Creating a diamond from the ashes of a loved one is a specialized industrial process that transforms a memorial into a tangible keepsake. This is possible because the human body is carbon-based, and diamonds are crystallized carbon. Although cremation converts much carbon into gas, a small but sufficient amount remains in the cremated remains, typically between one and five percent. This scientific connection offers a permanent form of remembrance that can be worn or displayed.
Preparing the Carbon Source
The first step involves isolating and purifying the carbon from the cremated remains. Ashes consist primarily of mineral compounds, meaning the small amount of carbon present is mixed with various other elements. Specialized laboratories subject the ashes to intense heat in a controlled, oxygen-free environment, causing the carbon compounds to break down. This initial pyrolysis process separates the carbon from other materials.
Following the high-heat treatment, the material undergoes thorough chemical purification, often involving wet chemical processes to remove heavy metals and impurities. This stage ensures the carbon’s purity reaches 99.9% or higher, which is necessary for successful crystallization. The purified carbon is then converted into graphite powder, the specific form required for the next phase of diamond growth. This purified graphite is the sole material placed into the growth chamber.
The High-Pressure, High-Temperature Synthesis
The creation of the diamond relies on the High-Pressure, High-Temperature (HPHT) method, which recreates the geological conditions deep within the Earth’s mantle. The purified graphite is placed inside a specialized growth chamber, accompanied by a diamond seed crystal and a metal catalyst. This catalyst, typically a mixture of metals like iron, nickel, or cobalt, plays a role in dissolving the carbon.
The apparatus, often a belt press, subjects the chamber to immense pressure, usually ranging between 5.5 and 6 GigaPascals (GPa). Concurrently, the temperature is raised to a high level, often between 1,300 and 1,600 degrees Celsius. Under these conditions, the dissolved carbon atoms migrate through the molten metal catalyst and slowly deposit onto the diamond seed, layer by layer, forming a rough diamond crystal.
Customization and Verification
Once the rough crystal has grown to the desired size, the process moves toward customization and determining the diamond’s final appearance. The color is influenced by trace elements that remain in the carbon, even after purification. For instance, residual nitrogen atoms result in a natural amber or yellowish hue. Conversely, the presence of boron, a common element in human remains, can impart a blue shade to the finished stone.
To achieve a colorless diamond, providers must implement additional purification steps to remove nearly all nitrogen before synthesis. The rough stone is then sent to skilled artisans for cutting and polishing into a specific shape, such as a round brilliant, heart, or emerald cut, to maximize brilliance. The finished diamond’s authenticity is verified by third-party gemological certification from labs like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the International Gemological Institute (IGI). This certification confirms the stone’s characteristics, including its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
Timeline and Financial Considerations
The entire process, from submission of the cremated remains to final delivery, typically requires a significant time commitment. The average timeline spans from five to eight months, though this can extend up to a year depending on the order specifications. Smaller stones may be completed in three months, while larger diamonds or those requiring complex color purification take longer to process.
The final cost is determined by several factors, with the requested size, measured in carat weight, being the primary influence. Prices increase significantly as the desired carat weight grows because larger diamonds require more raw material, more time in the HPHT press, and more energy. Other choices affecting the price include the complexity of the cut and the color purity, since achieving a colorless stone demands extra purification steps compared to naturally occurring amber-colored diamonds.