If you've recently chosen to cremate a lost loved one, you may have done so for several reasons. Cremation can be less expensive, more environmentally friendly, and even less stressful than a traditional burial, but did you know that the cremated remains of your loved one can be made into a diamond keepsake? In this article, learn the basics about cremation diamonds and how you can carry your loved one with you in a beautiful way.

How Cremation Diamonds are Made

If you think back to tenth-grade Earth science, you know that diamonds are created over millennia by intensely heating and compressing carbon materials. However, a high demand for the precious stones led to technology that creates synthetic diamonds and that technology has now been applied to creating diamonds out of cremated remains.

The process for creating cremation diamonds includes:

1. Heating the ashes. Ashes are heated to about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows all but the carbon material to oxidize.
2. Heating the carbon. The separated carbon is heated for several more weeks until it turns into graphite.
3. Press the graphite. The graphite is combined with a metal catalyst and a diamond seed crystal into a core, which is then placed in a diamond press.
4. Heat and pressurize the core. The core is heated to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and compressed at a level of 800,000 pounds per square inch for several weeks.
5. Remove and cut the rough crystal. Once the rough crystal has formed, it is removed from the diamond press and cut using faceting tools like any other diamond.

Cremation Diamond Design Options

Cremation diamonds are made with the ashes of your loved one and are completely unique. To further memorialize your family member or friend, you have the opportunity to select design elements that represent that person.

You can personalize the following design elements:

• Color. Depending on the company you choose to make your cremation diamond, you will have a choice of colors. The most common color choices are red, blue and yellow. The natural color of each diamond is affected by the amount of an element called Boron, but other synthetic processes can produce the color you select.
• Cut. Cremation diamonds have the same physical properties of natural or other synthetic diamonds and can be cut to fit any style. You can select cuts like brilliant, radiant or princess.
• Carats. Your cremation diamond can be made to a size of your choice. The stones can range in size between one-quarter carat to as large as two carats, depending on the company you use. The size of the stone is determined by the amount of time it is left to grow, not by the amount of ashes used.

Once your cremation diamond is delivered, you can select any jeweler to create a setting. Cremation diamonds can be set in rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces or any other type of jewelry that you choose.

Common Questions about Cremation Diamonds

If you've never heard of cremation diamonds before, you probably have a lot of questions. The most commonly asked questions about cremation diamonds include:

• Can I have more than one diamond made? Yes, the average adult cremation yields about four to six pounds of ashes. A single diamond requires at least a pound of ashes, meaning that one cremation can produce at least four diamonds.
• Can I have a cremation diamond created if the cremation took place a long time ago? Yes, the age of the ashes does not affect the process or the ability to create cremation diamonds.
• How long will it take to get my cremation diamond? Each company has different ordering policies and production timelines, but you can expect to have your diamond within four to nine months.
• How much does a cremation diamond cost? The cost of each diamond depends on a number of aspects such as the size, color, design, and setting, but cremation diamonds cost between $2,000 and $200,000.

Losing a loved one can be devastating and can leave you feeling very lonely. Begin envisioning your cremation diamond keepsake today and within a few months you'll have a lovely way to carry your loved one with you at all times.