What is mourning jewellery?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Mourning jewellery is jewellery made and worn to commemorate the death of a loved one, a tradition with deep roots in the Georgian and Victorian eras. Pieces typically incorporated the deceased's hair woven into intricate patterns, black enamel, jet, onyx or hairwork, and were worn as rings, brooches, lockets and necklaces as a visible mark of grief. Today the tradition continues in a modern form through cremation jewellery, where ashes are incorporated into glass pendants, resin pieces or diamond simulants created from compressed carbon.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between mourning jewellery and memorial jewellery?
- The terms are closely related. Mourning jewellery specifically refers to historical pieces worn as part of a formal grief custom, usually black and often containing hair. Memorial jewellery is a broader contemporary term covering any piece made in memory of someone, including modern cremation jewellery and pieces set with ashes.
- Why did Victorians wear hair in mourning jewellery?
- Hair was seen as a personal, intimate relic of the person lost, something that persisted after death and carried their physical presence. Hairwork jewellery involved intricate weaving and plaiting of hair into brooches, bracelets and locket inserts, and was a skilled craft in its own right.
- How does modern cremation jewellery work?
- A small amount of cremated ashes is incorporated into a pendant, bead or ring, either sealed inside a hollow compartment, fused into glass or resin, or in some cases used as a carbon source to grow a lab diamond. It is a way of keeping a physical connection to someone who has died.
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