If you find yourself in a situation where your loved one has died and you’re unsure what to do with the remains (he didn’t specify if he wanted his body buried, cremated, or set to sea in a flaming boat manned by a vestal virgin), then perhaps you should consider memorial diamonds as not only a solution to the problem at hand, but also as a way to keep him with you forever (and look good doing it). Also known as Life Gems (or death diamonds), these stones are literally created from the ashes of your loved one, like a mythical phoenix, only worth a lot more than a bird in the hand. In fact, you can either use ashes or a lock of hair to create your memorial diamond, leaving you with a very tangible (and gorgeous) reminder of the person you lost.
These stones can be created in a variety of colors, cuts, and carats, available in less than a quarter of a carat up to over a 1.5 carats, with prices ranging from a little less than $2,000 to well over $20,000. Although you may be skeptical about the quality of the stones, they are in fact certifiable, lab-created diamonds that happen to use your deceased relative as a carbon base. And while there is something to be said for the economy of transforming an abandoned body into a piece of jewelry, the thought of wearing your deceased husband or mother in ring, however lovely, might strike you as a bit macabre and possibly gauche.
The real problem with such a notion as having the ashes of your loved one turned into a diamond is that it doesn’t seem very, well, respectful (or tasteful). And yet, many people find it perfectly natural to keep a lock of hair in a locket (or even a drop of blood in a vial or encased in Lucite). Is this type of keepsake really any different from a diamond made of the dead? In truth, you should probably discuss any plans for jewelry making with your loved one before they expire, to find out if they have other ideas about how to best dispose of their remains. And if they seem reticent to become an object of beauty for you to wear, just remind them that bodies decay and ashes scatter, but diamonds are forever!
