Grief doesn’t follow a schedule. It doesn’t end after a memorial or fade with time. Instead, it lingers quietly, showing up in the pause before a birthday phone call that will never come, in the silence that fills a once-familiar space, or in the instinct to reach out before remembering they’re gone. For many, the urge to hold on to something tangible becomes a way to carry forward what can never be left behind.
This is where commemorative jewellery enters the conversation. It is not a trend, and it certainly isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to loss. It is a meaningful, personal way to hold memory close.
For those navigating grief, support can take many forms. Resources like MyGrief.ca, developed by the Canadian Virtual Hospice, offer gentle, evidence-based guidance for those coping with loss. And for some, that journey includes the quiet comfort of a custom piece: jewellery that holds ashes, hair, or a signature, designed not just to be worn but to be carried with purpose.
At Made You Look, these pieces are created with intention, care, and an understanding that grief deserves both beauty and respect.
What Is Commemorative Jewellery and Why It Matters
Commemorative jewellery is custom-made using personal elements from someone you’ve lost. It may incorporate ashes, a lock of hair, a baby’s tooth, pet fur, a signature, or even a piece of fabric. These materials are worked into rings, pendants, bracelets, or other wearables that act as a subtle and powerful tribute.
Unlike keepsakes stored in drawers, commemorative pieces are designed to be part of your daily life. They travel with you. They provide a quiet sense of connection, a reminder that memory is still very much alive. In essence, they transform grief into something that can be worn, touched, and kept close.
At Made You Look, each piece begins with a story. Whether you are honouring a parent, a partner, a pet, or a child, the team approaches your vision with compassion and artistry. This is not just jewellery. It is personal history, made tangible.
Honouring Grief Through Craftsmanship
There is something sacred about creating beauty from loss. When grief is overwhelming, turning to craftsmanship becomes a way to process what cannot be put into words. Every curve, stone, engraving, and material is chosen with intention. Nothing about these pieces is accidental. Every detail is meaningful.
The designers at Made You Look work with people who are often in vulnerable, emotional states. This is not a transaction. It is a collaboration, rooted in respect. For some, it begins with an idea. For others, it begins with tears. No matter where you start, the process is designed to support you through it.
Some choose engraved gestures—a name, a favourite phrase, or a snippet of handwriting. Others incorporate more symbolic elements, like sand from a meaningful place or fabric from a wedding dress. The team has also worked with ashes, teeth, hair, and fur. No material is too strange. No memory is too small.
The result is a piece of jewellery that speaks softly but says everything. It is both a tribute and a touchstone. It does not erase the pain, but it makes space for it.
Ways to Carry Love Daily: Subtle, Powerful, Personal
One of the most beautiful things about commemorative jewellery is how versatile it can be. It is not reserved for funerals or anniversaries. It is not loud or overly sentimental unless you want it to be. These pieces are made to blend into your life, not sit on a shelf.
Some people prefer rings with discreet internal settings. Others are drawn to lockets, pendants, or chains that can hold enclosed elements. There are also those who choose pins, brooches, or charms—small heirlooms with layered meaning—that can be passed on or tucked into a jacket.
You might incorporate stones that symbolize transformation, such as opals, tourmaline, or pink sapphires. These stones do more than shine. They carry weight, metaphor, and meaning.
Others choose more literal representations. A tiny tooth becomes a centrepiece. A lock of hair is carefully sealed in resin and set inside a pendant. Ashes may be mixed with enamel, sealed inside a crystal, or held in a tiny compartment invisible to anyone but you.
The beauty lies in the details, and the comfort comes from knowing that the piece was made just for you, by someone who took the time to understand why it mattered.
Made You Look’s Process: From Memory to Masterpiece
If you’ve never commissioned a piece of custom jewellery before, you might wonder what to expect. The process at Made You Look is designed to be comforting, collaborative, and respectful from beginning to end.
It starts with a consultation, either in person at the Queen West studio or virtually. You’ll speak with someone who understands the emotional complexity of commemorative work. There is no pressure to know exactly what you want. Many people come in with only a feeling. That is enough.
Once the concept is outlined, you’ll be matched with one of Made You Look’s independent Toronto jewellery artists. These creators bring their own sensibilities and talents to each project, ensuring that your piece reflects your voice.
Materials are handled with care. Whether you are dropping off ashes or sending in a lock of fur, the studio has protocols in place to ensure everything is treated with reverence and security. The final design is reviewed with you before anything is made.
Some clients choose to incorporate unbreakable ties made visible, like permanent bracelets that are welded on, symbolizing a connection that endures. Others want to transform an existing piece into something new. In either case, the goal is the same: to create something you can wear not just today, but for years to come.
Real Pieces, Real People: What Clients Are Creating
Every story is different. That is why every piece is, too.
One client came in to honour her father. She wanted something elegant, wearable, and deeply personal. The team created a white gold ring with a sliver of his signature engraved inside. She wears it every day on her right hand.
Another client had lost her dog of sixteen years. She brought in some fur, unsure what to do with it. The artist designed a delicate charm with a small chamber filled with the fur and sealed under quartz. It sits on a chain next to her heart.
There was also a set of custom pendants commissioned by three siblings who had lost their mother. Each received a different shape, but all were made from the same piece of sapphire and inscribed with her initials. They called it their way of keeping her laugh in the room.
These are not mass-produced. They are not for everyone. But for the right person, they mean everything.
When You’re Ready, We’re Here
Grief looks different for everyone. It isn’t always loud or visible. Sometimes, it is a quiet thread woven into the background of your days. Commemorative jewellery can offer comfort, not by fixing what was lost, but by honouring what still remains.
At Made You Look, you’ll find a team that understands the difference between jewellery and meaning. You’ll find artists who take the time to ask questions and listen. You’ll find space for your story, even if it is still unfolding.
Whether you are ready now or still deciding what feels right, we are here to help you create something that keeps them close, in your way, on your time.