KUALA LUMPUR: In 2022, Andrew Lim celebrated his 30th birthday with friends at an escape room in Kuala Lumpur. When he retrieved his mobile phone from a locker after the event, he found over 30 calls and messages from his mother and sisters.
“Something has happened to Dad,” one message read. Panicked, he immediately called his sister.
“I am very close to my father. We have traveled and scuba-dived together since I was a child. Despite his physical fitness as a marathon runner, he had a ‘heart scare’. As I rushed to the hospital, a million thoughts raced through my mind: ‘What if I were to lose my father today?’ Death is inevitable, but I wanted a part of him to be with me always,” Lim shared.
A few months and many inconclusive medical tests later, his father was declared out of danger. However, the fear of losing his father prompted Lim to explore “keepsake jewellery.” He found most options unsuitable, catering only to women with outdated designs, and there was no guarantee the craftsman would properly incorporate the ashes of the deceased.
This realization inspired Lim to create unique keepsake jewellery for families who had lost loved ones. Despite being a professional underwater photographer with no experience in craftsmanship or jewellery making, Lim embarked on this new venture.
“I had a steep learning curve and did tons of research. I also received help from friends who are craftsmen. After hundreds of research and development projects, I launched Apart.my in April,” Lim said.
Apart.my operates predominantly online, with a studio in Bangsar South where the products are made. The company also employs a team of skilled craftsmen in Hong Kong.
Lim noted that keepsake jewellery has always existed in Malaysia, but most companies offer only generic products like screw-cap pendants for ashes. “Such jewellery does not last long and cannot fulfill the need for subtle pieces that exude elegance and sophistication. The companies that make them do not document the process or share how such personalized items are crafted,” he explained.
For the Chinese community, keepsake jewellery holds significant cultural importance. “Family heirlooms represent a tangible link to the past and connect present generations with their ancestors and heritage. They carry deep emotional ties, symbolizing family history, values, and traditions,” Lim said. Heirlooms are passed down through generations, serving as reminders of ancestral sacrifices and family cohesion. They embody prosperity, luck, and blessings, making them treasured possessions.
Lim’s company, Apart.my, has modernized the heirloom concept, allowing people to keep their departed loved ones “close” at all times. “Despite living in a world of high technology and artificial intelligence, we are helping families preserve their roots and traditions by designing unique keepsake jewellery that becomes even more valuable heirlooms to be passed down for generations,” Lim said.
Interest in keepsake jewellery is growing among Indians and Malays as well. Though the designs are universal, they are similar to those made for the Chinese community.
Despite being a new company, business is picking up through word of mouth. Lim said the younger generation is becoming more open to the idea of keepsake jewellery, although only a few companies currently offer the service. “I believe in time, having keepsake jewellery made in memory of a deceased family member will become commonplace and the business will go mainstream,” Lim concluded.