Synthetic diamonds from loved ones

[MrYoung]

Many of us are aware that we can use the HPHT method to turn carbon into diamonds. You may also be aware that passed loved ones can be turned into synthetic diamonds with the same method. Afterall, we are all made of carbon.

For all of the jewelers out there, have you ever been hired for this service? I am interested to hear how people would react when told "This diamond is made from the remains of my recently passed dog, Nitro"

 

[Linda W]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???

 

[chicagohills]

like my man says.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/12/2007 1:19:09 AM
Author: Linda W
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???

Hehehe Linda, there was a thread a couple of years back on this subject!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cremation-diamonds.32207/

 

[Circe]

I have to admit, I''ve been joking with my loved ones that this is OBVIOUSLY what they ought to do with me when my time comes. Now that I''m married, I''m trying to convince the Hubster that "eternity" can translate to "ring" literally, if he cares to join me.

Then again, before they invented this process, I was trying to sell them all on the idea of making a mug out of my skull and setting the sockets with rubies, so ... I could be more macabre than usual.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/12/2007 8:14:04 AM
Author: Circe
I have to admit, I've been joking with my loved ones that this is OBVIOUSLY what they ought to do with me when my time comes. Now that I'm married, I'm trying to convince the Hubster that 'eternity' can translate to 'ring' literally, if he cares to join me.

Then again, before they invented this process, I was trying to sell them all on the idea of making a mug out of my skull and setting the sockets with rubies, so ... I could be more macabre than usual.

Don't know if you have ever seen...this....

pic stolen from Chrono

 

[chrono]

I know. I remember discussions about this in the past. It will feel really wierd handing down a family heirloom that''s made out of a great grandparent. Imagine if hubby tossed it out like DKS'' situation? Or "oh no, I chipped grand uncle John".

 

[steph72276]

Ummm....ew.

 

[Haven]

Date: 12/12/2007 1:05:31 AM
Author:MrYoung
Many of us are aware that we can use the HPHT method to turn carbon into diamonds. You may also be aware that passed loved ones can be turned into synthetic diamonds with the same method. Afterall, we are all made of carbon.

For all of the jewelers out there, have you ever been hired for this service? I am interested to hear how people would react when told ''This diamond is made from the remains of my recently passed dog, Nitro''

My reaction: Ew. Thanks, but no thanks.

WHY?!?!

 

[777_LDY]

Ugh, I have heard of this before and I''m sorry it is just too morbid.

I would much rather have a personal item from a loved one to remember them by than to create one. To be it is just obbsesive and wrong.

 

[tberube]

ROFL!!!! Love-it...

 

[musey]

You know, I heard about this a few months ago, and I honestly thought "COOL! You could have a diamond-bead necklace made from all your ancestors."

Until I really realized that, you know, it''s a necklace made from all your ancestors.

 

[Linda W]

I say ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. ha ha h aha

Linda

 

[omieluv]

Aside from the obvious morbidity of this idea, I think this can hinder the healing process for people grieving loved ones, especially in more emotionally fragile people. Of course, we never forget our loved ones after they pass on, however, there comes a point in the healing process where one must let them go, which could be hindered if the person clings to something like this...just my thoughts.

 

[Gypsy]

Well. That''s definitely one way to keep those who have passed on as a part of our daily lives.

I''m sorry to hear about your grandma passing.
Oh thank you so much. Would you like to see the pendant I had her made into? It''s an E color VVS!

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 12/12/2007 2:00:18 PM
Author: omieluv
Aside from the obvious morbidity of this idea, I think this can hinder the healing process for people grieving loved ones, especially in more emotionally fragile people. Of course, we never forget our loved ones after they pass on, however, there comes a point in the healing process where one must let them go, which could be hindered if the person clings to something like this...just my thoughts.

I agree 110% with everything you said and I have seen it happen. It''s also how I have heard about this diamond thing.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Date: 12/12/2007 2:09:06 PM
Author: 777_LDY

Date: 12/12/2007 2:00:18 PM
Author: omieluv
Aside from the obvious morbidity of this idea, I think this can hinder the healing process for people grieving loved ones, especially in more emotionally fragile people. Of course, we never forget our loved ones after they pass on, however, there comes a point in the healing process where one must let them go, which could be hindered if the person clings to something like this...just my thoughts.

I agree 110% with everything you said and I have seen it happen. It''s also how I have heard about this diamond thing.

I agree...it is icky and I don''t think this could be very good in helping with grieving and moving on.

 

[omieluv]

Date: 12/12/2007 2:09:06 PM
Author: 777_LDY

Date: 12/12/2007 2:00:18 PM
Author: omieluv
Aside from the obvious morbidity of this idea, I think this can hinder the healing process for people grieving loved ones, especially in more emotionally fragile people. Of course, we never forget our loved ones after they pass on, however, there comes a point in the healing process where one must let them go, which could be hindered if the person clings to something like this...just my thoughts.

