In the world of jewelry, there are pieces that shine because of their beauty, and then there are those that hold a deeper significance—ones that embody memories, love, and connection. At Dimples, we are honored to create these powerful mementos that resonate far beyond aesthetics. Every so often, we receive a story from a customer that reminds us just how meaningful this work is. One such story came from a woman who wanted to preserve her late husband’s fingerprint in a piece of jewelry for their children and herself—a keepsake that would forever connect them to him, even after he had passed.
In June of 2018, our customer, whom we’ll call Marie, reached out to us in the midst of an unimaginable time—her husband Mark was in his final days of a 16-month battle with cancer. Marie and Mark, knowing time was running out, had discussed what he could leave behind as a gift for their children, something tangible that would always keep him close. They wanted something more personal than any ordinary object—something as unique as a fingerprint.
Marie remembered the fingerprint charms we had created for their children when they were babies, and she knew that having Mark’s fingerprint preserved in jewelry would give their children a lasting connection to their father.
But as life often goes, the timing was heartbreakingly close. That very morning, Mark’s condition took a turn, and he was bedridden. Yet, Marie was determined to move forward with the plan. She contacted us and spoke to Patti, who helped her through the process, providing guidance on how to get the fingerprint even in the difficult circumstances they were facing. We understood the urgency and worked with her as quickly as we could.
Marie did her best to capture Mark’s fingerprint, using both a scanning app and an ink pad, but unfortunately, just a few days later—on Father’s Day—Mark passed away. Despite the heartache and the rush, we were able to create three pieces of jewelry: a necklace for their daughter, a dog tag for their son, and a charm for Marie.
On what would have been Mark’s birthday, Marie presented the gifts to their children. At just 10 and 13, they were still young, but they understood the significance of what they were being given. These pieces of jewelry weren’t just beautiful—they were a piece of their father, something they could hold, touch, and wear when they needed to feel his presence.
Now, six years later, these fingerprint jewelry pieces remain some of the most cherished items they own. While the kids don’t wear them every day, especially given their young age, they know that during special moments, these precious keepsakes will always bring their father close.
Note: The accompanying images are images Marie took, and shared with us, recently after owning and cherishing these charms for 6 years.
Marie’s story is one that sticks with us. To be part of something so personal and profound, during what was surely one of the hardest times of her life, reminds us why we do what we do. It’s not about making jewelry; it’s about crafting enduring legacies and being a small part of someone’s story of love, loss, and remembrance.
For us, it’s like we always say: “We’re not really in the jewelry business—we’re in the business of preserving meaning, emotion, memories, and love. Making jewelry just happens to be how we do that.”
These stories are not uncommon for us, but they never fail to touch our hearts. Hearing back from someone, years later, about the comfort and connection that our work has provided to them and their family, reaffirms why we pour so much love and care into every piece we make. Thank you, Marie, and to all of our customers who have entrusted us to help carry the memory of their loved ones forward.
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