Carry Their Memory With You Always: Your Complete Guide To Selecting, Customizing and Cherishing Memorial Thumbprint Jewelry
Thumbprint jewelry was born out of desire to provide a unique way to remember, celebrate or commemorate a special relationship in your life.
Since most jewelry is worn close to your heart, our thumbprint jewelry is a wonderful way to keep someone close to your heart. By capturing the thumbprint of a loved one, we can create a custom-designed keepsake that is truly unique to them and the connection you share with them.
While there are plenty of other types of personalized jewelry options out there, memorial thumbprint jewelry goes above and beyond, giving you the ability to run your own fingers across the actual ridges of someone else’s thumbprint. So, whether you are looking to celebrate the bond of a close family member, a close friend, someone who has passed away, or even someone who is alive and well, this buying guide will provide you with everything you need to know about fingerprint jewelry.
Reasons Why You Should Consider Thumbprint Jewelry
Thumbprint jewelry is a popular option among those who are looking to create a unique and comforting connection with someone who has either passed away or is very much alive and special to the individual.
The jewelry is one-of-a-kind in that the pendant, keychain, ring, or necklace is hand-crafted and customized to fit the thumbprint, making the piece unlike any other in existence. This is incredibly powerful when you are using the thumbprint to symbolize a connection that lasts forever or commemorate and honor a loved one.
There are two main reasons why an individual would purchase a customized piece of thumbprint jewelry:
To be used as a memorial piece of a loved one who has passed away.
Often, individuals will use the thumbprint of a deceased loved one as a way to stay close with them as it acts as a physical reminder and token of their memory here on Earth.
Common reasons for having thumbprint jewelry made for a loved one who has passed away is to either treasure their memory, commemorate a life well-lived, mark a special relationship, or too just simply mark their passing from this world onto the next.
The varied assortment of thumbprint memorial jewelry means that families have the opportunity to personalize their selection and truly make it reflective of their loved one.
To be used as a unique gift to someone who is living.
Thumbprint jewelry is a great way to express your love and connection with those that are still living. Fingerprint jewelry is appropriate for both men, women, and children which makes them perfect as gifts to give.
For instance, mothers and children can exchange thumbprint jewelry as a way to bond with one another, whereas, couples can give each other thumbprint jewelry as a way of staying together when they are miles apart. You often see couples with thumbprint rings as a way to make their wedding bands completely unique.
Thumbprint jewelry can also be used as a family heirloom to hand down for families who partake in this type of tradition.
Regardless of the reasoning, thumbprint jewelry is an excellent option for individuals who want a truly customized piece. You can have two-tones, add on a hammered or an antiqued finished, choose to add on your favorite quotation, or even add on a little heart or two. Some thumbprint jewelry comes with initials, while others come with an engraved first name, and you can even get a birthstone placed on it.
Different Types of Thumbprint Jewelry
Thumbprint jewelry comes in a wide variety of styles and keepsake options, and while you can get them done up in necklaces and rings, our collection includes pendants, keychains, and dog tags.
Types of Customization Options That Come With Thumbprint Jewelry
While the fingerprint itself is completely unique to your loved one, our customization design options can also make your keepsake look and feel exclusive. Here at Jewelry Keepsakes, we have several different design options to choose from which include, keepsakes cut into heart-shapes, oval-shapes, circular-shaped, rectangular-shapes, and dog tags. In addition, we also do custom-cut pieces like our gold plated bars and rectangular-wavy-shaped pendants.
Other than the shape of the thumbprint piece, there are also customization options with the outer look of the keepsake. You may get your keychain, pendant, or dog tag plated with gold, rose gold, or black to give it a more luxurious look.
In addition to this, personalized engraving can be done on the back of your keepsake and on the front of a select few pieces as well. Finally, we offer a few rectangular pendants with inlaid resin, which allows us to frame the pendant with a smoky silver, red, or Persian blue enamel which is stunning its color.
All of our chains come in either 18, 20, 22, 24, or 30 inches in length and are made to match the thumbprint jewelry’s design.
Different Types of Metal Options Available
All our pendants, keychains, and dog tags are made from either stainless steel, sterling silver, or copper and can be plated over in gold, rose gold, silver or black plating.
Why choose one metal over another?
One of the choices that many consumers need to make when choosing a piece of jewelry is what metal they would like it crafted from. While many jewelry pieces are made from platinum, gold, titanium, and silver, our thumbprint jewelry pieces are made from stainless steel, sterling silver, and copper. Here are a few reasons why you may choose one metal type over another.
