CHOOSE MEN’S CREMATION JEWELRY TO INSPIRE LOVE AND STRENGTH WHILE MOURNING
For centuries, memorial jewelry has provided men and women alike with a powerful way of coping with loss. And although this type of meaningful keepsake can be traced all the way back to the ancient Romans, it creates a sense of comfort and closure just as much today in 2021 as it did way back then.
While cremation jewelry has been most often purchased by women for years, things are starting to change. Modern men understand the importance of grieving and the healing men’s cremation jewelry can provide. Because of this, more men are purchasing memorial jewelry each year.
The most popular type of men’s cremation jewelry is a ring. A noteworthy way to communicate love and strength, cremation rings come in many different forms and styles.
Table of contents
- Definition of men’s cremation jewelry
- Difference between women’s and men’s cremation jewelry
- Big, bold designs
- Metal accents
- Fewer, smaller gems
- Different types of men’s cremation jewelry
- Let their memory live on
WHAT IS MEN’S CREMATION JEWELRY?
Men’s cremation jewelry serves the same purpose as women’s cremation jewelry: to provide someone with a physical reminder of a loved one who’s no longer with them. The most common type of cremation jewelry for men is a ring, but there are other pieces available, too. Men’s memorial jewelry can also take the shape of earrings, pendants and cufflinks.
Men’s cremation rings contain the ashes of a loved one who’s passed on. They’re often the ashes of a spouse, but they can be from any person or even a pet who has been cremated. How the ashes are incorporated into the cremation ring depends on the type of memorial jewelry it is.
For example, in memorial diamond jewelry, carbon is extracted from the ashes which is then used to grow a unique diamond. On the other hand, memorial glass jewelry is made by mixing ashes into molten glass or sealing them between two pieces of glass.
Cremation rings for men are custom-made and entirely unique. Although there are many different styles and designs, each ring shares the same goal: to honor a loved one and cherish the happy memories they gave us.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WOMEN’S AND MEN’S CREMATION JEWELRY?
The main difference between women’s and men’s cremation jewelry is the appearance. When it comes to rings, men’s hands and fingers are generally larger and stockier than women’s. Additionally, men and women favor different designs, styles and looks. For these reasons and more, men’s cremation jewelry and women’s cremation jewelry look very different.
BIG, BOLD RINGS FOR MEN COMMUNICATE STRENGTH
Dainty rings tend to be reserved for women. Thin bands, intricate designs, and floral details are all beautiful, but they’re most often preferred by women. Men’s cremation rings have a more masculine edge with chunkier bands, bolder designs, and simpler engravings.
For example, a woman's eternity ring made with cremation diamonds would look stunning with a thin band with a single channel of small diamonds. However, this design wouldn’t look right on most men’s hands. The small, simple ring would look lost and minute.
A more suitable eternity ring of a man would feature a thicker width band with several rows of larger diamonds. This style of ring would look more masculine on a male hand and stand out much more.
METAL ACCENTS TO INSPIRE STRENGTH IN A MASCULINE WAY
Memorial jewelry for women often uses one or more gems as accents to the main diamond. For example, a halo ring for women features a large center diamond surrounded by a cluster of smaller diamonds. On the other hand, halo rings for men are very rare, because the style of the ring is so strongly associated with women that it’s not considered to be masculine.
More frequently, men's cremation jewelry uses metal accents to communicate love and strength. For example, instead of additional diamonds, a different color metal might be used through the center or the edges of the ring to create an eye-catching look.
Whereas the diamond is generally the focal point for women’s cremation rings, the band of metal can be the highlight of the ring for men. When this is the case, the setting for the diamond or diamonds is usually along the edges or in another less conspicuous place.
FEWER, SMALLER GEMS FOR GENTLE COMMEMORATION
When designing men’s cremation jewelry, the maxim “less is more” often comes into play. Instead of being the feature point of the ring as it is in women’s memorial jewelry, the diamond is often smaller and less obvious in men’s memorial pieces. This more subtle approach to commemoration and remembrance is generally preferred by men.
For example, while a woman might sport a solitaire ring with a large 1 carat diamond as the centerpiece, a man's solitaire ring often has a much smaller diamond set within a wider band of metal. Even modern bands for men, which more often put the diamond front and center, tend to keep the jewel on the smaller side.
Again, the point of keeping the gemstone small and emphasising the ring’s precious metal is to create a strong, yet loving look for the cremation ring. With wide bands of metal studded with smaller stones, the man can hold onto the memory of a loved one in a setting that exudes masculinity.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CREMATION JEWELRY FOR MEN
TRADITIONAL MEN'S CREMATION RINGS
A traditional look for men's diamond cremation rings consists of a plain metal band with a square or rectangular top in which one or more small memorial diamonds are placed. This style communicates strength, with the small sparkle of the tiny diamond letting those who notice it know that the man has a deep, enduring love for someone who’s passed away.
VINTAGE MEN'S CREMATION RINGS
A vintage cremation ring for a man is determined more by the style of the band than the diamond itself. However, a vintage look allows for a larger, and therefore more noticeable, diamond than other styles.
The band in a vintage ring tends to have an older look, with darker metals and more intricate engraving. It’s fitting for someone who wants to look and feel like an old-time gentleman. The darker metal communicates strength, while the diamond adds a sparkle of love and respect that the man feels for the deceased.
MEN’S MODERN CREMATION RINGS
Sharp, clean lines and small diamonds define the modern diamond men's ring. Channel settings are common in this type of cremation jewelry, with several tiny diamonds set within a channel of precious metal. The channel setting is ideal for adding a bit of sparkle and gentleness to the ring, while retaining the bold, strong look that many men choose.
MEN'S SOLITAIRE DIAMOND RINGS
The solitaire diamond is a trademark style for both men and women. However, the men's solitaire diamond ring differs from the women's ring in that it is often set flush within the band. A parallel shoulder is common, as is sharp-edged shapes and wide bands.
A silver or gold metal in this style, paired with a diamond made from the ashes of a loved one, adds a sparkle and solemnity to the look that is both strong and loving.
MEN'S BEZEL DIAMOND RINGS
A bezel diamond is set within a circular ridge of precious metal instead of on the more traditional prongs. This setting is far more common among men's rings than is the prong setting.
Bezel rings serve as a way of integrating the diamond more completely into the ring as a whole to achieve a strong, masculine look without sacrificing the sense of love and tenderness that is also desired from the jewelry.
LET THEIR MEMORY LIVE ON THROUGH CREMATION JEWELRY FOR MEN
Today, men aren’t afraid or embarrassed to honor the loss of a loved one through cremation jewelry. By using big, bold rings; metal accents, and smaller, but strategically placed gems, men’s cremation jewelry communicates love and strength in a masculine way.
Through being thoughtful about the ring’s design, men can remember all the happy memories they shared with their loved one while creating a unique piece of jewelry they can treasure forever. Although the person they lost is no longer around, cremation jewelry ensures their spirit will live on.