Mourning jewellery

Mourning jewellery is jewellery that is worn as a sign of mourning or loss. In the western world, the wearing of mourning jewellery was traditionally part of the social conventions surrounding mourning and mourning attire. In the 21st century, mourning jewellery has become primarily a way of individually expressing loss, or creating a tangible object to commemorate a loved one.

In principle, any type of jewellery can be mourning jewellery: there are examples of rings, bracelets, necklaces, tiaras, brooches, pendants, lockets, earrings, tie pins, cufflinks and watch chains. Mourning jewellery is traditionally characterised by the use of materials such as jet, pearls and hair, the colour black, and symbolism that refers to death, loss and the afterlife.

Jewellery specifically intended as mourning jewellery emerged from the 16th century onwards. The popularity of mourning jewellery reached its peak in the second half of the 19th century; from the beginning of the 20th century interest in mourning jewellery rapidly declined. In the 21st century, there has been a modest revival in the form of cremation jewellery.