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Shop Popular, Ready to Ship StylesHow Pet Memorial Jewelry Is Made
By Johan Rust, Founder & Master Jeweler
Published · Last updated
Everything on this page is made by hand in our workshop in Oakdale, Minnesota. Below is how a pet memorial piece actually comes together: what we can set into it, how much of it we need, how to get it to us safely, how we keep track of it while it's here, and how we send everything back.
Making something for a person?
The process is the same, but we have a separate guide for you below.
Jump to a section:
- What we can set into a piece
- How much we need of each materialHow much we need
- How to get a custom pet memorial ringGetting a custom ring
- How to send us your pet's ashes, fur, or other materialsHow to send us your pet's materials
- How your pet's materials are handled while they're hereHow materials are handled here
- Is a pet ash ring waterproof?Is it waterproof?
- How to care for your memorial jewelry at homeCaring for it at home
- How long pet memorial jewelry takes to make and shipHow long it takes
- Pet memorial jewelry FAQFAQ
It started with a horse
The first memorial ring we ever made was for a horse.
At a birthday dinner on January 19, 2009, someone asked Johan whether a horse's ashes could be set into a ring. Nobody was doing it. The next morning he tried it with fine dark soil, laid into a channel cut in the metal, sealed under a clear, hard layer. It held. Every memorial piece we've made since works on that principle. The longer version is here: How our memorial rings began.
We opened in 2008 with a lathe in a garage. We've since made pieces for more than 200,000 customers.
This simple design features an inlay of cremains. Customize it in any metal, finish or width.
This cat memorial ring uses green wood to symbolize its beautiful eyes.
A custom pet memorial pendant can keep them close to your heart.
What we can set into a piece
The material goes into a channel machined into the ring and is sealed under a clear protective coating. It isn't hidden inside a capsule, you actually see it.
Ashes
Any pet, any size. Ashes can fill a channel on their own or be mixed with crushed stone or colored enamel.
Fur and Hair
Fur, dog hair, cat hair, horse hair. Fur reads as texture and color in the ring rather than as individual strands.
Whiskers
Cat and dog whiskers. They sit as fine lines in the channel, which is why people usually send a few and let us choose.
Hoof
Horse hoof. Crushed pieces are set under a protective coating.
Feathers
Bird feathers, set flat under the coating so the barbs stay visible.
Flower Petals
Dried flower petals from their grave or a garden they liked to lay in.
Pet Collar
We cut the fabric of their collar to set it inside the piece, protecting it with a smooth coating.
How much we need of each material
These amounts are the same regardless of the jewelry type.
It could be a ring, bracelet, pendant, cufflinks, or earrings.
| Material | How Much to Send |
| Ashes | 2 tablespoons |
| Fur or Hair | A handful |
| Whiskers | A few (Most people send 3 or 4) |
| Hoof | 1-2 pieces, depending on size |
| Feathers | 1-2, depending on size |
| Flower Petals | A handful |
| Pet Collar | The full collar |
Anything we don't use comes back to you, shipping with your finished piece.
What if I don't have that much to send?
If you don't have that much, send what you have. This comes up often, sometimes you don't have much ash or fur. We'll always work with what you have.
If there isn't enough material to fill the channel on its own, we can lay colored enamel behind it so the metal is covered and your pet's material is still what you see. Some people choose to mix the ash with a crushed gemstone or mica powder to fill out the inlay.
How to get a custom pet memorial ring
You don't need to know exactly what you want before you start. Most people come to us with a rough idea and we work it out together. Some people know every detail already.
If you see a design you like in our pet memorial jewelry collection, just click "Customize or Ask a Question" on any piece. That starts a conversation with us about that specific design. (You're also welcome to start with a design that's not originally a pet memorial ring and add ashes, fur, whiskers, or anything else to it.)
Otherwise, send us an email to support@jewelrybyjohan.com.
We're also available by call or text at 1 (651) 321-9267, or by live chat.
However you start, you'll get an accurate quote to approve or request changes to.
There's no customization fee. Designing your own pet memorial ring doesn't add anything extra to its price.
How to send us your pet's ashes, fur, or other materials
Everything below applies to any material you send us. The only difference is for pet ashes, which comes at the shipping stage. The US Postal Service treats pet cremated remains exactly as it treats human remains, so ashes carry legal requirements that fur, whiskers, hoof, feathers, petals, and pet collars don't.
Step 1: Find your order number
After you place your order, your order confirmation email will include your order number and instructions for sending your material. That number is how we match your package to you. You'll place it on your package on the last step.
