TO MAKE THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE UNDERSTANDABLE.
In memory
of the deceased
Death leaves behind a seemingly boundless void. And everything that once was is no
longer. Even
the seemingly simplest things become a source of anguish. We understand these
feelings, this helplessness, this pain, this emptiness.
That is why we have developed an
alternative – made from ashes or hair.
In addition to a traditional
burial. Or instead.
Ashes to stone.
Death leaves behind a seemingly boundless void. And everything that once was is no longer. The things we thought were simplest become unbearable. We understand these feelings, this helplessness, this pain, this emptiness. That is why we have developed an alternative – a portable memento of the deceased, made from ashes or hair. In addition to a traditional funeral. Or instead. Mementos have played an important role in the history of humankind for thousands of years. They can help us to cope better with the death of a loved one. Everyone grieves differently – different things help different people to cope with their grief: a ritual, a visit to the place of burial, photographs, a lock of hair …
The aim is to be able to integrate the pain of grief into our lives. That is why we founded MEVISTO and created personalised mementoes that offer comfort and help people through their grief.
With a gemstone made from ashes,
the story lives on
Since 2013, we at MEVISTO have been crafting sapphires and rubies from ashes or hair. Following a bereavement, the desire for a memento, for a heirloom, is often strong. A piece of jewellery can be taken anywhere and brings light. Sometimes such a personalised memento is created in addition to a funeral, sometimes in place of a grave.
Depending on the region and the wishes of the bereaved, a gemstone burial can take many forms. As an alternative to commemorative jewellery made from ashes, a personalised gemstone can also be crafted from hair – this option is often chosen when a traditional burial is desired or where burial laws are strict.
A pearl with a soul,
made from hair or ashes
The Pearl with a Soul was developed to provide an affordable alternative to gemstones. The ceramic pearl is handcrafted in-house at MEVISTO and set in high-alloy silver. A mini-lab enables personalisation at home. The funeral director can also assist with personalisation using the mini-lab if the bereaved are not yet ready to do so themselves due to their grief.
This version of memorial jewellery offers the opportunity to create a piece of commemorative jewellery for several bereaved family members. We have already had the privilege of personalising pearls for an entire small group of mourners using elements of a deceased young man’s hair. This story moved us deeply.
We have built a broad network of trusted partners to provide you with personal guidance close to home.
Our trained funeral directors can assist you throughout the entire ordering process and handle all the necessary arrangements on your behalf. During a time of grief, many families appreciate having compassionate support from someone they trust.
If you prefer, you can also place your order directly with MEVISTO. We will be happy to guide you through every step of the process with the same care and personal attention.
If your funeral director is not yet a MEVISTO partner, there is no need to worry. We are happy to provide personal guidance and support to both you and your funeral director at any time.
We assist with every step of the process, ensuring that ordering a personalized gemstone is simple, respectful, and handled with the utmost care.
No. The Pearl with Soul requires only a very small amount of biogenic material for personalization.
A small lock of hair, a little pet fur, or just a pinch of cremation ashes is enough to personalize up to five pearls using a single Mini Lab.
At MEVISTO, however, every personalized gemstone begins with a complex chemical process that extracts the unique elements from the cremation ashes or hair of the loved one it commemorates.
This extraction process can take up to 14 days before the crystal can even begin to grow. Once the rough crystal has formed, each gemstone is cut and polished entirely by hand in our own manufactory. Exceptional craftsmanship is one of our highest priorities. Every gemstone is examined under magnification hundreds of times during the cutting and polishing process to ensure outstanding precision and quality.
Unlike the Pearl with Soul, which can be personalized at home, MEVISTO's personalized gemstones are individually handcrafted and set in 14-karat gold as standard rather than sterling silver. The combination of advanced scientific expertise, meticulous handcraftsmanship, premium materials, and the uniqueness of every gemstone makes each piece a truly exceptional and lasting keepsake.
Yes. Hair and cremation ashes can be combined to create a personalized sapphire or ruby.
To produce a personalized gemstone, we normally require 50 grams of cremation ashes or 10 grams of hair. If there is not enough of either material, ashes and hair can be combined. It is also possible to combine the hair or ashes of several people—or even beloved pets—into a single gemstone.
This allows families to create a truly unique keepsake that symbolizes the lasting bond between those they love. The possibilities are almost limitless.
In Austria and Germany, cremation ashes are generally subject to burial regulations. In Upper Austria, however, we are permitted to remove a small amount of ashes to create a personalized keepsake. There are several options for the remaining ashes:
I would like a traditional burial at the cemetery of my choice, in addition to a personalized gemstone.
In this case, you can simply send us the 50 grams of cremation ashes required to create your gemstone. Alternatively, you may send 10 grams of hair, allowing the burial to take place completely independently of our work.
In this case, the urn can be sent to MEVISTO. We will remove the required amount of ashes and arrange for the remaining ashes to be buried anonymously near the "Stone of Eternity" memorial site in St. Martin near Linz.
If you prefer, the urn can also be sent to us directly by your funeral director or crematorium. We will carefully remove the required amount of ashes and return the urn either within five business days or together with your finished gemstone, depending on your preference.
I would prefer not to have a grave that requires ongoing maintenance.
Alternatively, you can choose the MEVISTO Burial Package. With this option, we cover the grave lease for the first ten years and take care of its maintenance. After this period, you or your family can decide whether to extend the lease or close the grave. In both cases, all applicable burial regulations are fully respected.
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Turning ashes into a keepsake
We take a different approach and transform the ashes of the deceased into jewellery – jewellery made from ashes that can accompany you through your grief. It gives you something tangible that preserves your connection to your mum, dad or daughter. When light falls on it, it refracts through the sapphires and rubies – a quiet moment of remembrance.
In this way, a gemstone can become a memento of a deceased mother. Whether red or blue – the appearance is determined by the ashes or the hair itself; they tell their very own story. Similarly, a deceased father finds expression in the structure, colour spectrum and intensity of the gemstone, for his elements shape the gemstone made from ashes or hair.
Such a memento can also offer comfort for a partner or another loved one. And when a child has passed away, a keepsake made from their ashes or hair brings back a sense of closeness – some people rediscover in it the radiance of their daughter or son.
For us, a ‘star child’ also counts as a child. Grief for an unborn child also has its place and may be given visible form through a keepsake.
Personalised mementoes of loved ones
who have passed away,
made from their ashes
A heart, a teardrop or a rectangle – perhaps you already have an idea of what your gemstone made from ashes should look like. Even more important, however, is the memory you associate with it: what comes to mind when you think of your beloved departed loved one? It is precisely this memory that can live on in your keepsake.
At MEVISTO, we immortalise ashes or hair in a keepsake for loved ones – both people and pets. The ashes, transformed into jewellery, thus become a gemstone that you can hold close whenever you wish: to linger in your memories and carry a piece of their presence right with you.
MEMORABILIA HAVE BEEN A PART OF HUMAN HISTORY.
Amidst these memories,
what love has left behind blossoms.
A keepsake made from ashes or hair can help in the grieving process. Grief leaves us with an intense feeling of powerlessness. In this situation, it is important to find anchors that can help reconnect the past with the present. Everyone grieves differently, which is why we are committed to offering an alternative. To make the incomprehensible comprehensible.
Do you need support or advice?
We’re always available by phone, even at weekends!