you already enjoy wearing, your preferred metal finish and whether you love delicate pieces or something more noticeable. Choosing a familiar style can help your keepsake feel naturally part of you.

Your lifestyle matters, too. Keepsake stones need gentle care, so consider when you will wear your piece and when you will need to remove it. If you choose a ring, having your finger accurately sized is another important part of the process.

Stone size affects how much can be included—and how much you can see

A small keepsake stone can hold a precious inclusion, but it has limited space. The stone’s depth and shape matter as well as its width.

In a very small stone, hair or fur may need to be represented by just a few short strands. Fabric or flowers may need to be prepared as tiny fragments, rather than retaining a recognisable section of weave or a whole petal. Ashes can be included in small stones, although there is less room to create a distinct arrangement or detailed design.

A larger central stone generally offers more space to display your inclusions and arrange them thoughtfully. It may be a better choice if you would like several inclusions to remain individually visible, or if you have a particular pattern in mind.

Several tiny stones do not necessarily offer the same design possibilities as one larger stone. Each small stone has its own space limitations.

If seeing your inclusion clearly is a priority, please tell me before choosing your setting. I can help you find a design suited to the effect you are hoping for.

Would you like your inclusions to be visible or discreet?

For some people, being able to see a loved one’s ashes, a pet’s fur or a small piece of treasured fabric is an important part of the connection. Others prefer a stone that looks like jewellery to everyone else, while quietly holding something deeply meaningful.

Both are personal choices. Preserving an inclusion does not always mean it will be easily recognisable in the finished stone.

Fine hair, pale fur and small flower fragments can look quite subtle once incorporated. Breastmilk usually contributes to the stone’s milky appearance, rather than appearing as a separate visible element.

It helps to describe what you would like to notice when you look at your piece: distinct strands, visible ash grains, a hint of texture, or simply your chosen colour.

Choose colour with contrast in mind

Your favourite colour is a lovely starting point, particularly if it reminds you of a person, place or moment. However, the background colour also affects how clearly your inclusions can be seen.

For example:

• White or cream fur may be easier to see against a deeper blue, green or dark background.
• Dark hair or fur may stand out more clearly against a pale stone.
• Light ash particles may contrast beautifully with a deeper colour, while darker particles may be more noticeable against a lighter background.
• Fabric and flower fragments may blend into a similar-coloured stone or become more noticeable against a contrasting colour.

These are starting points rather than fixed rules. The natural colour, thickness and texture of your own inclusions will influence the result.

If your heart is set on a particular colour, we can discuss how to balance that choice with the visibility you would like.

How much ash would you like to see?

With cremation ash jewellery, think about the appearance you want as well as the inclusion itself. You might prefer just a few visible grains, a balanced scattering, or a stone where the ashes are a prominent feature.

Our ash arrangement options include:

• Light: a subtle scattering of visible ashes.
• Mid: a more noticeable presence within the stone.
• Heavy: a stronger concentration, making the ashes a central feature of the design.
• Hidden: an option for those who would prefer their ashes not to be visibly apparent.

The amount of visible ash can also influence the overall colour. With a heavier arrangement, the natural tones of the ashes may become more prominent and affect how your chosen colour appears.

The amount you send is different from the amount used in your stone. A heavier visible arrangement still needs to suit the size and structure of your chosen design.

If you want a very particular look—or want the ashes to remain as discreet as possible—please discuss this with me before ordering.

Balance shimmer, foil and opal with your inclusions

Shimmer, foil and crushed opal can add beautiful colour and detail. They can also compete visually with fine strands or small fragments.

If your inclusion is the feature you most want to see, a simpler background or lighter touch of decorative detail may be more suitable. If you love a colourful, layered stone, we can discuss how to bring those elements together while keeping your chosen inclusions as noticeable as possible.

Your stone can tell a story through a custom design

You are welcome to ask about a stone design beyond a single colour or a scattering of inclusions.

The ocean design shown in our Adora Cushion Ring is one example. An ocean-inspired stone might reflect a loved one’s connection to the sea, memories of a favourite beach, or a place where you feel close to them.

The Adora’s 8 × 8 mm cushion-shaped stone provides a canvas for this kind of personal detail. The design possibilities will still depend on the inclusions, colours and arrangement you would like.

If you have an idea, send me a photograph, colour reference or description of the feeling you would like your keepsake to capture. I can advise on what is achievable within your chosen stone.

Every stone is individually handcrafted, so photographs are a guide to the style rather than a promise of an identical result. Your own inclusions help make your piece unique.

Seen a jewellery design elsewhere that you love?

You are not limited to the settings currently listed in our collection.

If you have seen a ring, pendant or another jewellery style elsewhere, you are welcome to send me a photograph or link. I can explore sourcing a suitable setting or a similar style that can accommodate a handcrafted keepsake stone.

Availability, materials, stone dimensions and your chosen inclusions will all affect what is possible. I will discuss suitable options and pricing with you before you commit to a custom order.

Sometimes a small adjustment to the stone size or setting can bring your idea closer to the result you are imagining.

Would you prefer a solid gold keepsake?

If you would like your keepsake made with a solid gold setting, I can explore sourcing suitable options for you. This can include styles beyond those currently shown in our collection.

Solid gold is a different option from gold plating over sterling silver. When making your choice, we can discuss your preferred gold colour and carat, the design you love and the budget you have in mind.

Availability and pricing will depend on the setting, ring size where applicable, and the gold selected. The setting also needs to accommodate a keepsake stone suited to your inclusions and any custom design details.

Please contact me before ordering so I can explore suitable settings and provide a personalised quote.

You do not need to have every detail decided

You might know only that you would like to preserve your mum’s ashes, your baby’s hair, a pet’s fur or a reminder of your breastfeeding journey. That is enough to begin a conversation.

Tell me what you would like to preserve, the styles you are drawn to and how visible you would like your inclusions to be. Together, we can consider a piece that suits both your story and the way you want to wear it.

For personal guidance, book a complimentary 15-minute keepsake consultation or send me a message. You can also email info@memoriesofyou.com.au.

Handcrafted with care in Australia, to hold the memories that matter to you.