Stainless Steel
With stainless steel jewelry, it is naturally hypoallergenic for those who have allergies to certain kinds of metal, and it does not break or bend under regular use. There are numerous types of stainless steel since it is composed of multiple metal alloys and is a durable and cost-effective alternative to traditional metals.
It is impervious to oxidation, meaning it will not discolor or blacken over time nor will it leave any markings on your skin. Beyond this, stainless steel does not get scratched very easily and it retains its luster even after daily wear.
Stainless steel can be adorned with an array of beautiful finishes to make it look like sterling silver or white gold and can be plated with rose gold or yellow gold.
Sterling Silver
With sterling silver jewelry, you will get a much higher polish and natural finish than most other metals and due to its softness, gemstones can be mounted on easily.
Sterling silver is also hypoallergenic and is a popular choice as it can be easily molded into necklaces, pendants, and rings with a wide variety of attractive colors and finishes.
The only downside to sterling silver is that it can tarnish (which can be removed) and it is more prone to dents and scratches. Sterling silver continues to be a mainstay in the industry due to the versatility and beauty the metal presents.
Copper
With copper jewelry, it must be mixed with other metals like tin and zinc to make it into an alloy as its pure form is too malleable and therefore not very strong.
However, in an alloy form, it is extremely durable and can hold up to everyday wear. The downside to copper is that it does oxidize, often leaving the skin green as a result.
Copper thumbprint jewelry is a fantastic choice if you are looking for a piece that has a high luster or is engraved in high definition. And the unique color of copper jewelry contrasts nicely with all skin tones.
When it comes down to selecting which type of metal you would like to purchase, it truly comes down to personal preference.
Fingerprint Jewelry Gifting Suggestions
These types of personalized fingerprint jewelry keepsakes make great gifts for individuals. From parents to friends to young adults, we have some great fingerprint jewelry gifting suggestions!
Memorializing a loss
Show your love and devotion for someone that has passed from your life with a Gold Raised Initial Round Thumbprint Jewelry.
Honor the military
What better way to honor your soldier than with the Black Dog Tag Thumbprint Jewelry engraved with their fingerprint!
Life events
Honor the birth of a child or a marriage with the Rose Gold Plated Love You To The Moon Round Thumbprint Jewelry.
Special celebrations
Celebrate a graduation, a birthday or special anniversary with the Silver Rectangle Thumbprint Jewelry with birthstone.
Holiday gift
What better way to shower a child with love than with the Black Plated Thumbprint Jewelry with their name engraved on the back!
Family heirloom
Give the gift of family to pass down to future generations with the Gold Plated Bar Thumbprint Pendant engraved with the family name.
How Do I Order Thumbprint Jewelry?
To order a piece of thumbprint jewelry, you must select which piece you like best and then answer or fill out the personalization questions. Common questions include the following:
- Do you require a fingerprint collection kit? These will generally come free when you order a thumbprint jewelry piece and are used to capture a fingerprint at home. It will consist of either an ink kit or ink strips and a way to record the fingerprint. Once you have the fingerprint, you simply upload it through the website where you made your order.
Our fingerprint collection kit
- If you already have fingerprints, you simply upload on the order page.
- You then select the type of chain that you want. Generally, these will come in either 20” lengths for free but some retailers do offer premium chains at varying lengths. You may come across 18, 20, 22, 24, and 30” chains.
- You will then be prompted to select your back engraving. Not all thumbprint jewelry will come with engravings, so if you want an engraved piece, make sure to select one that comes with engraving. You should always have the option to select no engraving at all. If you do select back engraving, you will need to decide on what type of font you want such as script font or block font.
- Once you’ve selected your back engraving, you will be given a certain number of lines in which your engraving will sit across. Typically, this is across three lines of 16 characters maximum. However, some thumbprint jewelry may only have 1 line or even up to 6 lines. This is just dependent on what type of jewelry you select and what the customization options are.
- Then select the quantity you want and add it to the cart.
Once you are happy with the piece you’ve selected, use the checkout process. You may require a credit card to check out or an online digital e-payment system like PayPal. Make sure to double-check the shipping details and correctly insert the address you want the fingerprint jewelry to go to.
How To Obtain The Thumbprint From Living Or Deceased
While this is considered the hardest part of having thumbprint jewelry made, it is possible that you already have the thumbprint available to you. This is just dependent on whether the individual is deceased or alive and how close you were/are with them.