If you don't have an order number yet, you have three options:
Option A: Order or customize any pet memorial item.
Option B: Request a custom pet memorial piece with the section above.
Option C: Use the button below to request a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number instead. It does the same job as an order number.
Step 2: Sign our waiver
Download the JBJ Liability Waiver and sign it. You can either:
Option A: Print it and sign it physically, then include it in your package.
Option B: Sign it digitally and email us a screen capture of it.
This waiver ensures that we can legally receive, process, and work with your material.
Step 3: Pack your material
Place the ashes, or other material inside two ziplock bags, one inside the other. Then, place the bags inside a sealed plastic container.
Step 4: Ship your package (Ashes have a legal requirement)
Sending Ashes:
The US Postal Service treats pet cremated remains exactly as it treats human remains. You are legally required to ship by USPS Priority Mail Express with Signature Delivery, domestically or internationally.
The box itself needs to be marked. You have three options:
Option A: Order a free cremated remains kit from USPS. The box arrives pre-labelled "Cremated Remains" on every side, so there's nothing to add. Supply can be slow, sometimes several weeks, so order early.
Option B: Ask your local funeral home. They often keep spare cremated remains shipping supplies and will usually give you one.
Option C: Use your own box and label it yourself. The words "Cremated Remains" must prominently appear on every side that doesn't carry the shipping label.
Whichever box you use, place your sealed container inside, with bubble wrap or crumpled paper.
Sending fur, whiskers, hoof, feathers, petals, or pet collars:
No shipping restrictions apply. An ordinary box or padded envelope is fine, and you can use any carrier.
Step 5: Address your box for shipping
Write your name and order number (or RGA number if you don't have an order) on the line above our address, like this:
C/O (John Smith / JBJ1234567890)
The full address format to ship pet ashes, fur, whiskers, or other materials to us is:
JBJ
C/O (First and Last Name / Order Number or RGA Number)
553 Hayward Avenue North
Suite 200
Oakdale, MN 55128
If USPS says that the package will be shipped to St. Paul, don't worry, that's just our nearby postal hub.
We'll contact you within one to two business days of it arriving.
Jewelry by Johan Headquarters in Oakdale, MN
How your pet's materials are handled while they're here
This is the part people worry about most, so here is the actual process.
When a package arrives, we look your name up in our order and email records before the box is opened, so we know whose it is before we see it.
The moment it's open, the material is labeled. Containers get a tag; anything thin enough gets an envelope. The outside is taped with your name and order number. We photograph what came in and file those photos to your customer record.
Everything is stored in a locked room. It comes out for photography, measuring, production, or shipping, and goes straight back. Nothing sits out on a bench overnight.
Every move is scanned against your job order number; where it was, where it went, who handled it, and when. Our office and our production floor are in the same building, so your pet's ashes never travel between sites. The only journey they make is back to you.
How durable is memorial jewelry?
Every inlay of ashes, fur, whiskers, hoof, feathers, petals, pet collar, or crushed material is sealed under Ring Armor, a transparent protective coating that guards against water, knocks, and scratches. It's what makes a fur inlay something you can wear rather than something you keep in a drawer.
If the coating is ever damaged, we repair it. Free, for life. You cover shipping both ways; we cover the work. We'll also clean and refinish the ring before sending it back, so it'll look just like the day you first got it.
While it's very uncommon, if the ring itself is damaged beyond repair, we'll remake it at 50% of the current price. We know how special your jewelry is, so we'll always strive to repair the item however we can before suggesting this.
Is a pet ash ring waterproof?
The Ring Armor protecting the ashes is water-resistant and built for daily wear; Rain, handwashing, or showers. You can submerge it for short periods, but we suggest taking it off before a long soak or a swim. It's easy to not notice a ring slipping off while you're swimming (especially because of how your finger changes shape in water). We use the same Ring Armor for all other porous or loose materials, like fur or whiskers.
How to care for your memorial jewelry at home (Takes ~1 minute)
Cleaning an item with Ring Armor is easy to do at home, just follow the steps below.
What you need
- Clean, warm water
- Mild dish soap
- A soft cloth
- A small dish
Cleaning instructions
- Stir a little mild soap into a dish of warm water.
- Dip one corner of the cloth, wring it until it's damp rather than wet, and wipe the surface.
- Dampen a clean corner with plain water and wipe the soap away.
- Dry it with a third, dry corner.
