Memorial Keepsakes Guide: Types, Sizes and How to Choose

Memorial keepsakes are objects used to preserve a photograph, name, message, or personal belonging connected with someone who has died. They include portrait frames, engraved plaques, memory boxes, glass memorial lights, wearable jewelry, and other small remembrance pieces.

Not every memorial keepsake holds ashes. Many are designed only for display, storage, or symbolic remembrance. Products made to contain cremated remains should be identified separately as keepsake urns or cremation jewelry.

This guide compares the main types, sizes, and uses so you can choose a keepsake that suits the memory you want to preserve and the place where it will be kept.

Types of Memorial Keepsakes

Memorial Frames and Plaques

A memorial frame or plaque displays a photograph, portrait, name, dates, or short inscription. It is a practical choice when one image or portrait is central to how a person or pet will be remembered.

Small frames are suitable for a desk, bedside table, or bookcase. Larger pieces are easier to see on a mantel, console table, or memorial display. Before ordering, check the overall dimensions and how much space is available for the photograph and inscription.

Royal Memorials currently offers solid walnut memorial frames and plaques with engraved or three-dimensional brass details. These pieces are made for display and do not contain ashes.

Memory and Keepsake Boxes

A memorial keepsake box stores personal objects that may not be suitable for open display. Common examples include:

• Photographs and handwritten letters
• Jewelry, watches, or small accessories
• Cards and printed memorial materials
• Pet tags or other small belongings
• Dried flowers or fabric from a meaningful item

Choose a box according to what will be stored inside. A compact box may be sufficient for jewelry or folded notes, while a larger box is more useful for collections of photographs and personal belongings. Check the internal measurements, not only the outside dimensions.

A standard keepsake box should not be used for loose ashes unless the product is specifically designed and described as an urn.

Glass Memorial Lights

A glass memorial light combines a portrait or photograph with an illuminated glass display. It can be placed on a shelf, side table, nightstand, or other stable indoor surface.

Royal Memorials currently offers round and square glass keepsake lights measuring approximately 5.9 to 7.1 inches. The photograph is the main design element, so image quality is especially important.

Choose a photograph in which the face or main subject is in focus and not covered by other people or objects. The original image file or a high-resolution scan usually produces a better result than a screenshot or compressed social media image.

Keepsake Jewelry Without Ashes

Keepsake jewelry provides a wearable symbol of remembrance without containing cremated remains. A design may reflect a person’s faith, interests, character, or a memory shared with the wearer.

Royal Memorials’ current keepsake jewelry includes stainless steel animal and symbolic pendants. Depending on the design, the pendants measure approximately 1.42 to 2.45 inches.

When choosing keepsake jewelry, compare the pendant size, weight, chain length, material, and how visible the design will be when worn. If you want the piece to hold a small amount of ashes, choose a product specifically identified as cremation jewelry instead.

Other Types of Memorial Keepsakes

Beyond frames, memory boxes, glass memorial lights, and keepsake jewelry, families may also choose personalized wind chimes, reusable candle holders, garden stones, suncatchers, seasonal ornaments, shadow boxes, and small pocket tokens. Each serves a different purpose, from creating an outdoor place of remembrance to preserving personal belongings or carrying a private reminder throughout the day.

These are among the product types we are considering as the Royal Memorials collection continues to grow. We also want future keepsakes to reflect what families genuinely need, rather than simply adding more products to the catalog. If you are looking for a particular type of memorial keepsake, personalization, material, or way to preserve a memory that you do not currently see in our collection, please tell us what you have in mind. We will carefully consider whether it is something we can create, personalize, or develop for the future.

Memorial Keepsake Size Guide

Product photographs do not always show scale accurately. Check the listed measurements before ordering and compare them with the space where the keepsake will be used.

• Wearable keepsakes: Current Royal Memorials pendants measure approximately 1.42 to 2.45 inches in their longest dimension. Smaller pieces are more discreet, while larger pendants make the design more visible.
• Small display keepsakes: Pieces around 4 to 4.6 inches fit easily on desks, nightstands, and smaller shelves.
• Medium display keepsakes: Pieces around 5.9 to 7.1 inches have a stronger presence while remaining suitable for most shelves and side tables.
• Large display keepsakes: Frames approaching 10.71 by 8.58 inches are better suited to a mantel, console table, or dedicated memorial area.

