How Our Flameworked Glass Cremation Jewelry Is Made
Flameworked glass cremation jewelry seals a small amount of a loved one's or pet's ashes permanently inside glass. At Daybreak Dreams, glass artist Ryan Higgins, who has been flameworking since 1995, makes every pendant by hand at the torch in his studio in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, one at a time.
How each pendant is made
- Melt the glass. Borosilicate glass rods are melted in a gas and oxygen torch flame.
- Encase the ashes. A small amount of cremated remains is layered between layers of molten glass. The layers fuse, permanently locking the ashes inside.
- Shape the pendant. Ryan forms the teardrop or heart using heat, gravity, hand tools and practiced hand movements.
- Add a fume (optional). For teardrops, a thin film of vaporized 22k gold or .999 silver can be added near the bail.
- Anneal in a kiln. Each piece is cooled at a controlled rate to remove stress, so the finished pendant is durable.
Because the ashes stay visible as soft, mottled texture, no two pendants look alike. You can choose from our teardrop and heart designs in a broad selection of colors.
Why people choose it
- It keeps a small, tangible part of a loved one close every day.
- It connects the wearer to memories and feelings of the person or pet.
- It starts conversations, giving the wearer a chance to share stories, which many grieving people find helpful.
Questions about the process or about personalizing a piece? Contact us or read our FAQ.