Diamond from ashes - Is that possible?
Today I would like to take a look at the subject of diamonds made from the ashes of a deceased family member or from the ashes of a pet such as a dog. The reason for this is that we always receive beautiful pieces of jewelry as Memorial jewelryfor such diamonds.
To do this, I first asked the AI from chatgpt. Here are the results:
My question to the AI:
For some years now, there has been an offer for bereaved people to have a diamond pressed from the ashes of a deceased person. However, there is also criticism as to whether this is even possible. What can you tell me about this?
The answer from Chatgpt:
The idea of pressing diamonds from the ashes of the deceased is fascinating and emotionally appealing. This process is often referred to as a "memorial diamond" or "commemorative diamond". The production of such diamonds is technically possible, but there are some important aspects and controversies to consider:
How does the process work?
1. Carbon extraction: First, the carbon is extracted from the ashes of the deceased. This is possible because the human body contains about 18% carbon.
2. Graphite formation: The extracted carbon is then converted into graphite.
3. Diamond synthesis: The graphite is placed in a high pressure high temperature (HPHT) press where it is converted into a diamond under extreme pressure and temperature.
4. Cutting and polishing: The raw diamond is then cut and polished to achieve the desired appearance.
Critical considerations
1. Amount of carbon: Critics argue that the amount of carbon in human ashes is often not enough to make a diamond. It may be necessary to add additional carbon to make the process possible. This raises the question of how much of the resulting diamond actually comes from the ashes of the deceased.
2. Technical feasibility: There are doubts as to whether all providers actually carry out the entire process as described. There is a possibility that some providers may not Diamond from other carbon sources and only add a symbolic proportion of the ashes of the deceased.
3. Cost: Creating a memorial diamond is a costly process. It is important that survivors understand what they are paying for and ensure that they understand the process and the authenticity of the final product.
Conclusion
Creating memorial diamonds from the ashes of the deceased is technically possible and is offered by several companies. However, you should consider the critical points mentioned above and ensure that you choose a trustworthy provider who explains and carries out the process transparently. It is advisable to do thorough research and, if necessary, ask for references and certificates from the provider to ensure that the memorial diamond actually has the desired emotional and symbolic value.
OK - so far so good.
I actually found an article on the "German Diamond Club" that takes a critical look at this topic.
Here is a brief summary of the content:
The German Diamond Club (DDC) is critical of the production of synthetic diamonds from the ashes of the deceased. In fact, it is possible to produce synthetic diamonds, but this requires a starting crystal and pure carbon (graphite). According to German cremation guidelines, neither a starting crystal nor pure carbon remain in the ashes, as cremation at temperatures of 800 to 1200 °C converts almost all the carbon into carbon dioxide, which escapes as a gas. All that remains are inorganic residues ("slag"), which are unsuitable for diamond synthesis.
In reality, the diamond is grown from foreign, enriched carbon, as the chemically impure ash would impair diamond growth. Suppliers cannot prove this part of the process, which supports the DDC's criticism. In addition, "desired colors" of the diamonds are created by artificial catalysts and have no connection to the deceased, which means that the personal touch is lost.
In Germany, there is a legal obligation to bury the mortal remains, which also includes cremation ashes, which is why diamond burials are only possible abroad. The costs of such burials are higher than those of conventional burials and the synthetic diamonds have no resale value. This also applies to memorial diamonds made from the hair of the deceased or animals.
