Self-Fill Ashes Jewellery: How It Works and How to Fill It

Self-fill ashes jewellery is for people who would like to carry a little of someone with them, and who would rather not send ashes away to have a piece made. You do the filling yourself, in your own time, at your own table.

This guide explains what self-fill means, how the chamber opens and closes, how much goes in, what you can and cannot find in our ashes jewellery range today, and how to fill a piece step by step. It also says plainly when a different keepsake would suit you better.

What self-fill means

There are two kinds of ashes jewellery, and they work in different ways.

• Self-fill. The piece arrives empty. Inside it is a small hollow chamber, closed by a tiny screw or pin. You place a pinch of ashes inside and close it. The ashes are hidden, and from the outside the piece looks like ordinary jewellery.
• Made to order. You send a small amount of ashes to a jeweler, who sets them into glass or resin so that they show as part of the design.

Everything we sell is the self-fill kind. We do not make glass or resin pieces. If you would like the ashes to be visible in the design, a specialist jeweler is the right place to ask.

People tend to choose self-fill for three reasons. Nothing leaves the house. You can fill the piece when you feel ready, whether that is next week or next year. And unless you decide to glue it shut, the chamber can be opened again later.

How the chamber opens and closes

The chamber is always out of sight, but where it sits depends on the piece. On a pendant it is usually on the back. On a charm bead it is in the side. On a leather bracelet it is inside the steel clasp.

Two kinds of closure are used. Many of the pages for our pendants and charm beads describe "a screw closure or a push pin closure with a rubber gasket", and which one you get depends on the model.

Screw closure

A very small screw closes the opening. You take it out with a fine screwdriver, fill the chamber and turn the screw back in. Our leather bracelets close this way: their pages describe a discreet threaded screw that is re-sealed hand-tight. A screw can be left as it is, so the piece can be opened again, or fixed for good with a drop of adhesive on the thread.

Push pin with a rubber gasket

Here a small pin with a rubber ring pushes into the opening, and the gasket holds it in place. To open it again, the pin is eased out with something fine, such as a toothpick.

Some product pages name the closure and some say only that it varies by model. The Self-fill Remembrance Locket Memorial Ashes Pendant is one that names it: its page says it opens at the back with a screw closure.

How much of the ashes goes in

Very little. The page for every piece in this guide that holds ashes gives its capacity as a symbolic amount.

It helps to set that beside the whole. The Cremation Association of North America says the average weight of adult cremated remains is "between four and six pounds", which is about 1.8 to 2.7 kg (CANA, Cremation Process, read on October 5, 2026). A piece of jewellery takes a tiny part of that. You will still need to decide what happens to the rest, and our guide to what to do with ashes after cremation sets out the choices.

The same page explains why ashes are not as fine as many people expect. After cremation the bone fragments are processed into pieces that are "usually no more than one-eighth inch", which is about 3 mm. The opening of a jewellery chamber is small, so choose the finest grains you can and leave the larger pieces in the urn.

What you can get as self-fill jewellery

Pendants

Most of our range is pendants, and our ashes pendants collection shows every design. They are made from 925 sterling silver, in shapes from plain bars and cylinders to hearts, stars, crosses and designs for a hobby or a sport.

The Self-fill Butterfly Memorial Ashes Pendant is a good example of how they are put together. It is a small glossy butterfly, 2.0 cm high and 1.4 cm wide (about 0.8 by 0.55 in), with the ashes chamber on the back. A 46 cm (18 in) rhodium-plated curb chain is included. The pendant is strung onto the chain, not fixed to it, so you can swap the chain for one of your own.

Pictured: Self-fill Butterfly Memorial Ashes Pendant

For someone whose faith was part of their life, the Self-fill Rounded Cross Memorial Ashes Pendant is a rounded cross with curved edges, 2.8 cm high and 1.8 cm wide (about 1.1 by 0.7 in). It comes with the same 46 cm (18 in) chain.

Pictured: Self-fill Rounded Cross Memorial Ashes Pendant

A locket gives you room for something more. The Remembrance Locket mentioned above is a polished rectangle, 3 cm high and 1.8 cm wide (1.18 by 0.71 in), that holds a symbolic amount of ashes and a small photo of up to 2 cm by 1.4 cm (about 0.8 by 0.55 in).

