Mociun is Making Mourning Jewelry for the 21st Century

New York--Mourning jewelry was at its most prevalent between the 16th and 19th centuries, but one Brooklyn-based designer is updating the antique category with a modern spin.

Caitlin Mociun, the designer behind fine jewelry brand Mociun, which has its own boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was inspired to create a piece of jewelry to commemorate a friend’s loss.

“The first necklace I made was a gift for a friend who had a dog pass away recently,” Mociun explained. “She had the dog for as long as I knew her, and I wanted to create her something special as a way to always remember.”

Mociun came up with what she calls a “Time Capsule,” a 14-karat yellow gold hollow bead, which she filled with a tiny amount of the deceased pet’s ashes and mounted as a necklace on a gold chain.

Mociun shared a video of the necklace on her brand’s uber-popular Instagram account. As of press time, the video has garnered well over 500,000 views.

Since sharing the video two months ago, Mociun has received a significant amount of interest from clients looking for a way to honor their deceased loved ones.

“We will take a burnt letter, strand of hair, or ashes from a loved one or pet,” said Mociun. “We also can engrave the necklace, per the customer’s request.”

Mourning jewelry might have fallen out of favor over the last century-plus, but Mociun’s Insta-success proves there is still demand for it.

Mourning jewelry gained popularity after the execution of King Charles I of England in 1649. Before that time, memento mori (Latin for “Remember that you will die”) jewelry had been prevalent but the king’s execution created a demand for jewelry that was personal and individualized to the deceased.

This trend continued through the Victorian era, as portraits, locks of hair or names of loved ones were immortalized on rings, pendants and brooches.

After the Victorian era, the trend died out, appearing sporadically in jewelry by independent designers, like Wendy Brandes. Etsy, too, has an entire cremation jewelry category.

Mociun’s time capsule is notable for its understated elegance. The design is versatile and completely discreet, void of the outward proclamation of Victorian- and Georgian-era mourning jewelry.

For the designer, the time capsule provides another inroad into the custom jewelry category, which she said is “40 percent of our exclusive business.”

“The nature of our custom program is always changing