Photo by Danielle De Angelis from Pexels
You’ll be forgiven for thinking there are just two options available to you following the death of a loved one: have them buried in a coffin or have their body cremated. This choice is just the beginning. If you decide to have your loved one cremated, there’s a huge choice of things you can do with their ashes to commemorate their life and have their memory live on. One of the most interesting options is to turn their ashes to diamonds.
Yes, you really can turn ashes to diamonds — with the help of an expert. Since 2005, Heart In Diamond has been helping people keep a hold of the connection they share with deceased loved ones by turning their ashes into diamond jewellery.
Much more personal and meaningful than storing ashes inside an urn on your mantelpiece, turning your loved one’s ashes to diamonds means you can keep them by your side at all times.
How does it work?
The process starts when you send your loved one’s ashes to the memorial diamond company. You only need a small volume, around 100g. This leaves you plenty of remaining ashes for sharing with other family members or creating more keepsakes.
When the company receives the ashes, they extract the carbon and add it to a diamond growing seed. It’s then placed inside an HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) machine where it stays for several weeks. This machine imitates the conditions the Earth uses to grow diamonds.
After around ten weeks, the carbon extracted from your loved one’s ashes has been transformed into a genuine diamond. A master craftsperson then cuts and polishes your diamond according to your requirements before it’s placed in the jewellery setting of your choice.
Are they real diamonds?
Diamonds made from ashes are genuine diamonds. Both types of diamonds are made from carbon and they’re both created using temperatures of over 2000℃ and pressures in excess of 60,000 atmospheres.
They have the exact same chemical markup and look exactly the same to the naked eye. Only diamond experts with the right tools can tell a memorial diamond grown in a lab from a natural diamond mined from the Earth.
The main difference between diamonds bought on the highstreet and diamonds made from ashes is the significance they have to you. A standard diamond is almost like a blank slate — it doesn’t really have much meaning on its own. But a diamond made from ashes has a profound meaning, making it unlike any other gemstone in the world.
By turning ashes to diamonds, you’re creating a truly unique item that contains the essence of the loved one you lost. Whenever you feel alone, you can take a glance at your diamond ring, earring, or necklace and remember that your loved one is never far away.
How much does it cost?
Turning ashes to diamonds is cheaper than you might think. Heart In Diamond’s prices start at just £515. When you compare the cost of an average cremation and a memorial diamond (£3,885 + £515 = £4,400) with the average cost of a burial (£5,033), turning ashes to diamonds is the cheaper choice.
The price of memorial diamonds varies according to the color, shape, and carat weight you choose. For example, a ¼ carat deep red diamond in a cushion shape costs less than a one carat white diamond in a brilliant shape. The customisation options are really versatile, allowing you to choose the perfect diamond that suits your style and reflects the person you want to remember, all while staying within your budget.
Keep their memory alive
It’s natural to want to hold on following the death of someone close to you. If letting their ashes get forgotten about in a dusty urn just doesn’t seem right to you, consider turning your loved one’s ashes to diamonds. This way, their sparkling personality can live on eternally in a dazzling gemstone that will stand the test of time.
