Jewellery designer Jessica Collin shares the story behind her memorial collection

It started with her own story...

The importance of capturing connections and being able to hold memories close became so important to me as a designer when I lost my own father aged just 21. This was during my final year of my degree studying Jewellery Design in the early noughties. Not having him there on my graduation day was so sad, but knowing he would never walk me down the aisle just so painful. this is when I first started to see how powerful jewellery can be in keeping love alive.

Our memory collection

Available in 925 silver or to commission in your choice of gold (carat and colour) our select collection of  capsule designs are based on nature’s very own ‘capsules’. The collection was launched in 2021 after the creation of a bespoke commission inspired me to create jewellery made to hold memorial ashes in the wonderfully natural organic designs I love to create. I hoped to offer a unique and beautiful alternative to the memorial jewellery currently available on the high street.

Beautiful enough for every bride

We directly cast our small collection of designs from different sized acorns and poppy seed heads. I have taken care to choose natural ‘capsules’ with the most beautiful detail and uniqueness. It’s the textures and organic forms captured in every piece of jewellery that makes my work beautiful enough to wear with any bridal dress and special enough to house the most treasured of content.

Meaning and symbolism

With every thought and consideration given to creating designs that are gorgeous enough to wear on the most special of days as well as daily as we mostly do with memorial jewellery. I decided to choose poppies because they symbolise remembrance, peace and rest. Alongside the the acorn which represents inner strength, courage, wisdom and protection.

The Cast & Found ethos - Treasuring stories has become a passion

As an independent UK brand lead by a passionate and skilled jeweller Cast & Found has developed this unique way to capture your own stories - through nature and our bespoke designs. We offer something truly original - from wedding rings cast from bark and twigs gathered by couples themselves, to bespoke jewellery designed to capture and cherish wedding day blooms forever. We help our customers treasure the memeories, meaning and sentiment that’s so deeply personal to them.

How to commission

All our designs are available to order online in 925 silver (after checkout you will receive an email detailing the next steps) or get in touch to request a quote, stating your preferred colour and carat of precious metal i.e. 9 carat yellow gold.

Commission your memory piece

Promise

We vow to take every care to handcraft the perfect memorial piece of jewellery for each and every customer. Using the latest technology to professionally seal-close our capsule designs and create the most special memories for you to wear close to your heart x

"Deep down you know the right way for you to remember on your wedding day" Says jessica

Jessica's wedding

Thirteen years after my father passed away, on my wedding day in the Lake District, I had planned to tie a small photograph of my Dad in a pretty minute-style frame onto my bouquet, but it didn’t feel quite right. My stepdad was walking me down the aisle and I worried about making him feel uncomfortable. So we had Dad join us in other little ways, like robins on my husband’s socks and a ring I wore that I’d crafted using natural finds from a woodland in the Peak District where we always walked our dog (a springer named Jasper) when I was a child. A place that makes me feel closer to him than being at his graveside. He had a burial so I couldn’t encapsulate his ashes to carry with me in jewellery, but I felt a connection through these other objects x

If you have any comments or questions

It will mean a lot to hear from you below and please remember - whatever you choose to do to cherish and connect with your special people on your wedding day (and beyond) - trust your choice. We are all different and grieve in our own ways, so you know what is right for you.

Jessica x  

Read more about Jessica's wedding on the 'Our Wedding' Blog or follow #Treasureyourstory to see others stories treasured by Cast and Found

Photographs by

Anna at Pear ear Photography Nottinghamshire based wedding photographer

Sarah at TTS Media Lincolnshire based wedding photographer

Ellie at EKR pictures  Derbyshire based wedding photographer