I ordered a custom-made "cremated remains ring" for my beloved cat... I'll share details about the cost, the specific requests I made, and how I felt after it was completed.

Immediately after my beloved cat, Gigi, passed away, I felt an overwhelming urge to follow her. However, I knew Gigi wouldn't be happy if I did that; in fact, I felt she might even be angry.

So, to prevent myself from making a choice that would sadden my beloved cat, I decided to put a brake on my desire to follow her by setting the goal of "creating a custom-made memorial ring for her ashes."

This time, I’ll be sharing the process of creation, the special touches put into the ring, and the real cost.

Ordering a "Memorial Ring for My Beloved Cat" from a Professional Jewelry Shop

I wanted to create a memorial ring. When I searched online, I discovered that there were fewer shops making memorial rings for animal family members than I expected, and the prices varied wildly.

I'm naturally frugal. When I shop, I always calculate with a calculator and choose the cheapest option possible. Initially, I thought about getting an inexpensive memorial ring that I could order online.

But when I opened the order screen, I asked myself, "Will I truly be satisfied with this ring?" and realized the answer was "No." My beloved cat was one-of-a-kind in the world, and she was proud until the very end.

So, I decided I wanted her to stay by my side, proud and in a unique form, even after her passing. I braced myself. Okay! I'll make the most expensive purchase of my life! I decided to get a custom-made memorial ring from a professional jewelry shop that I felt I could trust.

While researching, I became interested in two shops: Shop A, which had a distant location but offered online consultations, and Shop B, which had a sister store nearby. Honestly, I preferred the designs of Shop A, but I thought that rings would look quite different when viewed on a screen versus in person, so I decided to order from Shop B, which I could visit directly.

Design of the "Memorial Ring" Decided After a 3-Hour Consultation!

Before marrying my ex-husband, I had visited a jewelry shop in a shopping mall, but this was my first time going to a standalone, professional jewelry shop. And by myself, no less... So, on the day of my appointment, I felt nervous as I made my way to the store.

"For now, I'll just ask what designs are possible." With such a casual thought, I proceeded with the consultation with the staff, and I was overwhelmed by the abundance of possible designs. Not only the surface, but also the inner engraving offered a high degree of freedom.

Shop B also has a specialized staff member who can sketch design ideas for free, as many as needed, right on the spot. The representative and the designer carefully listened to my requests regarding Gigi's characteristics that I wanted reflected in the ring.

They paid great attention to reflecting Gigi's unique traits in the ring, even looking at her photos.

I was so touched by their dedication, and during the consultation, whenever I mentioned things like "her whiskers were so unusually curled..." or "her tail looked like a raccoon's," I realized that since Gigi passed away, I hadn't had a day where I could talk about her cute quirks and laugh like that.

Furthermore, since Shop B has artisans on staff, I was able to decide on the design while confirming the technique that would result in the most beautiful finish.

Before visiting the shop, I only had a vague request of wanting to "express her tortoiseshell pattern." However, as I spoke with the staff, the "shape I wanted to create" solidified, and I was deeply impressed, thinking, "Professionals are amazing..."

The design was decided three hours after the consultation began. I was happy that they took so much time, and I was grateful for the warmth of the designer who readily made corrections when the image wasn't quite right.

"Ring Prototype Check" One Month After Consultation

When you have a strong desire for a ring with intricate details, it's natural to want to change parts of the decided design. After returning home, I decided I wanted to modify the inner engraving, so I sent an email to Shop B with a specific correction request that same day.

To my surprise, the very next day, Shop B sent me two revised proposals incorporating my wishes. I was amazed by their speed and the quality of the revised designs.

愛猫の遺骨リング、内側の刻印までこだわってもらえて嬉しい。

おヒゲが特徴的だった話や生前にいちごが好きだったこと、亡くなる前にいちごパーティーを家族でしたことを聞いて、こんなデザインを考えてくださる想像力とデザイン力に感動する。 pic.twitter.com/TC8FBCB3iB

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) May 27, 2025

The email at that time was not just business-like; it considered my feelings for Gigi, which made me happy. I truly felt deep down that I was glad I chose Shop B.

One month after the design consultation, I had the ring prototype check. The colors were different, so honestly, I couldn't quite imagine the final product, but when I put it on my finger, I felt happy, thinking, "Soon, I'll be with Gigi forever."

This day was also for choosing the diamonds. I was surprised to find that even with the same color, each diamond had subtle differences in how it sparkled and its hue when looked at closely.

However, being a person who trusts my intuition, I intended to choose something that instantly felt "like Gigi," so I made my decision in seconds. My quick decision surprised the staff member quite a bit (lol).

