Memento Mori Jewelry
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel, Silver, Brass
2010s French Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Bangles
Tanzanite, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
Antique 18th Century English George III Signet Rings
Diamond, 22k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Emerald, Gold Plate
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
14k Gold, Enamel, Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Black Diamond, Brass, Gold Plate, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel, Gold
2010s American Victorian Signet Rings
White Diamond, Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Signet Rings
Emerald, Bronze
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Black Diamond, Silver, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold Plate
2010s Indian Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Black Diamond, Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Ruby, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Black Diamond, Silver, Gold Plate
2010s Indian Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, Gold Plate, Enamel, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Gold Plate, Enamel, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, S...
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel, Ste...
2010s Indian Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s American Victorian Bangles
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, ...
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Onyx, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Onyx, Gold Plate, 14k Gold, Brass
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Si...
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Bangles
Aquamarine, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold Plate, Enamel, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Cocktail Rings
Quartz, Crystal, Enamel, Gold Plate, 14k Gold
Antique 17th Century Medieval Band Rings
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Onyx, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Emerald, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Black Diamond, Gold Plate
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Garnet, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
Vintage 1980s American Fashion Rings
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Black Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Enamel, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Signet Rings
Emerald, Bronze
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About Memento Mori and Mourning Jewelry
Memento mori and mourning jewelry are often lumped together, but they’re actually quite different, if not in style, then in purpose. While memento mori pieces serve as reminders of death in general, each item of mourning jewelry was designed or customized as a remembrance of a specific person.
“Remember that you must die.” Translated from Latin, this is the meaning of memento mori, a message that spurred a style of jewelry. Dating as far back at the 16th century, memento mori jewelry is designed to remind wearers of their mortality, with designs that incorporate symbols of death like skulls and crossbones, coffins and snakes. Given the relatively short life expectancies for people at that time, did people need a reminder that they were going to die (and probably sooner than later)?
“Memento mori jewelry was rooted in deeply held Christian belief and the concept of a judgement day,” says Lindsay Salmon, part of the duo behind jewelry line Erica Weiner, which offers both original designs and antique pieces. “Wearing a piece of this jewelry is a constant physical and visual reminder that one day you will die, and when you do, you will be held to account for your sins. In other words, lead a virtuous life or spend an eternity damned to the fires of hell." She also says the jewelry tends to fascinate people, and it can be their entry point into the world of antique jewelry and collecting.
Salmon, a collector of mourning jewelry, says she wears her acquisitions often, which include an 18th-century full-body skeleton ring and a Victorian wide gold ‘In Memory Of’ band with a woman’s wedding band encased in the interior. (The Grand period of Victorian jewelry is most often associated with mourning jewelry.) “I have a beautiful Georgian mourning ring with lovely enamel work and amethysts that had had its original dedication removed, she says. “I bought the ring despite its missing information, and later had it engraved for my father.”
Find a range of antique and vintage memento mori jewelry on 1stDibs.
- What is a memento mori ring?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Memento mori ring is a ring that is an artistic reminder of the inevitability of death. ‘Memento mori’ is a Latin term that means “remember you must die.” These rings typically either feature a skull, crossbones or skeletons to prompt people to remember the shortness of life. Shop a range of memento mori rings on 1stDibs.
- What does memento mori mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Memento mori means “remember that you must die” in Latin. A memento mori is an object which serves as either a warning or reminder of death. An example of a memento mori is a skull.