Memorial diamonds are synthetic diamonds made from the bones or ashes of the deceased. As lifestyles and views on life and death change, this new form of memorial service is becoming more and more popular, allowing people to be closer to their loved ones and pets.
Memorial diamonds are synthetic diamonds made from carbon from the bones or ashes of the deceased. Unlike artificial diamonds such as zirconium oxide, it has the same chemical composition, hardness and brightness as natural diamonds.
This manufacturing method was invented in the United States in 1953 and is now also produced in Switzerland, Germany, Russia and other countries. Also known as "memorial diamonds" or "diamond funerals", this is a new type of memorial method that is gaining more and more attention.
Memorial diamonds are a memorial ceremony
Home memorial services are a form of memorial service where part or all of the remains are placed in a nearby location. This is a new form of memorial service where the ashes are placed in a mini urn or object to be kept at home, or made into a pendant or ring to carry with you.
In the past, people generally buried their remains in ancestral tombs or newly built graves. However, in recent years, due to the trend of smaller families, changes in the concept of life and death, economic conditions and other changes in lifestyle, more and more people are choosing new ways of mourning such as leaving the body at home or scattering ashes.
In particular, holding a memorial service at home is also an effective form of grief care, which helps to alleviate the grief of the family who has lost a loved one. Cremation pendants that hold ashes or ashes are well known, but artificial gems made from ashes can also be made into accessories such as pendants, rings and bracelets. These accessories are recommended for those who want to feel that their loved ones are always around.
How memorial diamonds are made
As mentioned above, memorial diamonds are "synthetic diamonds".
Natural diamonds are formed by carbon atoms combining under high temperature and pressure for a long time 100 kilometers underground in the earth. On the other hand, synthetic diamonds are produced by artificially promoting the crystallization of carbon atoms, a process that only takes a few days to a few weeks.
The raw material of cremation diamonds is high-purity carbon from bones or cremated ashes that have been removed of impurities. The extracted carbon component is put into a machine and, after a long period of high temperature and high pressure treatment, it crystallizes and forms a synthetic diamond.
Cremation diamond production process and time
Requesting expert production
Storing the remains (mailing or delivering in person)
Extracting carbon from the remains
Making diamond rough
Polishing and cutting of rough stones
Accessories processing
Completing and receiving memorial diamonds
Here is a simple overview of the process of making memorial diamonds.
Memorial diamonds are generally commissioned to be made by domestic specialized companies in overseas factories. You can then send the remains by mail or have them collected from your home by a specialized company. Once the cremation diamond is produced in the factory, it is usually processed into jewelry domestically and then delivered to you.
The production time of memorial diamonds depends on factors such as the size of the diamond, the nature of the remains and the status of the order. The guideline time is six months, but if it is processed into accessories, it will take about an additional three weeks.
Memorial diamond color
The color of the memorial diamond depends on the ingredients contained in the ashes.
Some diamonds are colorless and transparent, but they will appear blue due to chemicals left over from the carbon extraction process, or yellow due to nitrogen in the air, so it is impossible to know what color they will be until they are completed. There are also companies that will add boron to make it blue, or paint it any color you want, such as red or green.
The amount of ashes needed to make a memorial diamond
The amount of ashes needed to make a memorial diamond is about 70-400 grams.
This depends on the manufacturer you hire, so it is best to ask first.
If there are only a small amount of bones left to be divided, bones can be made by adding carbon components extracted from hair. Old remains that have been buried in a grave and cremated for a long time can also produce diamonds.
What to do with the remains left after the memorial diamond is made?
When making a memorial diamond, all the ashes will be ground into powder and carbon will be extracted. There will be no residue left in the production process, so basically there is no need to worry about them being handled or returned without permission.
It is best not to carry anything with you except the remains for the memorial diamond, but place them in a grave or urn, or scatter them.
How much does a memorial diamond cost?
The price of a memorial diamond is the cost of diamond production plus the cost of jewelry processing.
The cost of producing a 0.2 carat diamond is 450,000 yen, and the cost of producing a 1.0 carat diamond is about 2 million yen. The average cost of jewelry processing is about 70,000 to 200,000 yen.
But please note that the price will vary depending on the company you hire and the size, cutting method, quantity and design of the diamonds produced.
Can you make diamonds from pet ashes?
You can also make memorial diamonds from your pet's ashes. Before hiring a professional company, make sure they can also handle pet remains.
In addition, companies that specialize in memorial diamonds for pets may also use elements other than remains or ashes to make diamonds. If you have a pet such as a puppy or cat and are worried about whether the amount of ashes or ashes is enough, we recommend that you ask us.
Synthetic gemstones other than memorial diamonds
In addition to diamonds, other artificial gemstones can be made from remains. Today, we will introduce two artificial gemstones -
Spirit stones and relics, the amount of bones required, the price, and the time it takes to make them.
Beautiful stones
Spirit stones are artificial gemstones made by melting stones such as quartz together with ashes at high temperatures and then crystallizing them. It is also called a "memorial stone". In addition to accessories such as rings and pendants, it can also be processed into prayer beads, objects, amulets, etc. It is not only available in colorless form, but you can also choose your favorite color from a dozen colors.
The amount of spirit stone embers required to make one ornament is about 2g, and the amount of spirit stone embers required to make one work of art is about 10-20g. The price is between 100,000 and 150,000 yen, and it takes about a month to complete.
Residual pearls
Residual pearls are pearls produced using the same process as cultured pearls, but use ceramic nuclei made from the residue. The nucleus is inserted into the shell in early summer (May to July), the shell is fished out of the sea in December, and the shell is delivered to the customer around January of the following year.
The weight of the bone required to make the bone core is about 15 to 30 grams. The price is about 300,000 yen, and the nucleus is implanted in 90 Akoya pearls, but the probability of cultivating beautiful, well-shaped pearls is only 10% to 20%.
Things to consider when making a memorial diamond
Once you turn your remains into diamonds, you can’t go back
Once your ashes have been turned into diamonds, you can’t go back to their original state.
It’s important to consider the best form of memorial service and make a decision after discussing it with family and relatives so that you don’t regret it later, such as “I wanted to bury the ashes in a grave after all” or “I should have scattered the ashes.”
You may also want to consider dividing the remains of the deceased and placing them in different locations for the memorial service. Dividing the remains expands the range of memorial service options, such as burying one part of the remains in a grave and making another part into a memorial diamond.
Depending on the amount of ashes, they may not be able to be turned into diamonds.
The weight of ashes required to make a memorial diamond is between 70 and 400 grams. If you have all the remains or about one-fifth of them, it’s fine, but depending on the condition and amount of bones, it may not be enough.
Especially when dividing the ashes, be sure to check and secure the amount of ashes you need in advance. Some companies can make diamonds from the hair of the deceased, so it’s best to ask first.
There is a risk of loss or damage.
Memorial diamonds left at home or carried with you are at risk of loss or damage. Since memorial diamonds are made from the remains of the deceased, it can be a huge shock if they are lost or damaged. Before deciding whether to turn ashes into diamonds, make sure you fully understand the risks involved.
By the way, the manufacturer will issue a warranty, but it basically only lists information such as the production process, period, quality, etc.
Keep your loved ones by your side with memorial diamonds
Memorial diamonds are an item that makes you feel that your loved ones are always by your side. Although it takes money and time, it will be a great support for surviving family members, helping to ease their grief and provide them with the strength to live.