For an individual who is alive and well, you can use a fingerprint collection kit that can be requested online (for free) through the order form page. The collection kit will provide you with instructions on how to use it, an ink strip, and a fingerprint collection card for stamping the thumbprint onto. You simply use the ink strips to gather the fingerprints, place four images onto the collection card and then take a picture of the card and upload it. You can also scan the QR code on the collection card to be brought automatically to the upload page.
For an individual who has passed away, the funeral home will likely have a copy of the thumbprint. It is always recommended that you check with the funeral home first as they are often, very willing to help you in creating a beautiful memento of your family member or friend. If you do choose to get the thumbprint from the funeral home, be prepared to bring documentation such as an identification that you are related/were close to the deceased individual.
For babies, you can use a fingerprint collection kit, or you can ask the hospital where they were born for their handprint or footprint as a means of identification. It is important to note that newborn babies will not have fingerprints that are fully formed yet.
For military men or those who are missing in action, you can ask the military office where they registered or check to see their documentation paperwork. These may contain thumbprints or give you a method of obtaining them.
If you absolutely cannot get a hold of a copy of thumbprints or are unable to obtain one from a military office, funeral home, or hospital, then you may be able to get one from the home in which the individual has lived.
How To Obtain A Thumbprint Off An Object
If you are unable to obtain a thumbprint from any of the above-mentioned places, you may be able to get one from an object from home. Fingerprints - as well as thumbprints - can be found on almost any hard surface and can sometimes be found on soft surfaces as well.
Generally, you are going to be looking for either patent (visible) or latent (invisible) fingerprints. Visible prints are often transferred from the thumb or finger due to blood, dirt, ink, or paint on them, whereas, latent prints are formed when the natural oils, sweat, and skin are deposited onto a surface. Latent fingerprints are not readily visible and require the use of an alternative light source, a chemical reagent, or a fingerprint powder.
How To Collect Patent Prints
Patent prints are collected using high-resolution photography and a forensic measurement scale. Often chemicals, dyes, or alternative light sources are used during photography to find these.
How To Collect Latent Prints
Latent prints are collected by dusting a nonporous surface with fingerprint powder. If any show up, they are photographed, then lifted with clear adhesive tape. Items you will need:
- An object they touched
- Black or white fingerprint powder
- A small paintbrush or make-up brush with soft bristles
- Clear tape
Here is how you would gather the latent thumbprint of a loved one.
STEP 1
Sprinkle a small amount of powder over the area of the print. Make sure to cover the entire area where you think the print is. You will need white fingerprint powder for dark-colored surfaces and black fingerprint powder for light-colored surfaces.
STEP 2
Gently brush the excess powder off the print with your soft-bristled brush. Be very gentle when doing this, as you want to keep the powder that is in the fingerprint, intact.
STEP 3
Place a piece of clear adhesive tape down over the powdered print and very carefully pull it back up.
STEP 4
Place the tape on a contrasting piece of paper. Black for a white-powdered print and white for a black-powdered print.
Voila, you are done and can now upload the thumbprint. It is highly recommended that you use the above steps on your own thumbprint first before trying on any of your loved ones around the house.
What Is Included In A Thumbprint Jewelry Purchase?
With the purchase of any of our thumbprint jewelry options, you will receive:
- A keepsake that is laser engraved and hand-finished
- A free fingerprint collection kit
- A high quality 20” matching chain
- Great presentation in a jeweler's gift box and white presentation box
The free matching chain is silver rhodium plated over brass or if you choose a premium chain at checkout, it will be silver rhodium plated over sterling silver and will be in either 18", 20", 22", 24", or 30” in length.
Selecting Thumbprint Jewelry Based Off Of Budget And Need
When it comes to buying thumbprint jewelry, you will need to primarily decide on what type of thumbprint jewelry you would like. This could be a pendant, a keychain, a dog tag, a ring, or even a necklace. Here are some good general tips and questions to ask yourself about which type of pendant best suits your budget and needs.
Smaller budgets
Are you happy with receiving a brushed, silver or copper metallic pendant? If so, getting a stainless-steel or copper keepsake is going to be a lot less expensive and easier on the budget than a keepsake made from sterling silver.
Moderate budgets
Are you looking for your pendant to have some extra dazzle to it with resin color, a laser/hammer look, or a two-toned color palette? Or perhaps a custom shape such as a heart or an oval? These are going to run a bit more expensive.
No budget
Go all out! Add some resin, have a custom shape designed and add a birthstone rider! Engraved text on the back of the jewelry and an upgraded chain give you a one of kind personal keepsake you'll treasure and can be passed down!
