A Guide to Fingerprint Jewelry

What is fingerprint jewelry?

Fingerprint jewelry carries the print of a specific person: the ridges of a fingertip, a small section of a palm or foot, or the nose or paw of a pet. No two fingerprints are alike, and that is what gives a piece its meaning. It is often shared between partners, made with a parent and child, or worn simply as a quiet way of keeping someone close.

At Memori, fingerprint jewelry belongs to The Infinity Collection: rings, pendants, and necklaces in solid sterling silver, each designed individually around the impressions it carries.

How does fingerprint jewelry work?

Most fingerprint jewelry follows the same path: the print is captured, a piece is designed around it, the piece is made in metal, and it is finished by hand.

Where makers differ is in how the print is captured and carried into the metal. Some work from a scan or photo of the print and reproduce it as an image. Others work from a physical impression of the print itself. That choice shapes how the finished piece looks and feels.

How to take a fingerprint impression

With Memori, you take your impressions at home using our silicone clay kit, which ships within 3 business days of your order.

1. Blend the clayMix the silicone clay as shown in the step-by-step instructions in your kit.
2. Press gentlyPress the fingertip (or palm, foot, or nose) into the clay with light, steady pressure, then lift straight out.
3. Let it setLeave the impression undisturbed until it has firmed.
4. Label and returnNote whose print is whose on the fingerprint collecting card, then send everything back to our studio. U.S. kits include a prepaid return label.

There is nothing to heat, so there is no risk of burns. Your kit includes two extra clay samples, so you can simply try again. We review every impression for clarity before we begin, and if one isn’t clear enough, we’ll ask for a retake at no charge. We only need a small section of a print to capture its pattern.

Your impressions aren’t discarded once your piece is made. We return them to you as an Impression Collection Card, a keepsake of the original touch that you can frame.

For the full process, from choosing your piece to delivery, see How It Works.

Whose fingerprint can I use?

Almost anyone’s. Human impressions can be a fingerprint, or a small section of a palm print or footprint. Pet impressions can be a nose print, a small section of a paw pad, or the pattern of their fur.

For babies under 12 months old, we don’t recommend fingerprints, because their prints are often too fine to show clearly in silver. A footprint or palm print usually gives clearer lines. Every child is different, so we review each impression case by case.

Can I combine two fingerprints?

Yes. Many Memori pieces are made to hold more than one print:

• The Infinity Double Twist Ring holds two impressions: two fingerprints, or one fingerprint and one pet impression.
• The Infinity Pendant and The Infinity Necklace hold up to two impressions, or a single one.
• The Infinity Multi-Fingerprint Ring is designed for several human impressions, so a whole family can share one band.

Can I use a pet nose print?

Yes. A dog’s or cat’s nose print is the most personal print a pet has, and we only need a small section. For pets who won’t stay still for a nose print, a small section of a paw pad or the pattern of their fur works too. The Infinity Double Twist Ring, Pendant, and Necklace can pair one human impression with one pet impression, so your print and theirs become one piece.

Tips for taking a pet’s impression, and what to expect, are on our Pet Nose Print Jewelry page.

How long does fingerprint jewelry take?

Your impression kit ships within 3 business days of your order. Production takes about 10 business days from the day your impressions arrive and are approved. Shipping time is additional, so most of the timeline depends on how soon you take and return your impressions.

One note on rings: because each ring is designed around your impressions, resizing it afterward is very difficult. If you’re unsure of your size, choose Not Sure? Send Me a Ring Sizer and we’ll include one with your kit.

Does a fingerprint wear away over time?

With a little care, the lines of your print stay clear for years. Polish lightly over the impression rather than scrubbing it, avoid letting it rub against other rings, and take rings off for the gym, gardening, or heavy lifting.

Sterling silver naturally darkens over time. Regular wear and gentle polishing with a silver cloth keep it bright. Our Jewelry Care guide covers cleaning and storage in detail.

What material is Memori jewelry made from?

Every Infinity piece is solid 925 sterling silver, not plated. Each one is designed by hand around your impressions, lost-wax cast, and hand-finished in our U.S. studio. If you add birthstones, each stone is set by hand. Your piece arrives with a laser-engraved Certificate of Authenticity card. Your clay impressions come back to you too, made into an Impression Collection Card you can frame and keep.