Are cremation diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. They are grown in a lab from the carbon in a loved one's ashes and hair, recreating the heat and pressure that form natural diamonds. The result is a real diamond, aesthetically very close to a mined one, with the same brilliance and shine.

How much do cremation diamonds cost?

Prices depend on size, color, clarity, and provider. As a rough guide, stones have ranged from around $750 for a tiny 0.03-carat diamond up to almost $20,000 for a one-carat colored diamond. These prices cover the stone only; settings are extra, often from around $200 up to about $2,200.

What sizes are available?

The size of a cremation diamond is determined by how long it is processed, measured in carats by weight. Depending on the provider, stones can range from about 0.03 carats up to 2.00 carats.

Can you make a diamond from pet ashes?

Yes. A pet's ashes and hair can be grown into a diamond using essentially the same process and the same four Cs as a human stone. Many owners have the pet's name engraved into the setting as well.

Will I know exactly what color my diamond will be?

Not precisely. You choose a color family, but because each diamond is made from a distinct individual's ashes, the exact shade is difficult to predict and every stone turns out unique.

Keepsakes

Cremation diamonds: how ashes become a lasting memorial

A cremation diamond is one of the most personal ways to remember someone you love. By recreating the heat and pressure that form natural diamonds deep in the earth, a lab can turn the carbon in a person's ashes and hair into a real, brilliant gemstone. This guide walks through how the process works, the choices you'll make, the jewelry you can create, and roughly what it costs, so you can decide whether a cremation diamond is right for your family.

Turning ashes into diamonds: the process

Natural diamonds begin very deep under the earth, where extreme heat combined with intense pressure acts on carbon. A cremation diamond mimics that same recipe inside a laboratory, producing a gemstone that is aesthetically very close to a mined diamond, with the same brilliance and shine.

The difference is the source and the timeline. A natural diamond has to be mined from deep under the earth. A cremation diamond is grown from carbon drawn out of a loved one's remains, and it takes months rather than millions of years. Because nothing is mined, the process poses no harm to the environment.

Where the carbon comes from

A cremation diamond is made from the carbon contained in the ashes and hair. The lab extracts that carbon using temperatures as high as 5,000 degrees, then subjects it to the intense pressure needed to begin forming a crystal.

How the diamond grows

The prepared carbon is placed into a growth capsule, which is then placed inside a growth chamber. Within the chamber, crystals slowly form to create a single rough diamond unique to that individual. Once the rough stone has grown, a diamond cutter facets it into the style you chose in advance, then polishes it to bring out its sparkle.

How long it takes

The many stages together can take several months to complete. That feels long while you wait, but it is just a minute compared to the millions of years the same transformation takes in nature. The color you choose can also affect timing, since some hues take longer to produce than others.

Choosing your diamond: the four Cs

Cremation has increased at an astounding rate over the past decades, and memorial jewelry has grown alongside it. With the discovery of how to produce these diamonds, cremation jewelry reached a whole new level, and cremation diamonds are now growing in popularity at a rapid pace.

You choose the stone the same way you would any diamond, using what the diamond industry calls the four Cs: color, cut, clarity, and carats. Here is what each one means.

Color

Color comes in part from the boron present in the ashes and hair, which along with other methods makes the different hues. Cremation diamonds can be produced in many colors, including brown, red, pink, gray, blue, green, violet, purple, yellow, orange, and of course clear.

You select a color family, but it is difficult to determine the exact shade your diamond will turn out. Because every diamond is made from the ashes of a distinct individual, each one is unique, and no two are quite alike.

Cut

When you order, you also choose the cut. Immediately after a diamond is grown it is not yet shiny or sparkling as we picture it. It has to be cut and polished to achieve that appearance, and the cutter must be very precise to attain the ultimate brilliance. You can pick from a wide variety of shapes, such as princess, brilliant, or radiant cut.

Carats

Carats measure a diamond's weight, which sets its size. Large diamonds of multiple carats are rare, so the higher the carat, the more expensive the diamond, with color and clarity adding to the value as well. The size of a cremation diamond is determined by the length of time it is processed, and depending on the provider, stones can range from about 0.03 carats up to 2.00 carats.

Clarity

Like natural stones, cremation diamonds have flaws. Clarity is determined by the number of flaws, or inclusions, that are visible when the stone is examined under 10-times magnification. That magnifying instrument a jeweler holds up to one eye is exactly what they use to inspect a diamond for these flaws.

