Fingerprint from an Old Ring or Pendant — Yes We Can | Tag A Paw
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Here's a situation that happens more often than you'd think.
Mum had a fingerprint pendant made years ago — maybe of her father's print, maybe a grandchild's, maybe her own. When she dies, one sibling inherits it. The others have spent years admiring it from across the dinner table. Now it's somebody's, and the rest of the family doesn't know quite how to ask.
If that's where you are: yes, we can recreate it. You don't need to part with the original.
What you can recreate
If you have an existing piece of jewellery with a fingerprint engraving on it, we can almost always engrave the same print onto a new piece. The new piece can be:
- A pendant in the same shape, or a different one
- A ring
- A charm for a bracelet
- A piece for someone else entirely
The point is: the fingerprint that mattered doesn't have to live on one inherited piece. It can become a family set, with the same print, made for as many people as want one.
What you need to send
We don't need the original physical piece. A clear photo is enough.
Here's what makes a good photo of existing fingerprint jewellery:
- Whole fingerprint in the frame. Not cropped at the edges
- Sharp focus on the print itself. Macro mode on a modern phone works well
- Daylight, no flash. Sit by a window
- Plain, dark background. A black or dark grey cloth makes the silver and print stand out
- A slight angle if needed. If reflections are getting in the way, tilt the piece slightly so the light catches the engraving without bouncing back into the camera
Take two or three shots and send the best one. If you're not sure which is best, send them all and we'll pick.
If you can see the ridges of the fingerprint clearly in your photo, we'll be able to engrave them clearly on the new piece.
What happens next
Order the piece you'd like — pendant, ring, charm — from the fingerprint collection. Upload the photo of the original at checkout. Add a note if there's anything specific you'd like (a particular orientation, a back engraving with a name or date, the same chain length as the original).
That's it. No back-and-forth approval cycles. We work from your image, engrave the new piece in our Essex workshop, and dispatch in 2–3 working days.
Family pieces — the pattern we see
When one person orders, we often hear from the rest of the family in the following weeks. It's a quiet pattern — a sibling, then a cousin, then a grown-up grandchild, all wanting the same print on their own piece.
If you know in advance that several family members may want one, message us at the first order. We'll keep the image on file, ready for the others to use. It saves them having to ask you for the photo later, when the moment may feel less easy to talk about.
We can also engrave the same print on different shapes for different people — a heart for one, an oval for another, a small charm for someone who already has a bracelet. They become a quietly matched family set without looking identical.
What about an old engraving that's worn down?
Sometimes the original piece itself has worn. The engraving is faded, scratched, or the silver has tarnished over the years. This is common with pieces that were thin to begin with, or that had only surface etching to start with.
Send a photo anyway. We can usually still see enough of the print to recreate it cleanly on a new piece — the new engraving will be deep, sharp, and built to last, even if the original isn't. We've written more about what makes the engraving last here if you want the detail.
If the original is too worn to read, send any other source you have — a photo of the finger from when the original was made, a kit print, anything. Mention it in the order notes. We'll work with whatever you've got.
What it costs
Recreating a fingerprint from an existing piece is the same price as any of our standard fingerprint pieces — no extra fee. Prices start at £50–£70 for a small pendant and rise to £90–£120 for a larger piece or a ring.
Included:
- The piece itself, in solid sterling silver
- The fingerprint engraving on the front, recreated from your photo
- Free back engraving — name, date, short message
- Lifetime guarantee on the engraving
- Tracked UK shipping
A second print on the back is £10 if needed — useful if you want to combine, say, both parents' prints on one piece.
FAQ
Can you really recreate a fingerprint from a photo of an existing piece of jewellery? Yes. We do this regularly. Send a clear, well-lit photo of the original with the whole fingerprint visible, and we'll engrave a new piece to match.
Do I need to send you the original piece? No. A photo is all we need. The original stays safely where it belongs.
What if the original engraving is worn or faded? Send the photo anyway. We can usually see enough to recreate it. The new piece will be deeply engraved and built to last, even if the original isn't.
Can my siblings order matching pieces using the same print? Yes — and this is something we see often. Tell us at the first order and we'll keep the image on file so the others can simply order without having to ask you again.
Can I have the same fingerprint on a different shape than the original? Yes. Same print, different piece. Pendants, rings, charms — all available. The collection is here.
Closing
If there's a piece in the family with a fingerprint that matters, you don't have to live without your own. Send us a photo when you're ready.
Browse the fingerprint jewellery → /collections/fingerprint-jewellery