What goes inside
One piece, so many stories
A lock of hair, ashes, your pet's fur, sand brought back from a place that matters. Here is what can be enclosed inside — and if your idea is not here, it can most likely be done anyway.
Hair
A necklace with a lock of hair
A baby's hair, a child's who has grown up, someone's who is no longer here. One lock is enough — and several can fit in the same piece: I once made a pendant with a lock from each member of the same family, to celebrate the joy of being part of each other's lives.
Ashes
A memorial piece to keep ashes
These pendants can hold ashes after a death. A very small amount is enough: there is no set weight to respect, and I send the excess back to you with your order.
Once filled, the pendant is sealed for life and completely airtight. It cannot be opened: nothing can come out, and your keepsake remains intact.
For me there is nothing sad about making them. It is a celebration of a life lived, to wear around the neck or to keep symbolically.
Pets
A keepsake piece for your dog, your cat, your horse
Dog or cat fur, horsehair: they are enclosed in the glass exactly like a lock of hair, and the piece is made in the same way.
The pendant in the photo holds a horse's hair. Here too, very little is needed.
A place
Sand, soil, a travel keepsake
Anything that holds the memory of a place for you. I once made a pendant with soil from Jerusalem, brought back from a trip taken some ten years earlier — a keepsake full of emotion for the person who had made it.
The size
What it looks like in your hand
You will not find dimensions on this page, and that is intentional: each drop is blown by hand and no two are exactly identical. A photo in the hand will tell you more than a number.
This one holds water and gold flakes. The glass is sealed so well that it can hold a liquid — which shows how safe your keepsake is inside.
The workshop
How your piece is made
I melt the glass at the torch, blow it and shape it, then I fill it myself with your material and seal it. The glass is then annealed in the kiln: these pendants are extremely resistant.
Everything is done one piece at a time, in my workshop in the Hautes-Pyrénées.
Ready to gift
Delivered in its jewelry box
Your piece arrives in its jewelry box, ready to gift.
If you are giving it on a specific date, remember to allow for the 21 days of making in addition to the time it takes for your package to reach me.
And if it is none of these?
A keepsake I have not thought of, a doubt about whether it can be done, a date to meet: write to me or call me before ordering. I answer personally, and we will look together at what is possible.
Before you order
The questions I am asked
How much material should I send you?
Very little. One lock of hair is enough, and for ashes, a very small amount will do: there is no set weight to respect. If any is left over, I send the excess back to you with your order.
How do I send you my keepsake?
Once your order is confirmed, you will receive an email explaining the steps to follow and the address where to send me your material. Send it by tracked letter, stating your first and last name, the delivery address, the order number and a phone number so that I can reach you if needed.
How do I send ashes?
By post, like everything else. A small zip bag works very well to hold them during shipping, and very little is really needed.
Can the pendant be opened?
No. It is sealed for life and completely airtight: this is what keeps your keepsake intact. Nothing can come out.
To give you an idea of the seal: one of these pendants can hold water.
How long does it take?
I make your piece within 21 days of receiving your package, then ship it to you. The lead time therefore starts when I receive your material, not when you order.
If you are giving it on a specific date, allow for this making time in addition to the time it takes for your package to reach me.
Can I combine several keepsakes in the same piece?
Yes. I once made a pendant that brought together a lock from each member of the same family.
Is the glass fragile?
No. Borosilicate glass is worked in the flame and then annealed in the kiln: these pendants are extremely resistant. It is still best to avoid knocks on hard surfaces.
How do I care for it?
Clean it with a soft cloth. Remove it before showering, swimming in a pool or in the sea, especially if the chain is 925 sterling silver.
Can I have one made for my pet?
Yes. Dog or cat fur and horsehair are enclosed in the glass exactly like a lock of hair.
Which necklace comes with the pendant?
Your choice: a silver-tone stainless steel chain, a gold-tone chain, a 925 sterling silver chain or an adjustable black cord. The glass comes in clear, amber or black.
What if what I want to put inside is not on the list?
Write to me before ordering: we will check together that it can be done. By phone at 07 49 88 23 49, or by email at hello@abyss-glass.fr.
