Cremation? Burial? How about Diamonds?

travisbecker writes "From Reuters via Yahoo! comes this story. "A Chicago company (Lifegem) says it has developed a process for turning cremated human remains into diamonds that can be worn as jewelry." As for the quality... "If it's done slowly and with a great deal of care, one could have a reasonably high-quality diamond," according to a quote in the story." This should not be confused with our earlier diamond discussion.

Comments

Don't rule this out

[hamsterboy]

How many of us have friends who are wearing their grandmother's ring as their wedding band? I know a few. And how many of us keep their ancestors in urns on a shelf in their house? I know a few. This company is just taking it to the next level.

If it weren't for the outrageous prices (which are bound to come down), and the fact that I'm only 23, I'd be interested myself. Look for this company to be big as the synthetic-diamond industry becomes mainstream.

-- Hamster

how to protect against fraud?

[tstoneman]

At $22,000 per carat, you could just go out and buy a 1 ct diamond for $7000 and say it's your dearly departed, and make an instant $15,000. Since you can't do DNA analysis to determine if the diamond is actually the person, what's to stop them from just doing that???

Re:how to protect against fraud?

[Anonymous Coward]

At $22,000 per carat, you could just go out and buy a 1 ct diamond for $7000 and say it's your dearly departed, and make an instant $15,000. Since you can't do DNA analysis to determine if the diamond is actually the person, what's to stop them from just doing that???

I don't think you'll find a "natural" colored fancy diamond of near perfect quality for anywhere near $7000. Try $70,000. That's why DeBeers has begun directing jewelers to push the "every diamond is unique" message to anyone who compares them to manufactured diamonds or high quality CZ substitutes.

(Not that I'd ever want to find a fancy colored diamond for $7000, or even $700... I personally can't bring myself to view colored sparkly stones as a precious luxury.)

Everyone is thinking in terms of jewelry.

[immanis]

Maybe it only happens in the movies, but I can't imagine the horror of spilling someone's ashes. This seems to me to be a very clean way to avoid that potential problem.

I would imagine that most people would put them in extremely nice display cases, rather than having them put into rings and pendants.

A nice thought, but it would instantly make your house a target for theft. I predict the rebirth of the cat burglar.

And on a only loosely related note, how much would this service cost for a pet?

Re:Girls best friend?

[User 956]

These diamonds are a girl's best friend. If it doesn't help perpetuate poverty and strife, it's not a real diamond. Just ask DeBeers.

It ain't the supervillains that worry me!

[GuyMannDude]

Actually, it was chrisd's final statement that spoked me:

This should not be confused with our earlier diamond discussion.

You remember, don't you? The one that went like so:

Would you buy one for the love of your life? I know my girlfriend would love a diamond, but ethically I have my doubts. Diseased-miners, child slave labour, cartel inflated prices...

I guess we have to add murders and grave robbing to that list now! Those evil diamond traders will do anything to get more raw materials for their diabolical schemes!

GMD

Screw diamonds!

[Reality Master 101]

How about making yourself into a frisbee for your family and friends. :)

Re:immortality

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually diamonds aren't forever, at least on the earth's surface. Created under immense pressure and heat, they are not stable at pressures present in the atmosphere. They degrade over time (albeit a long time).