Generally, you want to pick a pendant, keychain, or dog tag that is reminiscent of your loved one that still fits within your budget. If you are looking to hit the lower end of the budget, consider skipping out on the plated options and choose to place a very heartfelt engraving on the back.
If you’re okay to spend a little extra, look at adding on some gold plating or a birthstone. Upgrading your chain selection to one of our premium chains is also a great addition to any of our thumbprint jewelry.
Thumbprint Jewelry FAQ's
We understand that you may have questions about thumbprint jewelry. Read some of our most frequently asked questions!
How long will it take to receive my order?
We are able to ship your personalized memorial thumbprint jewelry within 24-48 hours of processing your order and standard delivery times are 1-3 business days depending on where you live. For example, if you placed your order on Monday morning, your thumbprint jewelry would ship on Tuesday and you would receive between Wednesday and Friday.
How do I get my thumbprint to you?
There are a couple of options for you to get our thumbprint to us. You can upload the image directly on the product page or email us the image referencing your order number. Additionally, we can send out a free fingerprint kit on the day that your order is placed. The fingerprint kit takes you step-by-step through the process and then you simply email us the resulting image.
I want to order thumbprint jewelry for my entire family. Can you offer me a discount for a large order?
We love passing on savings to our customers and would be happy to work with you on a discount for a larger order. Check out our coupons and discounts page to see what kinds of offers are currently available. Also, we are always available via email at sales@jewelrykeepsakes.com or by calling 1-877-723-7229.
Can you do an infant's thumbprint?
We absolutely can do an infant's thumbprint! You can upload the image of your baby's thumbprint or fingerprint directly on the product page or we can send out a fingerprint kit to you on the day the order is placed. Thumbprint jewelry with an infant's fingerprint makes a wonderful and special gift for mom and dad to celebrate the birth of their child!
Can you add engraved text to my thumbprint jewelry?
All of our thumbprint jewelry can be personalized with engraved text. Each piece varies with the amount of customized text and you can select your engraving directly on the product page. Adding engraved text to the back of thumbprint jewelry allows for families to increase the emotional value of the jewelry.
What are my options for customizing my thumbprint jewelry?
There are several different options when it comes to customizing your thumbprint jewelry. You can upgrade to one of our premium chains or choose a chain that is in a contrasting finish. All of our thumbprint jewelry can be personalized with engraved text. You can also add a birthstone heart or small initial accessory to pair with your thumbprint jewelry.
Do I have to clean my thumbprint jewelry?
We do suggest periodic cleaning of your thumbprint jewelry. Using a jeweler's cloth or a lint free cloth, gently wipe the jewelry on every side. This will remove any oil build-up or residue that can accumulate on the jewelry with wear. Never use jewelry cleaners or chemicals to clean your jewelry as this can damage the integrity of the metal or finish.
My loved one passed away. How do I get their fingerprint?
Most funeral homes take the fingerprints of the deceased and keep them on file. You can call the funeral home to see if they did indeed take fingerprints and ask them to forward to Jewelry Keepsakes. Or we are happy to call them for you and assist in any way that we can.
Can you combine the thumbprints of my two children?
Yes, we can combine two fingerprints! Fingerprint jewelry such as the Two Thumbprint Heart can be engraved with two different fingerprints and is available in four different finishes. We can also custom design thumbprint jewelry that will hold multiple prints. Email us at sales@jewelrykeepsakes.com or give us a call at 1-877-723-7229 and we will be happy to assist you!
I don't see exactly what I want on your site. Can you custom design a piece of thumbprint jewelry for me?
We would love to custom design a piece of thumbprint jewelry for you! Collaboration is our specialty and we can create almost anything you're looking for. Send us your thoughts at sales@jewelrykeepsakes.com or call us at 1-877-723-7229 to get the designing started!
Can you feel the grooves of the thumbprint on the jewelry?
You can feel the ridges of the fingerprint on the thumbprint jewelry! The ability to touch and feel the fingerprint of someone you cherish increases the emotional value of your thumbprint jewelry. Every thumbprint is unique and all of our thumbprint jewelry is one of a kind too!
When it comes to keeping a loved one close to you, there is nothing that quite matches running your fingers along the ridges of another’s fingerprint. With a custom-designed memorial thumbprint jewelry piece, you can celebrate and remember that special someone in a unique and beautiful way.
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Updated November 14, 2019 by Jeri K. Augustus