FILLING AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS - KEEPSAKE JEWELLERY AND CREMATION URNS

If at any stage you feel uncomfortable about filling your memorial jewellery you are very welcome to return it to us and we will carefully and respectfully fill it and seal with jewellers epoxy for you free of charge. IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to keep some ashes aside in case your pendant is ever lost or stolen.

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF YOUR CREMATION JEWELLERY BEFORE FILLING AND PERMANENTLY SEALING.

Our cremation jewellery urns are all hand-crafted and as such the finishes may vary a little from piece to piece. Some of the designs have a high polished finish which is prone to scratching so please handle with care.

We recommend that you care for your keepsake pendants the way you would a non-waterproof watch, ie remove your pendant prior to showering, swimming and sleeping to ensure the jewellery is not damaged in any way. We do not recommend pendants be immersed in water for long periods of time.

SOLID STERLING SILVER AND SOLID GOLD KEEPSAKE JEWELLERY

Sterling Silver may tarnish over time so we recommend that you conduct regular maintenance of the surface by using a silver polishing cloth (available from most jewellers and hardware stores). You can also use a suitable polish cream, very sparingly, to restore shine and remove any small scratches which may appear in the future.

GOLD VERMEIL KEEPSAKE JEWELRY

Gold Vermeil (or "Rolled Gold") is a heavy layer of gold over sterling silver. It is a very durable form of gold plating however the surface of these designs should be very gently wiped with a slightly damp soft cloth only. We strongly recommend that you don't use polishing cream on these surfaces as it may remove the finish.

FILLING INSTRUCTIONS FOR KEEPSAKE JEWELLERY

Pendants with a screw port opening (a tiny screw in the base or back of the pendant) require extra care when opening and closing to ensure that the screwdriver does not scratch the surface of the jewellery. The screw is designed to sit flush with the pendant.

1. Make sure you have a plain coloured, level surface to work on. If you are filling a pendant which has a screw port opening (with tiny screw) we recommend you have something to put the screw in once it's removed as it will be very hard to find if it rolls or falls to the floor.

2. Unscrew the opening either by hand (for screw top bail), or with a small screwdriver (for screw port openings).

3. Place the end of the funnel provided into the opening. Carefully spoon a small amount of only the finest ashes into the funnel. You may need to stir the ashes around in the funnel with a toothpick or similar to allow them to go through. If the funnel becomes clogged remove it from the pendant, turn upside down and clear with the toothpick. Once cleared resume filling again. The pendant should only be filled to about 90% of capacity.

4. After filling, remove the funnel and clear remains from the opening with a toothpick. Clear the threads by taking cap on and off, or putting screw in and out, a couple of times. At this stage if you just replace the screw, or twist the top back on, your jewellery urn will be secured but not resistant to water. You will need to use jewellers epoxy to ensure that the cremation jewellery remains properly sealed and can withstand short periods of contact with water.

5. To secure the pendant we recommends using a small amount of jewellers epoxy and most hardware stores will have an epoxy suitable for this. It is best to use an epoxy that takes a few minutes to set as you may need to adjust the alignment. (we does not recommend using superglue.) Please ensure that the threads are as clean as possible to ensure adhesion. Using a toothpick or similar, apply a very small amount to the inside of the threaded opening and carefully screw shut. This will secure the pendant and ensure that it remains sealed. Note: Some pendants may have to be left loose a quarter turn to have the loop line up properly however this is not a concern as the epoxy will seal the pendant.

FILLING CREMATION URNS

If you are concerned about filling your full size cremation urn, your funeral director or crematorium should be able to take care of this for you. Urns Online are also able to complete this for you with an absolute guarantee that your ashes will be treated with the utmost respect and privacy. There is a small fee involved for handling and added postage - please contact us to discuss your options further.

OPENING AND SEALING CREMATION URNS

There are three main types of openings for cremation urns - a screw top lid; a hinged lid (normally associated with woodern urns that have the ashes sealed in a bag inside the container) and a bottom opening urn which is used mainly for sculptured cremation urns.

Urns generally do not have to be sealed however if you do wish to seal your urn we recommend a clear caulking type sealant commonly available at hardware stores. The caulking agent used should be compatible with the type of material the urn is constructed of. Your local hardware consultant should be able to recommend the best brand and type for you.

ENGRAVING

Most but not all urns are engravable. Depending on the material used and where on the urn you would like the engraving, your local key cutting business or trophy engraving business should be able to assist. Where the urn isn't engravable a plaque can always be attached instead.

PLACEMENT OF CREMATION URNS

If you are wishing to have the urn placed outdoors then we recommend marble as the best material as it will withstand the elements of rain, sun and wind a lot better than metal or glass materials. We also carry stock of eco friendly biodegradable urns which are perfect for soil burial or sea burial. Urns buried in soil will break down naturally over a period of approximately three months. Sea burial urns are designed to float for a few minutes before gently sinking to the ocean floor and breaking up over a short period of time.