How Long Does Memorial Jewellery Take to Make in the UK?

At Memories Made, most standard memorial jewellery is completed and returned within 7 to 10 days once we receive your ashes, hair or fabric. Solid 9ct gold pieces usually take 5–6 weeks because they require extra casting, finishing and hallmarking stages.

The full order-to-delivery time also depends on how quickly your inclusions reach us, whether you need a non-standard ring size, and the level of customisation involved. If you are still choosing your piece, browse our ashes jewellery collection to compare rings, necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks and other memorial designs.

When Does the Memorial Jewellery Turnaround Time Actually Start?

One detail causes more confusion than almost anything else: the making time usually starts when the jeweller receives your inclusions, not when you place the order.

For UK customers, Memories Made sends an ashes or inclusion kit and ring sizer free of charge within 24 hours of ordering. Once your ashes, hair or fabric arrive safely with us, we confirm receipt and your piece moves into the production process.

This is why two customers who order on the same day may receive their jewellery at different times. One may return their kit immediately, while another may wait several days or weeks before sending their loved one’s inclusions.

What Happens While Memorial Jewellery Is Being Made?

A short turnaround does not mean the jewellery should be rushed. Every piece still needs to move through careful preparation, creation, curing, finishing and quality control.

First, the ashes, hair or fabric are checked and prepared. For ashes jewellery, we select the cleanest, lightest parts of the cremation ashes and refine them into a fine powder before blending them by hand into your chosen coloured UV resin.

The resin is then set within the jewellery chamber and allowed to cure correctly. After curing, the piece is cleaned, polished, checked for imperfections and prepared for dispatch.

Our 925 sterling silver and 9ct white gold pieces are also rhodium plated where applicable. Every finished keepsake is inspected before it is placed into its luxury presentation packaging.

What Can Make Memorial Jewellery Take Longer?

Not every memorial piece takes the same amount of time. The metal, design, ring size and level of customisation can all change the production timeline.

Standard sterling silver designs are usually the quickest. Bespoke designs, unusual ring sizes, complex settings and pieces that require extra manufacturing work can need additional processing time.

The jewellery type can matter too. A simple pendant may involve fewer stages than a more detailed ring with multiple stones, engraving or a custom-made setting.

If you are choosing between different methods, our guide to the best material for ashes jewellery compares resin, glass and metal options in more detail.

Why Does 9ct Gold Memorial Jewellery Take 5–6 Weeks?

Gold is one area where a longer wait is normal. Solid 9ct yellow gold, rose gold and white gold pieces take around 5–6 weeks at Memories Made because the manufacturing process has more stages.

Gold pieces may require casting, detailed finishing and independent verification at a regulated UK Assay Office. GOV.UK hallmarking guidance explains that qualifying precious-metal items above the relevant weight thresholds must carry a legally recognised hallmark confirming their metal fineness.

That extra time is not idle time. It is part of creating a solid precious-metal piece that has been properly made, checked and verified before it reaches you.

How Long Does Sending the Ashes Add to the Process?

For many families, posting the ashes feels more worrying than the jewellery-making itself. Clear packaging, tracking and receipt confirmation make a major difference.

UK customers receive a secure kit with the containers and instructions needed to return their inclusions. Only a small quantity is required: Memories Made asks for approximately half a teaspoon of ashes per piece, and any unused ashes are returned with the finished jewellery.

You can read how much ashes you need before preparing your kit.

If you are worried about postage, our guide to sending ashes by post explains the UK and international rules. Royal Mail also publishes current guidance on UK and international sending services, so postal rules should always be checked before sending.

Does Hair or Fabric Memorial Jewellery Take the Same Time?

Ashes are not the only inclusion that can be preserved in memorial jewellery. Hair, pet fur and fabric from clothing can also be incorporated into a keepsake, and the overall production stages are similar.

Hair is carefully arranged over coloured resin before being sealed, while fabric is positioned within the jewellery chamber before resin is applied. Standard Memories Made inclusion pieces are still generally completed within the same 7–10 day timeframe once the inclusion has arrived, unless the design or precious metal requires additional work.

If you are not ready to send hair straight away, read our guide on how to preserve a lock of hair safely before it is used in memorial jewellery.

Can Memorial Jewellery Be Made Faster?

Fast is only useful if the piece is still made properly. Resin needs to cure, settings need to be secure, and every piece needs a final quality inspection before dispatch.

This is one reason turnaround times vary so much between memorial jewellery companies. Current UK makers advertise everything from around two weeks to six weeks, while some state that certain handmade pieces can take considerably longer.

Real customer discussions show why clear lead times matter. In one recent Reddit discussion, a customer said they had been “waiting for my necklace for about 7 weeks now.” A memorial order carries more emotional weight than an ordinary parcel, so realistic updates are just as important as speed.

At Memories Made, the aim is to combine a short standard turnaround with full traceability rather than remove important production steps.

How Do You Know Your Ashes Are Safe During Production?

Trust matters because ashes, hair and fabric cannot simply be replaced. For many people, sending them away is the hardest part of ordering memorial jewellery.

Every Memories Made order is kept traceable from receipt through to dispatch. We notify you when your inclusions arrive, label and handle each order carefully, and return any unused inclusions with your finished jewellery.

Every creation is also video recorded. This provides proof that the actual ashes, hair or fabric you sent were used in your jewellery rather than a substitute material. Memories Made specifically records each inclusion order before and during creation for this reason.

That level of traceability also helps answer one of the most common customer worries: not knowing what is happening after the package has been sent.

When Should You Order for a Birthday, Anniversary or Memorial Date?

If you need the jewellery for a particular date, build in more time than the advertised production window. Postal delays, ring-size changes, bespoke work or a busy workshop period can all add time.

For standard Memories Made pieces, the 7–10 day production and return timeframe begins after your inclusions arrive. For solid 9ct gold, plan around the 5–6 week production period instead.

If the date is important, send your ashes, hair or fabric as early as you comfortably can. Do not leave the return of the inclusion kit until the final week and assume the original order date started the production clock.

International customers should also allow additional time for their inclusions to reach the UK and for the finished jewellery to travel back to them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Memorial Jewellery Turnaround Times

Turnaround questions usually come down to a few practical details: the jewellery type, metal, customisation and when the inclusions arrive.

How long does an ashes ring take to make?

A standard Memories Made ashes ring usually takes 7–10 days from receipt of the ashes. Solid 9ct gold rings take around 5–6 weeks, while bespoke sizes or custom designs may take longer.

Does engraving add extra time?

Standard engraving can usually fit within the normal process, but more complex custom work may add extra stages.

Will I be told when my ashes arrive?

Yes. We confirm safe receipt so you know your loved one’s inclusions have arrived and the production stage can begin.

What happens to unused ashes?

Any unused ashes are securely returned with the finished keepsake.

Is the Wait for Memorial Jewellery Worth It?

Memorial jewellery is made to hold something irreplaceable, so the goal should never be speed at any cost. The right turnaround is one that gives the maker enough time to create a secure, durable and carefully finished piece while keeping you informed.

At Memories Made, standard memorial jewellery normally takes 7–10 days from receipt of your inclusions, while solid 9ct gold pieces take around 5–6 weeks. Your exact timeline can vary for bespoke designs, special ring sizes or other custom requirements.

The finished piece should feel worth waiting for: properly made, carefully checked and created from the real ashes, hair or fabric that matter to you.