Honoring Multiple Loved Ones in Cremation Jewelry

When you've experienced the loss of more than one loved one, either human or pet, you may wonder whether a single piece of cremation jewelry can hold ashes from multiple loved ones.

The answer is yes. There are several ways to incorporate more than one set of cremated remains into a memorial piece, from choosing a design with individual ashes settings to combining ashes together within a single setting. Each creates a slightly different appearance and carries its own meaning, allowing you to choose the option that feels most personal to you.

At Close By Me, we handcraft each ashes setting individually, which gives us flexibility in how multiple sets of ashes can be incorporated. Below, we'll explore some of the possibilities and considerations when creating cremation jewelry to honor two or more loved ones.

Can You Put Ashes From Multiple People or Pets in Cremation Jewelry?

Yes! Cremation jewelry can be made with ashes from two or more loved ones, provided the design and setting allow for it.

There isn't one "right" way to do this. Some people want each loved one's ashes to remain completely separate and visibly distinct. Others prefer to combine a small amount of their ashes together into one setting as a symbol of their connection. In most designs, we can also place ashes from different loved ones alongside one another within the same setting without first mixing them together.

The best approach depends on the jewelry design, the number of loved ones you would like to honor, the appearance you prefer, and—most importantly—what feels meaningful to you.

Option 1: Individual Ashes Settings for Each Loved One

Above: Three sets of ashes set separately in the Lotus Cremation Ring in Sterling Silver.
Below: Two sets of ashes set separately in the Double Setting Split Shank Cremation Ring in 14K Yellow Gold. 

One of the clearest ways to represent multiple loved ones is with a cremation jewelry design featuring two or more individual ashes settings.

With this approach, each setting can be handcrafted using the cremated remains of a different person or pet. The ashes remain separate throughout the process, giving each loved one their own individual place within the finished piece.

Because every set of cremated remains is naturally unique, individual settings made from different loved ones' ashes may vary in color and appearance. One setting may appear lighter, darker, warmer, cooler, or more textured than another. These differences aren't guaranteed, but when they occur, they can create a beautiful visual distinction between the loved ones represented in the piece.

If the ashes of your loved ones are similar in color and appearance, there may still be ways to distinguish whose ashes are in each setting. In some designs, each setting has a distinct or consistent position within the piece, allowing you to remember exactly where each loved one is represented.

For designs that can be worn or viewed in either direction, however, the settings may not always have an identifiable "left" or "right". In those cases, adding a personalized engraving—such as initials, names, or another meaningful detail—may provide a subtle way to identify and represent each loved one individually.

Option 2: Combining Ashes in a Single Setting

A piece doesn't necessarily need multiple settings to hold ashes from multiple loved ones. Another option is to combine a small amount of cremated remains from each loved one and use the mixture to create a single ashes setting. This allows many of our single-setting designs to become memorials for two or more people or pets. Combined ashes can also be used in multi-setting designs, allowing each setting to represent more than one loved one, and giving you greater flexibility in how multiple loved ones are represented throughout the piece.

For some families, combining the ashes carries special symbolism of its own. It might represent parents or grandparents reunited, a couple remembered together, multiple family members, beloved pets who shared a life, or simply several loved ones whose memories you want to carry close in one place.

Just as their ashes come together within the piece, their natural colors come together as well. Rather than remaining visually distinct, the ashes create a single, unified setting whose overall color reflects a blend of the natural hues present in each set.

Option 3: Placing Different Ashes Side by Side in One Setting

Above: Three Butterfly Cremation Necklaces (14K Yellow Gold, 14K White Gold, and 14K Rose Gold) with two loved ones set side by side—one set of ashes in the top half and the other in the bottom half—in each.

Depending on the shape and size of the ashes setting, it may also be possible to place cremated remains from different loved ones beside one another within a single setting rather than mixing them together first. This can create a subtle division between the two sets of ashes while still allowing them to share one setting.

The final appearance can vary considerably because of the natural characteristics of cremated remains. If the ashes differ noticeably in color, the distinction may be more visible; if they are similar in color, the boundary may be much more subtle.

If you are interested in having multiple sets of ashes placed side by side, we recommend contacting us before ordering so we can discuss the piece you have in mind and what may be possible.

Choosing Between Separate and Combined Ashes

Separate settings can give each loved one an individual presence within the piece. This can be especially meaningful when you want the jewelry to clearly represent two or more distinct people or pets.

A combined setting, on the other hand, can symbolize togetherness and connection. It may be particularly meaningful when honoring loved ones whose lives were closely intertwined.

Placing ashes side by side offers something in between: the remains can stay separate while sharing the same physical space within the jewelry.

There is no better or more meaningful choice universally. Memorial jewelry is deeply personal, and different options will feel right to different people.

Can You Combine Human and Pet Ashes in the Same Jewelry?

Yes! A piece can honor people and pets together, whether through separate settings or by combining their cremated remains in a single setting. For someone who considers their animals an inseparable part of their family, this can be a meaningful way to keep those connections together.

The same is true of other sentimental materials. Depending on the design, we may be able to incorporate materials such as hair or fur, soil, sand, dried flowers, fabric, or other meaningful inclusions alongside or instead of cremated remains.

For example, one setting could contain a loved one's ashes while another contains fur from a beloved pet, or different sentimental materials could sometimes be incorporated together within one setting.

How Many Loved Ones Can One Piece of Cremation Jewelry Represent?

There isn't a universal limit. The answer depends on the jewelry design and how you would like the ashes incorporated.

If you want every loved one represented by an individual setting, the number will naturally be limited by the number of settings in the design. Multiple sets of ashes can also be placed side by side within a single setting, though how many can be kept visually distinct will depend on the size and shape of the setting. If the sets of ashes are combined, a single setting can represent several loved ones without the same space limitations.

Only a very small amount of cremated remains is needed to create our ashes settings. If you're hoping to honor a larger number of people or pets in one piece, we encourage you to contact us before ordering so we can help determine which designs and approaches may work best.

What If I Don't Want the Ashes Mixed Together?

Some people find the idea of mixing their loved ones’ ashes together comforting and symbolic, while others find meaning in keeping each loved one’s ashes separate and individually represented. 

If you don't want the ashes mixed, a multi-setting design is generally the most straightforward choice. Each set of cremated remains can be packaged and identified separately when sent to us and used to create its designated setting.

Depending on the design, placing different ashes separately within a larger single setting (i.e., the "side by side" method) may also be an option.

Combining ashes is never necessary to honor multiple loved ones in one piece—it’s simply one option if doing so feels meaningful and right to you. How your loved ones' ashes are incorporated is a deeply personal choice, and we want you to feel comfortable and confident in every detail of your memorial jewelry. Whether you prefer to keep each set of ashes completely separate, place them side by side, or combine them together, we’re always happy to discuss your wishes and help you find an option that feels right to you.

Creating a Memorial That Represents Your Relationships

Cremation jewelry can represent more than one memory, one relationship, or one kind of love. For some people, that might mean a ring with separate settings for both parents or a pendant that combines the ashes of two grandparents. For others, it could be a bracelet with the ashes of a spouse and beloved pet set side by side, or a single piece that brings together the memories of several family members across generations. Whether their ashes remain separate or come together in one setting, the goal is the same: to create something that feels personal to the people, pets, and relationships you want to remember.

Every Close By Me piece is handcrafted with care, and we're always happy to discuss possibilities beyond what you see pictured on our website. If you're considering cremation jewelry for multiple loved ones and aren't sure which design or setting option would work best, please reach out before ordering. We can talk through your ideas and help you choose an approach that feels right for the memorial you have in mind.