I agree 110% with everything you said and I have seen it happen. It''s also how I have heard about this diamond thing.

I am not trying to be offensive, but it''s just another way for people to profit from death.

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 12/12/2007 2:15:14 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 12/12/2007 2:09:06 PM
Author: 777_LDY

Date: 12/12/2007 2:00:18 PM
Author: omieluv
Aside from the obvious morbidity of this idea, I think this can hinder the healing process for people grieving loved ones, especially in more emotionally fragile people. Of course, we never forget our loved ones after they pass on, however, there comes a point in the healing process where one must let them go, which could be hindered if the person clings to something like this...just my thoughts.

I agree 110% with everything you said and I have seen it happen. It''s also how I have heard about this diamond thing.

I am not trying to be offensive, but it''s just another way for people to profit from death.

So sad but true.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Date: 12/12/2007 2:15:14 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 12/12/2007 2:09:06 PM
Author: 777_LDY

Date: 12/12/2007 2:00:18 PM
Author: omieluv
Aside from the obvious morbidity of this idea, I think this can hinder the healing process for people grieving loved ones, especially in more emotionally fragile people. Of course, we never forget our loved ones after they pass on, however, there comes a point in the healing process where one must let them go, which could be hindered if the person clings to something like this...just my thoughts.

I agree 110% with everything you said and I have seen it happen. It''s also how I have heard about this diamond thing.

I am not trying to be offensive, but it''s just another way for people to profit from death.

Yep, so true...

 

[CaptAubrey]

Forget dead loved ones, you can get diamonds made from dead celebrities:

http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/BeethovenLifeGem.aspx

Technically, too, there''s no reason the "source material" needs to be dead--you''d just need a wad of hair. How much longer before Paris Hilton starts her own line of synthetic diamonds?

 

[777_LDY]

OMG, that is awful...funny...but just wrong...

 

[Sparkster]

Quite a lot of people keep the ashes of their loved one in an urn and place it on the mantlepiece or some other place in their household. Why not turn it into a diamond instead? Personally, I wouldn''t turn any of my ancestors'' ashes into diamonds.

And I thought Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton were weird for carrying around each other''s blood in vials around their necks. Each to their own, I guess.

 

[partgypsy]

"I''m sorry to hear about your grandma passing.
Oh thank you so much. Would you like to see the pendant I had her made into? It''s an E color VVS!"

Gypsy LOL!!!

 

[Joolskie]

Kinda gives new meaning to the term "heirloom." LOL!!!

 

[perry]

I question the authenticy of what they are claiming to do.

Yes, you can make diamonds from pure carbon. Highly Pure is the key, ordinary commercial grade carbon does not work.

While it is true that there is carbon in human remains... It is not that much carbon, and does not appear in a pure form.

A typical analysis is that by weight a human body is:

Oxygen (65.0%)
Carbon (18.5%)
Hydogen (9.5%)
Nitrogen (3.2%)
Calcium (1.5%)
Phosphorus (1.0%)
Potassium (0.4%)
Sulfur (0.3%)
Sodium (0.2%
Chlorine (0.2%)
Magnesium (0.1%)
Iodine (0.1%)
Iron (0.1%)
Chromium (trace)
Cobalt (trace)
Copper (trace)
Fluorine (trace)
Manganese (trace)
Molybdenum (trace)
Selenium (trace)
Tin (trace)
Vanadium (trace)
Zinc (trace)
others (trace)

Much of that weight is tied up as water (Hydorgen & Oxygen) which make up about 74.5% of body wieght.

Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfer are burned off during normal cremation. Most ashes from cremation are thus calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other trace elements.

If you do not cremate - but work to extract carbon by other means it will be contaminated with many of the above elements. It is very very expensive to purify carbon from such a contaminated source to the purities levels needed for diamond production.

In reality, I think it is all a scam... They will extract a trace of something - toss it into a pot of highly pure carbon powder - knowing that any diamonds that are formed will be from the highly pure carbon powder.

I also note that such diamonds tend to ... most are on the order of a glint in a pile of black carbon powder. A great way to make diamond abrasive powerder though.

Perry

 

[somethingshiny]

It''s so funny that this was mentioned. The other day I was talking to my grandma (the only person in my family who "gets" the diamond thing..) And, she offered herself up. She thinks she''ll make a nice couple of carats! She just asked that I take her to coffee.

 

[CaptAubrey]

Date: 12/12/2007 9:19:13 PM
Author: perry
If you do not cremate - but work to extract carbon by other means it will be contaminated with many of the above elements. It is very very expensive to purify carbon from such a contaminated source to the purities levels needed for diamond production.