"Beloved Cat's Memorial Ring" Completed Approximately 2 Months After Ordering!

Approximately two months after ordering, my beloved cat's memorial ring was finally complete. From here, I'll introduce the memorial ring itself, along with the thoughts and special details put into it.

This is what the finished memorial ring looks like. When I posted it on X on the day it was completed, it went viral, and I received DMs from over 60 people asking for the manufacturer.

I was surprised to learn that so many people want to be with their deceased animal family members in the form of a memorial ring, and I was happy to know that there are others who feel the same way. There were also people who wanted to know for when their own cats might pass away in the future, and their love for cats brought a smile to my face.

When making a ring, the first thing to decide is which finger to wear it on. Initially, I was torn between my middle finger and my ring finger. But then, it suddenly occurred to me: "Who is it that I want to pledge eternal love to in my life?"

When I asked myself this question, I thought, "It's my cat," so I decided on the ring finger.

Connections with humans can break (I'm divorced and grew up with toxic parents). But the bond with a cat is eternal. I want to live the rest of my life loving Gigi and my other cats. With that thought, I decided to wear the memorial ring on my ring finger and pledge eternal love to my cat.

Because we live in a diverse era, I thought that the one I pledge my lifelong love to doesn't have to be human.

I had initially intended to choose a curved ring due to my personal preference, but when I actually consulted with the store, the sheer variety of curve types overwhelmed me.

However, when I actually tried on the rings, one particular shape evoked a nostalgic feeling. During Gigi's life, I would sometimes play by putting my finger into her whiskers that were so curled they formed a circle, and there was one shape that reminded me of that feeling.

As I shared that memory with the staff member and said, "I'll take this one," tears naturally welled up. The staff member also got teary-eyed with me, which was comforting.

The surface of the ring has a glossy and matte finish with a groove, representing Gigi's "striped raccoon-like tail." The part that curls up on the right side represents her curled whiskers.

This design was conceived after they saw a photo of Gigi's incredibly unruly whiskers that went viral on X for the first time. (The staff members laughed and said, "Her curls were even more impressive than we imagined!")

おヒゲが暴れてらっしゃる。 pic.twitter.com/YScCfprPtP

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) July 4, 2018

Embedded in the design that represents her whiskers are brown diamonds. I arranged them in a "brown → light brown → light brown" sequence, intending to express the gradient fur color typical of a tortoiseshell cat.

And this arrangement of diamonds has another meaning: it represents "Gigi → me → my husband." She waited for us to be together before she passed, so I thought she would surely want to be with us even as a ring.

We will always support Gigi and be quietly by her side. With that in mind, we deliberately chose light brown, which has a lighter presence than the brown diamond representing Gigi, as "our color."

Also, for the inner engraving, I had them draw a cat with curled whiskers, just like Gigi, and also a strawberry, which she loved during her lifetime. I wanted to preserve the memory of the strawberry party my husband and I had with her a few days before she passed away.

Shop B also sent me "enclosure photos" of them placing the ashes into the ring, which was very reassuring. To make an "eternal pinky promise," they placed a finger bone inside.

The bone is embedded next to the strawberry. I hope she's happy next to her favorite strawberry.

I really wanted 18k gold, but it was too expensive, so the material is 14k gold. The price is 260,260 yen. For my frugal self, it was the most expensive purchase ever, but I'm very satisfied.

"Change of Heart" After the Memorial Ring Was Completed

Whenever I spend money, I always feel a sense of guilt. However, when this memorial ring was completed, I felt no guilt whatsoever about "spending so much"; instead, I was happy that I could now go to many places with Gigi.

After Gigi passed away, I was sad that no new memories would be created. It was painful to only be able to look back at happy times through photos and videos.

But when I realized that, precisely because she was now in the form of ashes, there were so many places we could go together, so many things I could show her, the future ahead brightened a little.

Immediately after receiving the memorial ring, I held my ring finger up to the clear sky and said, "Gigi, this is the summer sky. It's hot today." When I imagined how Gigi would react if she were here now, I smiled a little. She would probably be surprised with her round eyes and sniff the scent of the wind.

Because fingers are so visible, I find myself smiling more often when I'm out and about, imagining, "What if Gigi were here?" On days when I feel down, precisely because it's so visible, I sometimes cry looking at the memorial ring, but it's become easier to feel that "we're living together forever."

Facing the painful reality of "the death of a beloved cat" is difficult. Everything feels meaningless, and it's like wandering in darkness. That's why I hope my experience can be a catalyst for others who feel similarly to find their own "way to heal" and "how to cope with the death of their beloved cat."