What Is a Memorial Necklace, and What Should You Engrave on It?

Short answer: a memorial necklace is a pendant engraved in memory of someone you have lost, so you can carry them with you every day. It usually holds a name, two dates, a photo or a few words in their own handwriting. Our coin, square and heart pendants in 925 silver take one photo and up to 15 characters.

What is a memorial necklace?

A memorial necklace is a piece of jewellery that keeps a person, or a beloved animal, close after they are gone. It does not need to look sad. Many people choose a simple silver pendant that others see as an ordinary necklace, while the wearer knows what is engraved on it. It sits near the heart, it can be touched on a hard day, and it stays with you in a way a photo in a drawer cannot.

We make memorial pieces through engraving only. We do not make pendants that hold ashes; ours keep a memory in the silver itself.

What can you engrave on a memorial necklace?

• A name. Simply "Mama", "Papa" or a first name. Up to 15 characters.
• Two dates or two years. 1948 2025 takes 9 characters; or choose one full date, such as 11.02.2025, with initials on the other side.
• A photo. One photo per pendant, on the front. A face close up, in good light, engraves best. Our guide to the photo engraved necklace explains how to choose one.
• Their handwriting. A signature, "love, Mum" from an old birthday card, a short line from a letter. Handwriting is uploaded as an image, like a photo, so it counts as the one image on the pendant. See the handwriting and drawing engraving collection.
• A few words. "Always with me", "Forever", a nickname only your family used.
• A symbol. Our engraving library includes angel wings, a feather, a tree of life, a cross, a crescent moon and a star, which can sit beside the text.

A common combination: the photo on the front, the name and years on the back. For more wording ideas, read what to engrave on silver jewelry.

Which pendant suits a memorial piece?

• Photo Engraved Heart Necklace, €79.99. The heart shape says what the piece is about without words.
• Engraved Coin Necklace, €79.99. A round pendant, discreet enough for every day, engraved on both sides.
• Engraved Square Necklace, €79.99. The largest flat face of the three, good for a photo or a line of handwriting.
• Engraved Curved Bar Bracelet, €57.99. For someone who prefers a bracelet: a name or a date, up to 15 characters, with a small symbol beside it. Text only, no photo.

Each necklace hangs on a 45 cm chain with a 5 cm extender, and each comes in 925 silver or 14K gold-plated 925 silver. On silver a photo shows in soft grey tones; on gold-plated silver it shows as a darker picture against the gold. Pendants keep their finish much longer than rings and bracelets, which suits a piece worn every day.

Is a memorial necklace a good gift for someone who is grieving?

It can be, if it is given gently. A few practical thoughts:

• Ask, or check with family first. Some people want a reminder close to them straight away; others need time.
• Get the details exactly right. Confirm the spelling of the name and the dates. You approve the engraving in a preview before you pay, so you can check every character.
• Choose a quiet photo. A familiar, everyday picture often means more than a formal portrait.

Every piece arrives in the Loretana gift box, so it can be given as it is.

How we engrave it

We engrave every piece ourselves in Lithuania with a fiber laser and dispatch it within 48 hours. The engraving changes the surface of the metal, so it does not wash off or fade. If the engraving differs from the preview you approved, we re-engrave or replace the piece free. Our guide on how laser engraving works on 925 silver explains the process.

Frequently asked questions

Can a memorial necklace hold ashes?

Not ours. We make memorial pieces through engraving: a photo, a name, dates, handwriting or a symbol on solid 925 silver.

Can I engrave a photo on both sides?

No. A pendant can carry one photo only, on one side. Put the photo on the front and the name and dates on the back.

Can I make a memorial necklace for a pet?

Yes. The same pendants take a photo of your pet, with its name and years and a paw print symbol on the back.

How long does it take to arrive?

We dispatch within 48 hours. Omniva delivers in 1–3 business days in Lithuania, 2–3 in Latvia and 2–4 in Estonia, and delivery is free on orders over €50.

Loretana MB is registered with the Lithuanian Assay Office and has a registered responsibility mark. Every piece carries the 925 hallmark and our responsibility mark, and orders ship from Lithuania.