For a display piece, use a ruler or cut a sheet of paper to the stated dimensions and place it in the intended location. For a box, confirm the usable internal space. For jewelry, compare the pendant measurements with a necklace you already own.

How to Choose the Right Memorial Keepsake

Start by deciding what you want the keepsake to do.

• Display a favorite photograph: Choose a portrait frame, plaque, or glass memorial light.
• Store letters and belongings: Choose a memory or keepsake box with enough internal space.
• Carry a private symbol: Consider keepsake jewelry or a small pocket token.
• Create an outdoor remembrance: A weather-resistant garden plaque, stone, or wind chime may be more suitable.
• Share keepsakes among family members: Choose smaller coordinated pieces that can be personalized individually.

Next, consider where the keepsake will be placed. A large frame may be appropriate for a shared family room but unsuitable for someone with limited display space. A pendant may suit someone who regularly wears jewelry, while a box is more useful for a person who wants to preserve several physical objects.

If the keepsake is a gift, check names and dates with a close family member before placing the order. Choose a photograph the recipient recognizes and values rather than one selected only because it has the highest technical quality.

Memorial Keepsakes, Keepsake Urns and Cremation Jewelry

The terms are sometimes confused, but the products have different purposes:

If a product will contain ashes, check its stated capacity, closure method, and filling instructions before ordering. Do not place ashes in an ordinary box, pendant, or display item that was not designed for that purpose.

What Can Be Personalized?

Personalization options depend on the product but commonly include:

• A photograph or custom portrait
• A full name or familiar name
• Birth and death dates
• A short personal message
• A fingerprint or handwritten phrase
• A meaningful symbol or design

Limited space should be used carefully. A clear portrait, name, and short inscription are often easier to read than several lines of generic wording. Confirm spelling, dates, photograph placement, and other details before approving the design.

Choosing a Keepsake as a Sympathy Gift

A memorial keepsake can be sent shortly after a loss or given later on a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or other meaningful date. The timing is less important than choosing something appropriate to the recipient and their relationship with the person being remembered.

For someone who prefers privacy, consider a pendant, pocket token, or small box. For a family that displays photographs at home, a personalized frame or glass light may be more appropriate. Do not assume that the recipient wants a product containing ashes unless this has already been discussed with them.

A short accompanying message is sufficient. For example: “I wanted you to have something that honors the memories you shared.”

Find the Format That Fits the Memory

A useful memorial keepsake should have a clear purpose. It may display a photograph, protect personal belongings, provide a wearable symbol, or create a particular place for remembrance.

Start with what you want to preserve, decide where the keepsake will be used, and then compare its dimensions, material, personalization, and care requirements. This approach is more reliable than choosing from appearance alone.

Explore our Memorial Keepsakes and Keepsake Jewelry. If you need a product designed to hold a small amount of ashes, compare our Keepsake Urns and Cremation Jewelry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do memorial keepsakes contain ashes?

Not necessarily. The memorial keepsakes and keepsake jewelry discussed in this guide do not hold ashes. Products designed for cremated remains should be identified as keepsake urns or cremation jewelry.

What can I put in a memorial keepsake box?

Depending on its internal size, a keepsake box may hold photographs, letters, jewelry, cards, pet tags, dried flowers, and other small belongings. Do not use it for loose ashes unless it is specifically designed as an urn.

What size memorial keepsake should I choose?

Choose according to its intended location and use. Small pieces suit desks and nightstands, medium pieces work well on shelves, and larger frames need a mantel or dedicated display area. Always check the stated dimensions.

Can an old photograph be used?

Often, yes. The face or main subject should still be recognizable. An original file or high-resolution scan will generally produce a better result than a screenshot or compressed copy.

Are memorial keepsakes only for people?

No. Memorial keepsakes can also honor pets. Photographs, portraits, paw prints, collar tags, and other personal details can be used in pet memorial frames, plaques, boxes, and jewelry.

Is keepsake jewelry the same as cremation jewelry?

No. Keepsake jewelry carries a symbolic or personalized design but does not hold ashes. Cremation jewelry has a small internal chamber designed to hold a symbolic amount of cremated remains.