Diamonds Are Forever?

[Ryhla]

I found heard this on a local fox station...and found it..."interesting".

A link to the company that does this is at the bottom of the post...

Company Can Turn Human Remains Into Diamonds

Denise Nakano
Q13 news

http://www.q13.com

January 10, 2003

NEWCASTLE -- A Newcastle man is bringing his dead father back to life in the form of a diamond. Jack Trunnell's father John Trunnell of Bellevue died a week before Thanksgiving. Jack plans to keep his father's memory alive by paying Chicago-based LifeGem $2,095 to turn his dad's cremated remains into quarter-carat blue diamond.

LifeGem's process of transforming carbon from cremated ashes takes 16-weeks. Jack Trunnell is the first in the Western United.States to pay LifeGem for the procedure. He's expecting his diamond sometime in March.

Copyright © 2003, KCPQ

http://www.lifegem.com/

[FaerySong]

wow that's actually pretty interesting, and quite coincidential- we were discussing diamonds and stuff today in Science

[Radocs]

My ashes will be scattered. I don't wanna be a diamond. ;)

[Siarlas]

My first thought was 'Good gods no! What are they?! Nuts?!'
Keeping someone's memory alive doesn't have to involve their remains!

But then again.... it'd probably be the most money my kids ever get left to them! :T

[Psyche Ague]

I voted that I'd have to think about it, but honestly, I'd rather have my ashes scattered over the ocean.

[Flaire-FireStar]

No. Like others, I'd rather be toasted & sprinkled....

(Besides, I dont' really like diamonds anyway...would much rather end up a sapphire or ruby or something) 8O Still, I don't think I'd want someone WEARING me! :lol:

[Mithrea]

I think it's awesome! I totally want to hang around someone's neck for all eternity :)

[Azure]

For some reason I now have this Garbo as Camille-like image of dying young unexpectedly and having the remains of my physical self carried around as a gem on my bf's body. It's the ultimate way of staying pretty.

*laughs*
Seriously, if they want to put my body into diamonds when I'm gone, that's fine. I'm not using it. Otherwise, scatter my ashes somewhere cool.

[Dravius]

I read about LifeGem in the newspaper a week or so ago actually...funny you guys brought it up :)

I don't care what the heck they do with my body after I die...only thing is, from what the article in the newspaper said, it costs between $2,500 to $10,000 depending on what size diamond you want...thats a big chunk of change!

[WynterWynd]

I think its kinda neat...in away. But my first tought was, what if your loved one looses that stone out of the ring/pendant?? That could be tramatic all over again!:(

[Saphra]

I'd rather be toasted and spread, but hey, if someone wants to have my ashes turned into a diamond, by all means.... (okay, that was a little demented but hey, it's 2 in the morning and I have been up for 22 hours, I'm getting a little tired right now.)

[Semele]

Ok, since everyone is sharing their first thoughts on the topic..here's mine. (I apologize in advance!)

Oh man, I hope noone in my family likes diamonds better than me!!! I can see the wheels in Mol's head spinning now...hhhmm I might like her better as a shiny, silent diamond!!

[Semele]

BTW I fixed the question in the poll for ya...you need some sleep girl!

[Wyrdsister]

Originally posted by Dravius
...only thing is, from what the article in the newspaper said, it costs between $2,500 to $10,000 depending on what size diamond you want...thats a big chunk of change! But you would only have so many ashes left of you after you were cremated. How can they make a bigger diamond out of you? What else would they be throwing in there? :confused:

This interesting question brought to you by:

Wyrdsister

[Faery-Wings]

I voted no. I want my ashes scattered. However if my family wanted to keep them, a diamond is much nicer than an urn.

*has visions of cat peeing on my ashes a la "Meet the Parents*

[Twilight Garden]

I think it's a beautiful idea! I had decided long ago that I want to be cremated, but that's as far as I've gotten. What happens after that is still up in the air.

[SagaDraco]

Compared with the cost of a burial, $2,500 is rather cheap.....but does it include the cremation? Personally, since I'll have moved out of my body and hopefully into a nice three-bedroom in Norway, I don't particularly care what happens to it. Honestly I'd just want it buried in a shallow grave in a national forest with a tree planted over it. Cheap and easy.

