Memorial diamonds are artificial diamonds that are promoted as including a certain amount of carbon from human hair or cremated remains. How much carbon is extracted from ashes and is actually used varies by service provider. Typically, these are diamonds created in a laboratory, often referred to as "synthetic diamonds", "cultured diamonds", or "laboratory-grown diamonds". Some memorial diamonds are graded by gemological laboratories, such as Gemological Institute of America or Birmingham Assay Office. Manufacturing methods may differ amongst service providers. Switzerland based Algordanza claims to use only the carbon derived from the ashes or hair supplied to them as they have developed the technique of carbon extraction to a higher level of purity.. Furthermore, they have conducted an audit of their own process through a legal notary to effectively check that they are doing as promised. In particular, the manufacturing method of Algordanza has been covered in an article by National Geographic
History
The first lab-made diamonds can be dated back to the 1950s, while memorial diamonds started to appear in the market in the early 2000s. More than one company has claimed to be the first to provide memorial diamonds, and both Heart In Diamond and LifeGem have claimed to have a patent covering the growing of a "personalized gem diamond".
Production process
Memorial diamonds are produced using hair or ashes, with other carbon added. In case of hair, it is subjected to heat treatment to extract carbon. Some laboratories also analyze the content of hair. A hair analysis report then serves as a client assurance. The process of unique identification of a diamond and a person based on the hair composition is described in the diamond patent RU2282584 Carbon can be obtained from cremated human or animal remains in a particulate or gaseous form. The carbon is then filtered using a conventional filtering technique. The carbon and other elements are then purified and graphitized, for example by a halogen purification technique. The diamonds are then produced using the carbon extracted using conventional diamond synthesis techniques. As of 2009, only high pressure, high temperature processes using belt and cubic presses were used for the production of memorial diamonds. The takes anywhere from 7-11 months depending on the size and color desired. Algordanza claims not add any materials that are not derived from the given ashes or hair, resulting in diamonds with a natural bluish color. The bluish color is caused by the trace amounts of boron present in the ashes or hair.
Companies
Several companies offer memorial diamonds, including :
