Diamonds from the ashes of the dead: is this possible and why is it necessary?

It is sad to realize, but all that exists on Earth has a beginning and an end. Human life is short and fleeting. Losing our beloved people, we keep a memory of them in our hearts, objects that are so dear to our hearts - photos, videos and favorite things. In the last decade, a unique opportunity has arisen to preserve not only memories, but also a close relationship with your loved one, thanks to diamonds from the ashes of the deceased. In this case, it will "turn" into a pure and noble stone.

Are diamonds made from the dust of the dead?

In all cultures, at all times, the attitude towards the deceased was special - respectful, and sometimes mystical. During the existence of mankind, every nation and religion has its own rituals and methods of burial. The most common of them are - burial in the ground and burning.

The rapid population growth, the lack of free land, the unaesthetic appearance of cemeteries, and the burial of masses of soil poisoning substances (plastic, rubber, varnish, paint, embalming substances) together with the deceased are pushing the “ritual industry” to look for new and alternative methods of burial.

Biodegradable Capsules, Green Cemeteries, Moksha Towers may soon begin to displace traditional burials and columbaria.

A number of innovative ways have appeared to perpetuate the memory of the deceased - “resomization” (chemical dissolution of bodies) and “fertilizer” (processing of remains into useful substances). The ashes of the deceased are added to graphite pencils, vinyl records, salutes and fireworks. But the most interesting, environmentally friendly and aesthetic are “memorial diamonds” grown from the ashes of the deceased.

This unusual idea quite by accident occurred to the young scientist from Switzerland, Rinaldo Willie. When translating an article on the creation of synthetic diamonds, he misunderstood the meaning of the word “ashes”, thinking that it was a matter of human and not plant material.

The teacher pointed out the mistake to the young man. But both liked the idea. Having contacted the author of the article, who was a Russian scientist, they all together began to develop this area. So, in 2004 the company “Algordanza” appeared - which means “Memory” in translation from the Romansh language.

Interesting fact! For 15 years, the company has been turning the bodies of the deceased into precious relics, carrying out more than 800 orders a year, and this figure is growing steadily.

The company has certain rules or principles that are executed without question:

  • Do not touch the body and the diamond with bare hands - only with gloves, because it is not easy biomaterial, but the body with its soul;
  • It is forbidden to start a conversation with a client with condolences until you recognize the person closer so that it does not sound insincere;
  • each client is given the opportunity to say goodbye in private with a loved one;
  • the company's employees personally deliver the “diamond of memory" to relatives and present in a solemn atmosphere, in the presence of all family members;
  • the stone must be packed in a beautiful polished wooden box;
  • the company basically does not work, unlike others, with the remains of pets;
  • additional “extraneous” carbon is never used if it is not enough to create stone;
  • the stones have their natural color, laboratory workers do not fundamentally resort to staining them.

Today, about 10 companies around the world are engaged in the cultivation of artificial diamonds from the ashes of the departed. Another leader in this "industry" is the world famous "LifeGem", the services of the Russian company "Ememo" are popular and in demand.

Who and why need diamonds from dust?

You must admit that cemeteries are not only depressing, but also far from an aesthetic spectacle. In addition, after the funeral, one has to visit the burial place from time to time, put things in order there, clean up garbage and grass, straighten the fence and look after the grave. Nobody likes to visit this place, which causes associations with sorrow and sadness.

Keeping ashes in an urn is a more acceptable way. Although a visit to columbaria also causes negative emotions. Keeping an urn with ashes at home on a shelf - not everyone will decide. In addition, it may fall and the dust may crumble. Sweeping a loved one off the floor is not a pleasant pleasure.

Memorial diamonds will solve all these problems. They are beautiful and clean, environmentally friendly, do not cause unpleasant associations. Stones keep in touch with a loved one, you can touch them and, if you wish, always carry with them, making jewelry.

Many companies working in this area are engaged in growing diamonds from the ashes of domestic animals. The age of pets is much shorter than the age of their owners.

Pets become "family members", share grief and joy with the owners. Therefore, many do not want to part with their favorites even after their death. Creating memory diamonds from the dust of pets is a very popular service that allows you to perpetuate the memory of "our smaller brothers."

The memorial diamond not only preserves the memory of the deceased, it is a family heirloom that can be passed on from generation to generation, as well as a good financial investment, although it sounds a bit cynical.

Interesting fact! The cost of a memory diamond depends on the size, quality and shape of the cut and ranges from 5, 000 to 22, 000 dollars. The company "Ememo" will grow a stone of 1 carat for about 100, 000 rubles.

How do diamonds from dust and their features?

Natural diamonds are “born” in the thickness of the Earth’s mantle, at a depth of hundreds of kilometers, at a temperature of about 1300 ° C and under a pressure of about 50, 000 atm.

When growing artificial diamonds, manufacturers try to recreate the conditions for their growth in nature as precisely as possible.

In a few words, without going into details, the technology for creating commemorative diamonds is as follows:

  • the ashes after cremation are delivered to a special laboratory;
  • here it is treated with certain chemicals to isolate and extract all the carbon;
  • under the influence of high temperatures, carbon is converted to graphite;
  • graphite is placed in a special growth cell, where conditions are created that are as close as possible to natural conditions.

After a few weeks or months, a diamond is extracted from it.

Interesting fact! The weight of human ashes is on average 2.5 kg - 3.0 kg. The size of the diamond from it is about 4 carats. After cutting, approximately 1 carat. Sometimes diamonds are larger - 1.6 or 1.8 carats.

Each diamond has unique properties that are unique to it. The size of the stone directly depends on the time spent by it in the device.

Diamond quality and color depend on the quality characteristics of the ash. Medicines, chemotherapy, dentures or other dentures all affect the characteristics of the stone.

Dentures affect the quality and cleanliness of the stone. Chemotherapy - by color, the diamond becomes less saturated and brighter. Boron makes them blue, nitrogen - yellow, irradiation - pink or green.

Interesting fact! The vast majority of diamonds from the ashes of people - a bluish tint. But there are pinkish, yellowish and almost black.

Just as two identical people do not exist, so each diamond is unique. After the stone is in the hands of jewelers, it turns into a beautiful noble diamond.

“Everything is from dust, and everything will return to dust, ” as King Solomon once said. Now, one can argue with this, claiming that everything will return in a beautiful gem - the “king of crystals”.

And who knows, maybe in the near future, instead of huge and unaesthetic cemeteries and columbaria, we will be surrounded by patrimonial “jewelry tombs” or “museums of memorial memory”, where multi-colored diamond relics will shine and shimmer as exhibits!