The coating is very durable, so usual care is just cleaning the surface. But, if the coating ever starts to look worn, don't touch it up yourself with varnish or wax. Send it to us through our repairs request form instead. We'll repair it at no cost and send it home like new. Full care instructions for every material we use are on our jewelry care page.
More than one pet in one piece
Common, and no problem. Send each pet's material in its own, separate, labeled container in the same box and tell us where you'd like each one to sit. We commonly see: side by side, separated by a metal pinstripe, or blended inside the same inlay.
Pet memorial jewelry with multiple fur colors
If you send in two colors of fur, please place each in its own, separate, labeled container in the same box and let us know where you'd like each one to go. We can either put them each in separate inlays, or we can put them into the same inlay and keep them separated.
Adding color and meaning
Ashes and fur are mostly gray and brown. Some prefer modest, understated memorial jewelry. Some people choose to add something:
- Crushed birthstone or a stone in a color that suits them
- Colored enamel behind the inlay - green for a cat's eyes, blue for a dog's collar
- Wood, antler, or meteorite alongside
- Text engraving on the sleeve of the ring up to 25 characters (We can also engrave the back of pendants or cufflinks)
This pet memorial ring features inlays of fur and ashes separated by a pinstripe.
Customize any ring to feature the birthstone of your lost loved one.
Wood, crushed stones, or colored enamel can match their fur or eyes.
How long pet memorial jewelry takes to make and ship
Memorial jewelry production time
Once we have your materials and finger size (if it's a ring), production takes ~20 business days to finish before we ship your memorial jewelry.
Every product listing shows its turnaround time: Processed > Shipped > Delivered. (Processed means that we have everything from you that we need to start)
Domestic shipping time
USPS Priority Mail Express typically takes ~3 days to deliver (including Sunday).
International shipping time
USPS Priority Mail Express International typically takes ~4 business days to deliver.
How we get your ring size
Made-to-order rings ship with a free, two-step sizing program. We get your estimated size in step 1, and then we send you custom sizers in step 2.
The custom sizers are based on the actual width of your final ring, making them very accurate. You'll get to wear these sizers as you go about your normal routine to get a real sense for what feels best. You're welcome to order multiple to try to find the best size.
We'll make your ring to match whatever size you confirm with our custom sizers, that's our sizing guarantee. If the size isn't what you confirmed despite this, we'll remake the ring at no cost.
How we send everything back
When your piece is finished, anything we didn't use goes home in the container you sent it in, in the same box.
Pet memorial jewelry FAQ
Can't find what you need?
Call or text us at: 1 (651) 321-9267
Can you really put pet ashes in a ring?
Yes. The ashes sit in a channel cut into the ring and are sealed under a clear coating. They're visible, not hidden in a compartment.
Is it legal to mail pet ashes?
Yes, by USPS Priority Mail Express with Signature Delivery only. The box has to be marked "Cremated Remains" — the free USPS kit comes pre-printed, or you can mark your own box.
How do I mail pet ashes internationally?
It's the same process as mailing domestically. You must use USPS Priority Mail Express International with Signature Delivery, and the box needs to be marked "Cremated Remains".
Some countries outside the US prohibit mailing ashes. Check the USPS website to see whether your country restricts it, and whether Priority Mail Express International is available.
How do I send my pet's fur, whiskers, feathers, or hoof?
The same five steps above, minus the legal shipping method requirement. Use your order number, sign the waiver, pack the material in two Ziploc bags inside a sealed container, and use any shipping method. Fur, whiskers, hoof, feathers and petals carry no shipping restrictions. Only ashes do.
Can I send fur and ashes in the same package?
Yes, and plenty of people do. Put each material in its own labeled container so we know which is which, then follow the ash shipping rules for the whole package: USPS Priority Mail Express with Signature Delivery. If ashes are in the box, the box travels as ashes.
How much fur do you need?
A handful. We return whatever we don't use.
What if I don't have enough?
Send what you have. We can put colored enamel behind it so the metal doesn't show.
Can you use cat whiskers?
Yes. Most people send three or four.
What happens to what you don't use?
It comes back in the same container you sent it in, in the same box as the finished piece.
Can one memorial ring hold two pets?
Yes, and there's no maximum. Label each one and tell us where you want them.
Tell us about your pet
If we made something for you, we'd like to hear about it. Tell us about your pet and your piece, and add photos if you have them.
Some of these become stories on our blog, always with your permission first. You can read them on our jewelry stories blog.
Learn more in our education center, or browse pet memorial jewelry.