Cremation diamonds

[AtillatheHun]

Yes, this is very much a thing - turn your dead relative’s remains into a diamond. Or two.
Has anyone here had it done? Given they are GIA certificated, do they end up circulated like naturally occurring diamonds?
I have two sets of remains and no guide as to what to do with them, other than the second to go asking to be with the first. I can’t keep them on top of a bookcase forever and the only logical places to scatter them together are either abroad or inaccessible- I don’t want to smuggle kilos of white powder into the US and nor can I ask the new owners of the old house if I can fertilise the hedge with some truly organic material.
I’m unlikely to remain in my own home forever so the diamond thing sounds like a good idea, despite my kids (currently) being utterly weirded out by the concept of wearing their forefathers!

Sounds like a really good idea. The Victorians had loads of jewellery containing locks of hair of dead relatives. A diamond sounds much nicer than that. Maybe you could get the diamonds put into a locket with their photos in?
Got to be nicer than this encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQfOMe0YR-qH0-EY5o2Rv8PAS00EDJ35sS-gA&usqp=CAU

I would take them to a windy moor and scatter them to the elements

Im going to do this with my parents ashes, but it doesn't require all of the ashes.

My mum wants me to do this with her. I don’t fancy it. Sort of turns my stomach a bit.

If you do end up taking the ashes abroad you can ask your funeral director for a letter that states that you have an urn of cremated remains not Bolivian marching powder.

There are other options for jewellery. A tiny bit of of the ashes is suspended in beads/rings/paperweight etc.

People are often shocked at the appearance and texture of ashes when they scatter them.
Most folk think they’ll be like fine talcum powder that disperse easily. In reality, they appear more like car litter with lumps in.

Good luck with whatever you decide

@stath I have two sets and they obviously changed crematorium processes in between as they are very different textures!
Wi day moor idea all very well but no meaningful windy moor but Royal Park in London which I suspect will have dim view. Imagine the parents with their toddlers out getting upset by it?! So much potential for very black comedy

My grandparents ashes were buried in the grave of another relative, would that be an option?

I think it’s a lovely idea and something I would definitely do.

I think it’s awful. I really do. I don’t want to be turned into a piece of fake jewellery to be worn on someone’s finger. Honestly I think it’s sick.

It’s not for me but I think it’s a nice thing to do. They only need a small amount of ashes though, so you’d still be left with most of them to dispose of.

Ashes are not actually ashes at all, but the remaining bones which have been ground up.

I wonder how much it costs?

I will mention this to my old dad, we have quite a black sense of humour, I reckon I could get a few carats out of him, he is a big fella.

I think it's disgusting. I don't want my body turned into someone else's bling. Scatter me in nature any day!

I used to work in a funeral home and a lot of people there hated them. I did too, personally. I don't know why but I also really dislike the idea of "mixing" ashes. If you want to get it done though then that's your personal choice, they only take about a teaspoon of ashes to make though so you're still left with what to do with the rest. I don't agree with keeping ashes sat on a cupboard or something somewhere though, I'd just take them out somewhere nice (a field etc) and release them. Just make sure nobody sees you do it if it's private property

Do what's right for you - diamonds are a possibility, have them interred at a cemetery or burial site or just arrange for them to be scattered somewhere they liked

Or at sea I should add, cruise lines allow this, must be 12+ miles from shore

No personal experience on diamonds, but they only use some of the ashes so you'll still be stuck with the rest (unless you have a lot of £££ to spend). Keep in mind you're paying far more than the market value because everything relating to funerals is overpriced.

Re different textures, you can ask a crematorium if they can blend them (for lack of a better word) to have the same texture.

From experience working in parks... There's the official policy on ashes, and there's reality. Go on a quiet day, find a quiet spot, don't leave it all in one heap. If it's rainy it'll keep any blown-away ashes down.

Alternatively, how about scattering them in the sea? Especially with links to other countries.

It’s all supposed to be a scam anyway

scambusters.org/memorialdiamond.html

Just a note, cremation ashes are dangerous to plants and soil. If your loved one loved gardening, don't do it!

If there’s a sea-going connection I believe the RNLI will take them out and scatter solemnly.

But in answer to your question I am personally not a fan of wearing my relatives but I can see why people might be.

If some people find comfort from it then that’s fine but to me it seems pointless and a waste of time, energy and money in converting someone’s remains into a naff piece of jewellery.

I don’t want ashes in the house either, I don’t like trinkets and one of us is bound to knock it over!

Scatter at a suitable place and make sure the wind is not blowing towards you.

Personally I want to be sent to a taxidermist after I die and then be on display in a public place.

@CorrBlimeyGG

Just a note, cremation ashes are dangerous to plants and soil. If your loved one loved gardening, don't do it!

How are they dangerous, when blood & bone fertiliser exists? Because ashes are just ground up bones. It has a high pH, but you can add lime to balance the pH if needed. For it to turn the soil acidic you'd need lots of it - like on a specific ashes scattering plot at a cemetery. The Royal Parks is mostly acid grassland anyway, two urns of well-scattered ashes isn't going to make a difference.

Whatever floats your boat.

I wouldn't do it because in my religion/culture we bury not cremate, but it's a nice idea that can bring comfort.

My great aunt's ashes were split between Canada and England. My Grandma took some ashes to the church yard where their parents were buried, lifted a bit of turf and put them in there. GA would have loved the adventure and it saved her children a lot of money.

I'm not a fan of the on the shelf or diamond idea myself. But I wouldn't worry about someone thinking it's a real diamond. Created diamonds look very different to naturally occuring diamonds under a jewellers loupe.

Wouldn't want to get mugged for it though!