Charm beads

A charm bead threads onto a bracelet beside any other charms you wear. The Self-fill Round Solace Memorial Ashes Charm Bead is 925 sterling silver with a matte surface, 1.4 cm high and 1.5 cm wide (about 0.55 by 0.6 in). Its chamber is in the side, and the opening through the middle is 4 mm across (about 0.16 in). The page says it fits quality bracelet brands including Pandora.

The bracelet is sold separately. The Snake Chain Charm Bracelet 19cm is 925 sterling silver with rhodium plating and a lobster clasp, 19 cm long (about 7.5 in) and 3.0 mm thick. Our chain bracelets come in other lengths, and you can browse the rest of the bead designs in our ashes charms.

Leather bracelets

On a leather bracelet the clasp does two jobs: it fastens the bracelet and it holds the ashes. The Braided Leather Ashes Bracelet For Men in Brown - Wide Braid is a wide braid of genuine brown leather with a brushed 316L stainless steel clasp. The chamber is in the clasp, behind a threaded screw.

Pictured: Braided Leather Ashes Bracelet For Men in Brown - Wide Braid

It comes in four sizes, S to XL, with a wrist chart on its page. The clasp is solid and the bracelet does not stretch, so the page suggests one size up if you are between sizes. For a larger wrist, the Adjustable Braided Leather Ashes Bracelet For Men in Black has an extension link that takes it from 21.6 to 22.8 cm (8.5 to 8.97 in). Our men's ashes bracelets collection has the full range.

Rings and gold

Two things people often look for are not in our range, and it is fairer to say so. We do not sell a self-fill ashes ring at present. The nearest pieces we have are a charm bead or a bracelet, both worn at the wrist. If it has to be a ring, a specialist jeweler is the place to ask.

We also have no solid gold pieces. Our pendants and charm beads are silver. For a gold tone, the Adjustable Braided Leather Ashes Bracelet For Men in Black and Gold has black leather and a stainless steel clasp with a brushed-gold coating.

For a pet

Self-fill jewellery works in the same way for a dog, a cat or any other companion. Our pet ashes jewellery has paw print pendants and charm beads. Designs without a paw print can be used too: the pages for the Butterfly pendant, the Rounded Cross pendant and the Round Solace bead each list them as suitable for an adult, a child or a pet.

Six pieces side by side

• Butterfly pendant: 925 sterling silver. Symbolic amount of ashes. Chamber on the back. Worn on the 46 cm (18 in) chain included.
• Rounded Cross pendant: 925 sterling silver. Symbolic amount of ashes. Screw or push pin closure, depending on the model. Worn on the 46 cm (18 in) chain included.
• Remembrance Locket: 925 sterling silver. Symbolic amount of ashes and a small photo. Screw closure at the back. Worn on the 46 cm (18 in) chain included.
• Round Solace charm bead: 925 sterling silver. Symbolic amount of ashes. Chamber in the side. Worn on a charm bracelet, sold separately.
• Brown Wide Braid bracelet: leather and 316L stainless steel. Symbolic amount of ashes. Threaded screw in the clasp. Four sizes, S to XL.
• Black and Gold adjustable bracelet: leather and 316L stainless steel. Symbolic amount of ashes. Threaded screw in the clasp. Adjusts from 21.6 to 22.8 cm (8.5 to 8.97 in).

How to fill self-fill ashes jewellery at home

Choose a quiet time and a table with good light, away from open windows and fans. Lay down a tray or a sheet of paper, so that anything spilled can be gathered up and returned to the urn. There is no need to hurry, and it is fine to ask someone to sit with you.

You will need a fine screwdriver, a toothpick, a piece of paper and a soft cloth. Our Ash Jewellery Filling & Sealing Kit puts the tools in one place: a mini precision screwdriver, a toothpick, a wooden stir stick, a mixing palette card, an instruction card and a single-use sachet of two-part epoxy. Its page says it suits pendants and beads with screw or push pin closures, and sets out the steps like this:

1. Place the jewellery face down on a soft cloth.
2. Open the chamber. Remove the screw, or ease out the push pin with the toothpick.
3. Fold the paper to make a funnel and add a small amount of ashes, using the toothpick to help them through.
4. Close the chamber to check the fit, then open it again.
5. If you want a permanent seal, mix the epoxy on the palette, put a small amount on the opening and close the chamber within about 3 minutes.
6. Wipe away any excess with alcohol and leave the piece for about 30 minutes to set.