Jewelry made from cremation diamonds

Any type of jewelry can be made with a cremation diamond. You can have it set by the same establishment that created the stone, or take it to a separate jeweler. You'll select the metal you desire, such as gold, sterling silver, or platinum, and the style, from modern to vintage. The most popular choices are pendants, rings, and earrings.

Pendant necklace

A pendant setting is very popular and typically worn on a chain, which lets you keep a part of your loved one close to your heart. The possibilities for pendant designs are essentially unlimited, from a simple setting with a solitary diamond to a more extravagant option holding multiple stones, and some pendants can also hold a small amount of the ashes. The setting can be purchased ready-made or commissioned as a custom piece. You can explore more options in our guide to /best-cremation-necklaces.

Rings

Rings are probably the most popular setting of all, with the same wide choice of metals and styles as pendants. Many people pick a small ring they can wear at all times, so the stone is there throughout the day as a quiet reminder and prompt for fond memories of the one they lost.

Earrings

Earrings put the diamond where its shine catches the light as you move and walk. You might choose a simple solitaire setting or a dangle style. Whichever you pick, the sparkle of the stone is hard to miss.

How much cremation diamonds cost

The size, clarity, and color of your diamond all affect the price, and the business you choose to make it has a bearing too. As a rough guide drawn from established providers, prices have ranged from around $750 for a small 0.03-carat orange-yellow stone up to almost $20,000 for a one-carat blue diamond. Another provider quoted from almost $3,000 for a 0.10-carat blue stone up to almost $20,000 for a full carat.

These figures are for the diamond alone and do not include the setting. Settings are priced separately, with one supplier's selection ranging from around $200 to almost $2,200, mainly covering rings and pendants. A cremation diamond can be an expensive memorial, but many places offer payment arrangements to spread the cost. For broader context on memorial budgets, see our overview of /cremation-costs.

Pet ashes to diamonds

The creators of cremation diamonds did not forget about our pets. A pet's ashes and hair can be grown into a beautiful diamond using essentially the same process and the same choices as a human stone.

You'll select the four Cs just as you would otherwise, and you can have the diamond set into a ring, pendant, or pair of earrings. Many owners also choose to have the pet's name engraved into the setting. If you're weighing your options for a pet, our guide to /pet-cremation explains the steps involved.

Other things you can do with ashes

A diamond is one of many ways to honor a loved one's remains. If you're still deciding, these guides cover other meaningful options.

Interment of ashes

Interment means burying the remains, an approach often preferred by Catholic families when cremating. Our guide to /interment-of-ashes walks through how it works, and our /can-catholics-be-cremated guide covers the religious side.

Scattering ashes

Scattering is a very popular and flexible choice. Our /scattering-ashes guide covers everything you need to know, and we have a dedicated /scattering-ashes-at-sea guide if you're planning that kind of ceremony.

Cremation art

Ashes can also be worked into a stunning piece of art. Our /cremation-art guide runs through the different creative ideas available to choose from.

Are cremation diamonds right for you?

A cremation diamond is definitely one of the more profound and personal items you can choose as an end-of-life memorial. Each time you look at it, you're reminded of the person or pet you lost, and keeping a part of them next to you can even aid in the grieving process.

It is also a meaningful investment of money and time, so it helps to compare it against simpler keepsakes and against your wider plans. If you're starting from the beginning, our guides to /jewelry-made-from-ashes and /what-to-do-with-ashes can help you weigh this option against the others before you commit.

Our picks

Diamond cremation jewelry, without the lab

A true ashes-grown diamond takes months and thousands of dollars. These pieces set real diamonds around a sealed chamber of ashes instead, keeping the sparkle at a fraction of the price.

Our favorite

Halo Diamonds 14K Gold Cremation Pendant

$335

A 14K gold pendant ringed with diamonds around the ashes chamber.

See pendant→

Heart Diamonds Sterling Silver Cremation Pendant

$325

A diamond-set sterling heart holding a token of ashes.

See pendant→

Swirl Diamonds Sterling Silver Ashes Ring

$305

Diamonds swirled along a silver band with the ashes sealed inside.

See ring→

Floral Diamonds 14K Gold Cremation Ring

$305

Diamond-set petals in 14K gold, delicate and detailed.

See ring→

Teardrop Diamonds Gold Vermeil Cremation Pendant

$375

A teardrop of diamonds in gold vermeil, dressy without being loud.

See pendant→

Opal 14K Solid Gold Stud Cremation Earrings

$520

Solid gold studs with the ashes worked into opal-like stones.

See ring→

Products link to You Are Forever, our sister memorial store, or to partners; we may earn from qualifying purchases. Prices shown were current when this guide was updated.

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