ratbastid

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...re/3389493.stm

Creepy? I think so!

What do you think of this? Would you have a diamond made from the remains of a deceased loved one?

quadro2000

To each their own. I think it's ridiculous, but I agree with the family; some may think it's weird, but they think it's wonderful and that's all that counts. Whatever.

The engagement ring I bought for Quadrette cost enough on its own. Imagine if I had thrown some ashes in there....

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Halx

Ya know.. this is actually not such a bad idea. I'm not sentimental, but if your grandpa can fit in a neat jewelry box instead of a $10000 lot at the local cemetary, or a huge urn on the mantle, I'm all for it.

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skier

when i die i'd like to be turned into a diamond. Then i'd actually be worth something

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~springrain

i think it's pretty cool actually... *shrug*

feelgood

I'm for it, Halx just took the words right out of my mouth. They've been doing that for at least a year now.

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Nefir

I'd gladly be turned into a diamond, but only if used in an orbital death ray sattelite. Blofeld would be proud.

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Jonsgirl

I think it's a great idea. I'd just be afraid of being pawned off by my great grandchildren or something.

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present_future

I think it would be pretty cool, until someone asked you about it. How would you explain to a person that you are wearing the remains of a family member around your neck? I know I wouldn't be able to.

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nosuchuserexist

Some people (like me) think that it's weird to preserve the body, put it in a box and bury it in the ground. I would much rather have someone be able to do something constructive with me after I'm gone. Personally I don't want a small chunk of land taken up with my dead body for decades to come. Burn me and spread my ashes or make a diamond out of me any day, but as was said before, "To each his own"

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skysooner

If people have the money to spend for it, why not. It takes so many resources to bury someone that I feel this is preferable.

Just don't use it as an engagement diamond

Nisses

"Hey nice ring you got there."
"Gee, thanks, it used to be my grandmother."

Sounds just a bit odd, but I'm sure people will put it in a ring something similar as well. Who said we don't appraise the elderly?

Anyway, I think it's just as good a ritual/memorial act as any. It'll probably last even longer than most graves around here, so in a way it's a one-time deal and you get the item for alot longer than other burials...

Of course a grave is a way for the rest of the community to remember the deceased as well, something you won't have here, but I'm all for it.

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slimcr

but, what if they get tired of you or run out of money and sell you...ohhh boy...

Cardinal Syn

As for me being in the business. A.K.A. Gemologist/Jeweler. I have read about it. It is quite odd. But alas some people are very sentimental about such things. Its a great idea. But a diamond is CARBON.

What i dont understand about human anatomy is. When we go into the incerator or whatever to make ash. Do we become carbon? That diamond that they have shown must have alot of nitorogen to make it that color.

I dont understand the process how they make it. But anywho. Buy diamonds :>

krwlz

I think its pretty cool. Not really gross at all.

Seems to be a great reminder of a great person to me.

Halx

When you burn anything, the black ash left behind is carbon. Sure there are a bunch of other elements as well, but it makes perfect sense to combine sentimental ash with pure carbon to make a lab-diamond.

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majik_6

Although it's not really what I would want for myself, I can see the appeal.

As for the creepy factor, I don't think it's any different than keeping the unprocessed ashes on the mantle. Either way, you're keeping the remains around the house, but this way it's something beautiful.

Hopefully, it will help some people to remember their loved ones in a happier way. A diamond is associated with a lot of happy times in ones life, not usually death. Maybe this will serve as not only a memorial, but a way of easing the pain.

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Frowning Budah

People have always said I was the hardest thing in nature so I guess I might as well continue that title after I am dead

splck

Soounds a hell of alot better than being buried.

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denim

I expect it's right for some people, and some situations. For me or mine, I dunno.

StormBerlin

I think its a neat idea. I would go for it. Alot better than bieng stuck in the ground forever. Is it the ashes that makes the diamond that color?

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Kaos

I think it's quite sentimental, and a hell of a lot better than taking up more space in a cemetary.

omega2K4

I read about this awhile back, pretty neat stuff. I also read about a company that could synthetically make diamonds. Pretty cool stuff, they said it was really cheap to produce, and that they are identical to something you'd buy from a jewelry store. They also took it to several major diamond trading/selling company, and that company (I think DeBeers), couldn't tell the difference from a real diamond, and the synthetic.

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jujueye

I read somewhere a few years ago that some old guy took the ashes of his deceased wife and had them loaded into capsules. He took one every morning with his vitamins.

numist

btw - they take out a lot of the extra crap, the article says:

graphite == carbon, except that graphite is in your pencil, not on your ring.

Either way, it could be good. I dont like the ability to sell it for value. If I were to have it done I would want to be shot into outer space or sunk to the bottom of the ocean, somewhere where no one would find me. I dont want to leave a physical memory behind.

flamingpeach

seems pretty disgusting. But then again, everyone remembers in their own way.

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ratbastid

Sort of sweet, but.... also very, very creepy. And I'm not sure it's legal. Isn't there a law against abusing human remains?

zer010gic

It sounds kinda neat to me but in another way maybe a little morbid its hard to decide. The idea is neat from a technology stand point but the pratice is just odd.

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arch13

So wait, are diamonds still a girls best freind?

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denim

I guess that'd depend on what shape they make the diamond. I mean, diamond is the hardest substance we know, right?

Kllr Wolf

For me it would depend. they are looking at replacing silicon with diamonds in circuits since it can hnadle higher temps( faster sppeds). If so, I want to be a computer.

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GuttersnipeXL

I'll pass...I still want to be taken to the taxidermist. I want my joints replaced with oversized plastic GI Joe joints, so that I can be moved around and set up into differnet positions for parties and whatnot...the diamond idea is pretty neat, but I'm not budging on the taxidermy idea. No, seriously.

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water_boy1999

Hmmm....I am not sure this is the route I want to go. I don't think it is gross or creepy.

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lurkette

I don't think it's so weird. I've considered getting a pendant that I could put a little bit of my brother's ashes in. No weirder to have a gem in a ring on a necklace or whatever. I would be a little concerned that someone would lose it or pawn it or something, but really, none of what you can do with someone's remains makes a whole lot of sense.

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daydream

Wow that is one of the strangest things I have ever heard of... didn't know it was possible to take someone's ashes and turn it into a diamond! Btw how much is £11,000 in American money... just curious cause they said in the article that's how much it costs to do this...

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Starr

Here's the site of the company mentioned above. It's a US based company that branched out to the UK...

http://www.lifegem.com/

Now when you have a loved one cremated, how do you know you're not going to get the remains from the previous person that was cremated in the process? I'd hate to wear a diamond with the thought that someone else's carbons could be in there. Also, $14,000 for almost a karat is a tad bit outrageous.

glasscutter43

For $20,000.00 + US I'm thinking a "memorial home theater system" is sounding really good.

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brandon11983

I can see the need for some, but not for me. I guess dead is dead to me.

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spived2

Just wait till some rich people decide they want to start collecting them. How morbid would that be for someone to have an entire collection of dead people diamonds in a glass case in their house??

As for me, I would rather be buried. I'm not into that whole reincarnation thing, but I would rather have my body decompose and become part of the natural life cycle.

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jujueye

Fascinating. You could creep out the family until the end of time. Coooool!