To seal it for good, or not

The adhesive is optional. Without it, the chamber can be opened again, which matters if you think the ashes may one day go back to the urn or be scattered with the rest. With it, the seal is permanent. The pendant pages say the same: a drop of adhesive on the screw thread permanently seals the chamber. Decide which you want before you mix anything.

If you do not feel able to handle the ashes yourself, you can ask your funeral director whether they would fill the piece for you.

Wearing it every day

These pieces are made to be worn, not kept in a box. A little care keeps them safe.

• None of our jewellery pages describes a chamber as waterproof, so take the piece off before you swim, bathe or shower.
• The page for our separate Silver Curb Chain Necklace - 46cm advises wiping the chain with a soft, dry cloth and avoiding chemicals, perfumes and prolonged moisture. That is sensible care for any piece of jewellery.
• If you have not glued the closure, check now and then that it is still tight.
• Leather changes with wear. For the Brown Wide Braid bracelet above, its page says the leather softens and takes on its own patina, and that the stainless steel clasp resists everyday moisture and tarnish.

The pages for the Butterfly pendant, the Rounded Cross pendant and the Round Solace bead also say that care instructions are included.

When self-fill jewellery is not the right choice

It does not suit everyone, and it is better to know that before you choose.

• You would like to keep more than a pinch. Jewellery cannot do that. A keepsake from our small urns for ashes holds a larger share and stays safely at home.
• You would like the ashes to show in the piece, or you want a ring. Those are made to order by specialist jewelers, and we do not sell them.
• You would worry every day about losing it. A chain can break and a bracelet can slip off. If that thought would outweigh the comfort, a keepsake on a shelf may be kinder to you.
• Your faith asks for the ashes to be kept together. Traditions differ. The Catholic Church, for example, says in its instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, dated August 15, 2016, as published by the Holy See Press Office) that ashes may not be "preserved in mementos, pieces of jewellery or other objects". If this matters in your family, speak to your priest or faith leader before any ashes are divided.
• Not everyone in the family is comfortable with dividing the ashes. It is worth talking it through first. Our guide to which memorial jewellery is best for you may help with that conversation.

Sizes and product details in this guide were checked against our product pages on October 5, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is self-fill ashes jewellery?

Self-fill ashes jewellery is a pendant, charm bead or bracelet with a small hidden chamber that you fill yourself at home with a pinch of ashes. Nothing is sent away, and from the outside the piece looks like ordinary jewellery.

How much ashes does self-fill jewellery hold?

Only a pinch. Our product pages describe the capacity as a symbolic amount, so the rest of the ashes still need an urn, a burial or a scattering.

How do you fill ashes jewellery?

Lay the piece face down on a soft cloth, open the chamber by removing the screw or easing out the push pin, and add a small amount of ashes through a folded paper funnel with the help of a toothpick. Close it to check the fit, then seal it with adhesive if you want it to be permanent.

Do I have to glue ashes jewellery shut?

No. The adhesive is optional. Without it the chamber can be opened again later, and with it the seal is permanent, so decide before you start.

Can you get a self-fill ashes ring?

Not from us at present. Our self-fill range is pendants, charm beads and leather bracelets, and the nearest pieces to a ring are a charm bead or a bracelet worn at the wrist.

Is the ashes chamber noticeable?

No. On a pendant the chamber is usually on the back, on a charm bead it is in the side, and on a leather bracelet it is inside the clasp, so the piece looks like ordinary jewellery.

Can ashes jewellery hold something other than ashes?

Some pieces can. The page for our Self-fill Heart Locket Memorial Ashes Pendant says it can hold a small amount of ashes, a tiny photo or a lock of hair, and the Remembrance Locket has room for a small photo as well as the ashes.

Is it safe to wear ashes jewellery every day?

Yes, with a little care. Take it off before swimming, bathing or showering, keep perfume and chemicals away from it, and check now and then that the closure is still tight.