There are some patents on these things, and they cover the means of extracting and purifying the carbon. The prices these companies charge are in excess of what a natural diamond of the same characteristics would be, which leads me to believe that the processes they use are in fact quite involved and expensive.

I know some scientists who have doubts about this as well, though. I would be surprised if the process does not involve adding additional carbon; at least one of the patents mentions doing just that.

 

[gwendolyn]

Title should really be "Synthetic diamonds OF loved ones." And, ew.

 

[perry]

There are some patents on these things, and they cover the means of extracting and purifying the carbon. The prices these companies charge are in excess of what a natural diamond of the same characteristics would be, which leads me to believe that the processes they use are in fact quite involved and expensive.

I know some scientists who have doubts about this as well, though. I would be surprised if the process does not involve adding additional carbon; at least one of the patents mentions doing just that.


So let me explain the process and you will see where my doubts creep in:

First off - synthitic diamond production is fairly common. A large quantitity of diamond abrasive powder is manufactured this way. These diamonds are extreemly small.

Diamond grinding powder is commonly available in the less than 1 micron size range for about $0.50 (50 cents) per carat in 100 carat quantaties (20 ounces):+ shipping.

As the size gets larger - say to about 1/1000 of an inch the price goes up to about $1.25 per carat: + shipping.

The price gets much higher as you approach "point" size stones.

Synthetic diamond gemstones are also commonly produced; and the only companies that I know that are routinely producing them are working in the fancy yellow range - where the cost of production is low enough that the product is commercially viable.

These companies can produce synthetic diamonds in the F-I color range; but the production time (and cost) are about twice what the fancy yellow cost are; and the resulting diamonds would be much more expensive than natural stones: Of course, limited quantities of F-I colored synthetic diamonds have been produced just to show it can be done.

There is another process out there with I think great promise - but the last I checked they were producing brown diamonds that had not found a market except as abrasives and heat sinks - which are not commercially viable for the process (but the process remains in the R&D stage).

Normal commercial grade carbon powder is available for pennies per Lb. High purity carbon powder that is used for synthetic diamond production is, I understand, in well over a $100 per Lb; and you need an ounce or two to put into a High pressure High Temperature machine in order to get out a cut gemstone in the carat or two range (and sometimes none at all).

If you were to extract several ounces of high purity carbon powder from human remains it would be quite the process. The carbon is held in the flesh; and common chemical purification processes do not recover all the carbon in a material (and can be quite wastefull). Thus, I would suggest that a good quantitiy of material would need to be started with - about 22 Lb of flesh, assuming 5 purification stages where 50% of the carbon is recovered at each stage - in order to get a sufficient quantity of high purity carbon.

Here is how that works out: If you desire 2 ounces of high quality pure carbon; and each purification stage rejects 50% of the carbon you would need 4 lb of carbon at the start of the process. 4 Lb divided by 18.5% (the fraction of carbon per body weight) gives 21.6 Lb (and the number is off a bit because the bones contain almost no carbon - but it is close enough to give you an idea).

Given that most people die closer to 100 lb that would probably be in the range of the flesh from two legs, or a substaintial portion of the torso.

You would disolve the flesh in chemicals and have a resulting chemical soup. First extraction step would be chemical separation of most of the carbon, then I propose that you would probably need at least 5 stages of purification by various forms (each loosing perhaps 50% of the carbon) before you would potentially have sufficiently pure carbon based chemical that could be reduced to two ounces of powder. Then you would need to reduce the chemical to a carbon powder.

Estimated cost of this process would be in the thousands of dollars range (and potentialy in the tens of thousands of dollar range if this was done for just a few people) - to get your two ounces of highly pure carbon powder to make your gemstone quality diamond from.

I suggest that even at the fancy yellow diamond range - that this would be so cost prohibitive that no one can do it.

On the other hand. I could take perhaps some hair, a finger nail clipping, maybee the flesh from a finger or toe - disolve it, do a basic first stage carbon extraction. Do a rough conversion to some form of very unpure carbon powder (I would only get a smudge worth of carbon); for perhaps a couple hundred dollars.

Now I put a few microscopic grains of that carbon into a couple ounces of diamond grade production powder and make a synthetic diamond. Any diamond formed will almost certianly not include the miniscule amount of unpure carbon from the human remains.

Sorry folks, unless you are truely wealthy and think nothing of disolving a good chunk of an entire body - its a scam.

While there may be less wastefull purification processes that would require less flesh, starting with an assumption of 50% product loss per stage is a fairly common practice for conceptual feasability planning.

Anyone claiming to do it from the remaining ashes is also promoting a scam. Their is virtually no carbon in the ashes as the carbon easily burns (which is why we use carbon based fuels).


Perry