Frequently asked questions.
What is keepsake/breast milk jewelry?
Keepsake jewelry is a special way to keep memories alive forever; it is a precious piece of jewelry made from someone's own special keepsakes such as breast milk, formula, ash, dried flowers (wedding bouquets, funeral flowers, etc.), locks of hair, placenta capsule, sand, and really anything that holds deep meaning to you. Breast milk jewelry is our most popular keepsake choice and commemorates the beautiful but difficult journey of breastfeeding and the eternal bond formed between a mama and her baby.
At The Keepsake Co., we celebrate and honor all mamas and all motherhood journeys! We will happily make a piece out of other keepsakes! If you don't see your keepsake type listed when selecting customization options at checkout, just shoot us an email to make sure it is possible with our preservation method and stone design process before placing an order.
How long does it take to process my jewelry &when will I receive it?
The preservation process usually takes at least a few weeks to a month, including a degassing period to ensure the stone is fully cured before we set it and send it to you.
Our top priority is maintaining the absolute best quality craftsmanship and we will never rush the process.
Can I use old milk that’s been frozen a long time?
Yes! It can be in the freezer for many years and will still work perfectly for jewelry!
Can I wear Keepsake jewelry everyday?
The best choice for frequent wear and/or to pass down for generations is SOLID GOLD. 10-18K solid gold is much more durable and less prone to tarnishing than the silver and silver with plating options. The plating on the plated pieces will likely wear off over time (how quickly depends on body chemistry and frequency of wear). The keepsake stones are similar in hardness to an opal and if worn frequently they can eventually scratch. I am hoping to offer a repair service for that reason in the future!
What materials is the jewelry made out of?
The Keepsake Company is for ALL mamas and all budgets! I wanted to make sure there was a variety of pricing and metal/stone options within our collections.
This includes rings that are made of .925 sterling silver with gold and rose gold plating options.
If you are wanting a piece to wear frequently and pass down for generations, please choose SOLID GOLD. It is much more durable than sterling silver/plated, which is more suited for occasional wear. Plating on plated pieces will wear off over time and that depends on frequency of wear and body chemistry.
How do I ship my keepsake/breastmilk inclusions & how much do I send?
Detailed instructions on how to send your milk and/or inclusions will be sent via confirmation email once your purchase is complete. The address will be included in this email. If you do not see the email in your inbox, check your spam folder. If you still cannot locate the email, please contact thekeepsakecompanymb@gmail.com. You will be responsible to pay usually around $5 to ship your milk/keepsake to me. You must get tracking information and keep your receipt. Do NOT require signature for delivery.
And whatever you do, DO NOT SEND BREASTMILK IN ZIPLOCK BAGS - IT WILL BE A LEAKY MESS. Trust me, I unfortunately know first-hand. Not a good sitch for either of us!
DO NOT SEND ME THE LAST OF YOUR BREASTMILK OR KEEPSAKES. There are rare occasions when it can get lost in the mail. The Keepsake Company is not responsible if this happens and will not issue refunds for this issue. Avoid this tragedy completely by you not sending the last of anything!
For breastmilk, you will need a small bubble mailer and 3 breastmilk storage bags. Please only send 1/2- 1 ounce of thawed/room temperature breastmilk in a breastmilk storage bag. Place this bag in another sealed breastmilk storage bag, and then another (triple bag the breastmilk). Write the purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and order # on the outside (3rd) bag. Place in a small bubble mailer and send it on its journey!
For ash, I only need 1-2 tsp. Double bag it (ziplock is fine). Write the purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and order # on the outside bag. .
For dried flowers, send 5-7 FULLY DRIED petals in a ziplock bag and place extra bubble wrap around the bag. Write the purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and order # on the bag. Send in a small bubble mailer.
For hair, please send about 25 strands. The best way to do this fold it up in tin foil or a piece of paper to keep it all together. Place in ziplock bag and label with purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and order # on bag. No tape please. I will return any unused hair.
For placenta, put one enclosed capsule in a ziplock bag and label with purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and order # on bag. No tape please. I will return any unused.
For umbilical cord, it must be fully dried. Only send a small portion of stump. Place in a ziplock bag and label with purchaser's name, piece of jewelry ordered, and order # on bag. No tape please. I will return any unused.
Our top priority is maintaining the absolute best quality craftsmanship and we will never rush the process.
How do I properly care for my keepsake jewelry?
Treat your precious keepsake jewelry/items as you would treat your grandmother's heirloom pearls - with great love and care. Do not shower, bathe, wash hands, do dishes, work out, sunbathe, swim, or sleep while wearing your jewelry. Do not expose your jewelry to chemicals (lotion, perfume, hairspray, laundry/dish soap, etc.), extreme temperatures, humidity, extended UV light, or essential oils. Do not store your jewelry in direct sunlight or in a humid area like a bathroom. We recommend storing in a dark, dry area - preferably small ziplock baggie with an anti-tarnish strip. Do not store mixed metals together as that can accelerate tarnishing. For example, do not store silver pieces in the same place as gold plated pieces.
With all of that being said, I have done a TON of testing on my keepsake stones. I have put it in water in my window UV light and it still looks beautiful.
I also recently did testing on resizing our jewelry, and it can be done! You need to find a jeweler who can specifically do laser resizing, where they don't heat up the stones or dip them in chemicals.
Any other questions that are not listed can be emailed to me at thekeepsakecompanymb@gmail.com