A Spinning Necklace That Holds a Memory - A Gold Memorial Necklace Story

Some pieces stay with me long after they leave my bench.

Recently I made a spinning gold necklace that holds the ashes of a beloved dog. The pendant is a polished golden sphere held in place by a flowing gold setting, with two small blue diamonds — one on each side — so the necklace looks beautiful whichever way it turns.

It hangs on a long, solid gold paperclip chain and has a small tag with a dog paw handstamped on it. There’s also a hinged connector at the top, which means the owner can add more charms or memories to it in the future if they ever want to.

But inside the golden sphere is something far more meaningful.

The necklace was commissioned by someone who had lost their dog and wanted to keep them close every day.

When they first reached out to me, they told me they had spent an entire week searching. They visited jewellery shops, looked online, and tried to find a piece that could hold ashes in a way that still allowed movement.

Not sealed in resin.
Not hidden under a stone.

They wanted the ashes to move freely inside the pendant.

They couldn’t find anything like it anywhere.

Then they came across the spinning necklaces I make.

Reading that message made me incredibly proud and emotional at the same time. Knowing that someone searching so deeply for something meaningful found my work meant a lot to me.

My spinning necklaces already have movement in them. The golden bead turns gently as you wear it, and many people naturally spin it between their fingers without even thinking.

For this piece, the client asked if the ashes themselves could move inside the bead.

That detail was incredibly important to them.

So I had to work out how to make it possible.

To create the necklace, I made a hollow gold sphere with a small space inside to hold the ashes.

Once the bead was finished, the ashes were carefully placed inside.

The opening was then permanently sealed in gold so they will stay safely enclosed forever.

When the pendant spins, the ashes move softly inside the sphere.

It’s a quiet detail, but it changes the feeling of the piece completely.

Moments like this in the workshop always make me pause.

Working with ashes is something I approach slowly and with a lot of care. Every movement matters, because I know the meaning behind what I’m holding in my hands.

Jewellery can carry memories in a way very few things can.

When the necklace was finished, I remember holding it in my hands and feeling truly happy with what I had made.

Not just because of the design, but because of what it represented.

The ashes move gently as the pendant spins, creating a quiet connection that stays close to the heart.

Letting this piece go was emotional. 

But a message arrived shortly after it was delivered that meant a lot to me.

The client who received the necklace wrote to say that it made her cry when she opened the box.

Knowing that something made in my workshop can carry that much meaning is the reason I love what I do.

If you ever feel drawn to create something personal like this — whether it’s for a beloved pet or someone close to your heart — you’re always welcome to reach out and talk to me.
I’m happy to listen and see if we can create something meaningful together.