3 December 2010

Diamonds Created from Human Cremation.

Created diamonds aren't new. Gem quality diamonds have been synthesized in the lab for some time and are showing up in many sales catalogs. But a company called LifeGem (TM) has come up with a unique twist on diamond creation. They create gemstones from carbon that's captured during the cremation of human remains.

It's not a process that will appeal to everyone, but the company is finding that an increasing number of people opt in to the program in order to leave family members a lasting memento, one that's beautiful and one they can wear all the time.

Getting the Carbon
Carbon released during cremation is captured as a dark powder, then heated to produce graphite. The graphite is sent to a lab where it is synthesized into fancy colored diamonds.

LifeGem recommends you use their cremation process for best results, but the company says it can often retrieve enough carbon to make diamonds from previously cremated remains.

Dozens of stones can be made from one individual. The size selection is currently 0.25 to 1.3 carats, but the company plans to offer larger diamonds in the future. Prices have decreased since the company was formed, so check LifeGem's Web site for current details.

The LifeGem process gathers only the carbon produced during cremation. The family will still receive ashes of each individual.

Skeptical?
LifeGem says it has an open door policy, allowing you to inspect many aspects of their tracking system. The system follows all remains throughout the entire process, from cremation to faceting. They also offer a more advanced type of system that uses special markers to track remains.

Diamonds From Pets?
Yes, the company will produce diamonds from your pet's remains.

Diamond Quality
LifeGem says that its overall quality target is to produce gems at the VVS clarity level (very, very slightly included; very, very slightly imperfect).

It's definitely not for everyone, but LifeGem has indeed come up with a unique memorial option.

Would you wear a diamond created from human ashes?

http://www.lifegemaustralia.com.au/faq.html


10 comments:

  1. I have always believed that cremation has its advantages!

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  2. Hummmmmmm momma in a stone to be warn on my finger for ever..... Not sure about that lol. Trying to imagine how much the whole process costs!

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  3. I'll take it straight on the rocks with a twist... thanks... peace... as ever... Zee...

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  4. ewwwwwww, Zee.

    Dave, loved the clip!!

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  5. Sorry, I forgot what the content was about... making cremation remains into diamonds...

    Hmmm... almost everyone is cremated in Thailand... I wonder... a new business for me???

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  6. was just meaning I dont drink Vodka,nothing else.

    As to perhaps a new business oportunity,, hmm. well perhaps. Do you think its too bizar? I did initially but the more I thought about the idea the more I warmed to it. The thing that I would be most concerned about is loosing the stone.. now that would just be terrible.

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  7. Perhaps all of the carbon is not needed. Plus, I do not think they use the bones.

    In Thailand, some of the ashes and bones are shared among the family. They are placed in small urns. The rest of the ashes and bones are put in a small chedi or placed in the Andaman Sea or Gulf of Thailand.

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  8. OMG...I don't know if I like this idea or not. I guess it would be kinda nice in some ways.

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  9. I watched a programme on Tv a while back and you can have the ashes painted into a picture, inserted into a glass locket, made into a diamond, (fake) of course, and there was a few other things you could do too but I forget what they were off hand.
    I thought the painting was a good idea. I mean it's something that you could hand down or even sell!

    Just found this...
    http://www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/tombstones-and-ashes/what-to-do-with-the-ashes/

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