Bespoke Memorial Jewelry
Our bespoke memorial jewelry offers a deeply personal, one-of-a-kind tribute, unlike any that came before it. While Trove allows you to personalize pre-designed fine jewelry, our bespoke pieces are created from the ground up to reflect the unique essence of your loved one—whether a person or a beloved pet.
In this collaborative process, we explore the stories, memories, and symbolism you wish to capture, designing a piece that’s meaningful and singular to you. Each element is carefully chosen to honor your loved one in a way that preserves cherished memories and complements your personal style.
What sets Marlin Fine Jewelry apart is our dedication to not only craftsmanship, but also connection, taking the time to understand the qualities that made your loved one special and translate them into a wearable piece of art that is not only beautiful but profoundly significant. The result is more than jewelry; it’s transcends mere adornment, meant to be treasured for generations.
The Experience
Every bespoke piece begins with a heartfelt meeting over video call. Together, we’ll take the time to honor your loved one—whether a cherished person or beloved pet—by sharing the stories, symbols, and moments that best capture their spirit. With the guidance of a detailed questionnaire, I’ll listen closely, ensuring every memory and sentiment is understood and treated with the utmost care and respect. This process isn’t rushed; it’s about creating a space where you feel truly heard and supported.
Through this thoughtful exchange, we’ll uncover the elements that matter most—whether it’s a specific style, a birthstone, or a cherished hidden detail you wish to incorporate. This first step is the foundation of your bespoke design, ensuring the final piece reflects not only the memory of your loved one but also the unique bond you shared.
With a clear understanding of your vision, I’ll begin shaping your bespoke design. Depending on your unique needs, I may start with sketches to explore ideas or move directly into a 3D concept for precise visualization. This stage is all about collaboration—together, we’ll refine the piece through a feedback loop, ensuring the size, shape, and layout of every detail align perfectly with your expectations.
Once the design is finalized, I’ll send you a prepaid cremains collection kit to make shipping and handling as simple and secure as possible. By the end of this phase, we’ll have everything ready to move into the crafting process, with a design that’s tailored to both your personal style and your loved one’s memory.
Once the design is finalized, I get to work bringing it to life at my bench in my private studio in Carlsbad, CA. Every detail is carefully crafted by hand, and I take my time to make sure everything is just right. If we’re incorporating cremains, hair, or fur, you can trust that these materials are handled with the utmost respect and care throughout the process.
When the piece is finished, I inspect it closely to make sure it matches the vision we’ve created together. It’s then securely packaged and sent to you, along with any remaining cremains or other essence of your loved one. The result is a beautifully made heirloom that you can carry with you as a lasting connection to your loved one.
Your Stories
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"Motley was the absolute best. We were very much in tune and connected. He followed me absolutely everywhere and I was lucky enough to care for him for 13 beautiful years. We used to call him “Mayor Motley” because when we would take him out to the dog park or any other social setting he would patrol the area. He had no interest in playing with the other dogs, he would just protect the land. He loved to snuggle and lay in sunspots and was a sucker for carrots. He passed to the tunes of Motley Crue, his namesake"
"Rocco came to me in the oddest of ways. He initially belonged to a long haul semi driver, and when Rocco became ill he was fortunately brought to the ER I was working in. He was diagnosed a diabetic and his owner could not care for him on the road. I ended up adopting Rocco. And he symbolized my passion for being a veterinarian and helping pets and owners in the hardest of situations. My husband and I joked constantly that he used to haul salsa all over the country as a cover- because he was actually a special agent for NASA, an astronaut special agent. I miss him every day."
FAQs
A. Marlin’s definition of memorial jewelry is jewelry that holds a tangible piece of your loved one. We subtly and beautifully incorporate elements like cremated ashes, a lock of fur, or even hair into the design of your jewelry. These materials become woven into the very fabric of the piece, creating a lasting connection that transcends simple symbolism.
A. Ready-to-Ship – Finished pieces in our inventory, available for immediate shipping. These designs may be restocked.
One-of-a-Kind – Like Ready-to-Ship, but only one exists. Once sold, it will never be made again.
Made-to-Order IS Custom – The TROVE Collection – Pre-designed pieces crafted just for you, with customizable options like metal color, size, inscription, inlay stone, and laser engraving. These do not sell out, as we make each piece upon order.
Bespoke – A completely original design, created from scratch based on your vision. Nothing is pre-designed, and every detail is crafted exclusively for you.
A. Our bespoke memorial jewelry starts at $5,000. This price reflects years of dedication and specialized skills, high quality materials, and individualized attention you'll receive during the process. From meticulous design, engineering, 3D modeling and hand finishing at the bench, you are getting the highest quality of service and product. When you choose Marlin bespoke, you're not just investing in a beautiful piece, but in a lasting legacy that truly honors your loved one.
A. We offer Shop Pay Installments for anything that is readily available to purchase in our shop, and can deliver your finished piece as soon as it is finished. For bespoke- Our standard payment plan allows you to split your bespoke investment into four equal installments. We understand that every client has unique needs, so we are happy to offer flexible arrangements to suit your situation. For bespoke, no finished piece can be shipped until it is paid in full.
A. Although the most popular form of memorial jewelry we create is in the form of rings, we can also design bespoke memorial pendants/necklaces and bracelets.
A. We always recommend visiting a trusted local jeweler to get your ring size accurately measured. However, plastic belt-style ring sizers are available for purchase in our shop, allowing you to accurately measure your size from home if needed.
A. Since we cannot ensure the origin, true identity, or safety of heirloom stones; we cannot accept them for your bespoke project or for anything in TROVE. The last thing we want is for your priceless emerald to chip, crack, or break on us- so it's best you let us do the sourcing.
A. We require a very small quantity of ashes for your memorial piece, only about a teaspoon- and just a lock of hair or fur. Oftentimes there are memorial materials leftover from the process. We send the remaining material in a secure and labeled plastic baggy, tucked into soft suede bag that goes home to you with your finished jewelry piece. Due to California disposal regulations, we cannot dispose of, or spread any remaining cremains.
A. The journey to your bespoke piece is a collaborative experience led by shared inspiration, and open and frequent communication, the pace of which can dictate the bespoke process timeline. Every person and design is unique, so it's hard to give a one-size-fits-all timeframe, but please allow 8-12 weeks from finalized design to finished piece.
A. Unfortunately, due to the regulations and limitations of shipping cremains, Marlin Fine Jewelry cannot work with or ship any jewelry containing ashes, fur, or hair, outside of the continental United States at this time.
A. We can work in 14kt and 18kt gold in the color of your choosing: yellow, white, or rose, and in special cases, platinum ruthenium. We can incorporate ashes, both cremated and aquamated, within your design. We can also work with hair and fur, though they'll need to be carefully prepared beforehand. We DO NOT work with teeth, breast milk, or any other body part or bodily fluid.
A. The nature of bespoke work is that it is made specifically for that client in mind, therefore it is one-of-a-kind. However, I'd be happy to create a piece for you that is inspired by a past design as long as some details have been changed to reflect your own personal style.
A. Whether human or animal, it is perfectly legal to incorporate ashes into jewelry. The state of California (where I operate) has tight regulations for disposing of human cremains, but no disposal happens at Marlin Fine Jewelry.
bespoke memorial jewelry inquiry
Thank you so much for your interest in creating a piece of bespoke jewelry with us. We are currently taking time to focus on our Trove collection. Please click below to stay updated on the latest releases and bespoke inquiry openings.