[Xander67]

Originally posted by Mithrea
I think it's awesome! I totally want to hang around someone's neck for all eternity :)

heheh, I liked that one :T

[Sabrina]

Greetings:

I've never heard of this before...but then I don't get out as much as I would like.
Hope no one minds - but I am member of several online Pagan communities and will pass along this "diamond" issue to other boards as well....

Personally, I'd always planned on being "scattered" wherever - told my girls the garbage bin is just fine...cause I am LONG gone from this earthly body ---
but ---
hmmmm

now given such a facinating choice --- would I wish to have my remains made into a diamond?
First reaction is to say "naaa...sounds silly." BUT...further reflection might be:
My grandmother is no longer within this realm. She passed unto the Summerlands some 9 years ago now.
Would I not LOVE beyond all else to gaze upon my finger as I type to you here now...and see her in Diamond fashion....
wearing her in such a sparkle and beautiful manner...

interesting...curious..."most curious" (favorite Harry Potter line)

Of course - for me....although this sound like a beautiful Option - I could not actually Choose this. For I am the Mother of THREE daughters...count them...threeeee...
just who would wear the diamond?
Ugh...

perhaps find another setting other than jewlery(?)
LOL
what an interesting thread.
Like I mentioned I will share this with others as well.
thanks!

[Old Witch]

As someone who has seen what funerals cost lately, If turning me into a diamond is cheaper for my family (and hey, I love jewelry), make me a pendant!

[adament]

if $$$ were no object....i'd like to be shot out into space, orbit the earth for awhile and finally go out like a shooting star....but that's just me:)

ada

[Ryhla]

I decided years ago, to be cremated, the family hold a wake, and my ashes scattered on the hillside that overlooks my home town. As for being turned into a diamond...naw...I'd rather be remembered by the family everytime they look upon the hill and think I'm there watching over them.

[Azure]

Just as a matter of reference, this isn't really a new idea, just a new method.

The Victorians used to save bits of hair and make tiny braids or flowers or whatever out of them, put them under glass or crystal, and wear them as pendants, rings, what have you. They were called momento mori, and most people thought them the normal thing to do. WWI changed that, partly because so many people died, and didn't exactly make it easy to get your hands on pieces of their remains with which to do that.

There are other cultures that do similar things, that's just the qquickie example.

[Ryhla]

I've seen examples of the braided hair memorials. It's amazing how they can do that.

[Ahautenites]

Well, if I didn't have my mind made up to be buried in the cemetery where most of my akhu are, I would opt for becoming a diamond. Of course, I would want to be on display as a beautiful, faceted gem sitting on a nice jewel-toned velvet cushion under glass in a display case of some sort. Wouldn't want to be made into jewelry. ("Let's see.... What to wear, what to wear? Is it an Aunt Julia day or a Cousin Bob day? Wellllllll, then again, Grannie looks best with my red blouse...")

I think De Beers (at the very least) would object to this vehemently, were it to become popular. I mean, these are the people that will shoot you on site if you're within the Do Not Enter zone of their complex. And these are the same people that have such tight control of the diamond industry that when you buy from them, they bring you to a room, put a handful of all qualities of diamonds on the table and ask you if you want them. You can accept the whole lot, regardless of flawed ones (of which there will undoubtedly be several), or you can walk away without any. And if you choose not to buy from them, you can never buy from them again.

[Ryhla]

Originally posted by NeferSesemet
Well, if I didn't have my mind made up to be buried in the cemetery where most of my akhu are, I would opt for becoming a diamond. Of course, I would want to be on display as a beautiful, faceted gem sitting on a nice jewel-toned velvet cushion under glass in a display case of some sort. Wouldn't want to be made into jewelry. ("Let's see.... What to wear, what to wear? Is it an Aunt Julia day or a Cousin Bob day? Wellllllll, then again, Grannie looks best with my red blouse...")

I think De Beers (at the very least) would object to this vehemently, were it to become popular. I mean, these are the people that will shoot you on site if you're within the Do Not Enter zone of their complex. And these are the same people that have such tight control of the diamond industry that when you buy from them, they bring you to a room, put a handful of all qualities of diamonds on the table and ask you if you want them. You can accept the whole lot, regardless of flawed ones (of which there will undoubtedly be several), or you can walk away without any. And if you choose not to buy from them, you can never buy from them again. De Beers is having a fit with lab created diamonds anyway because it is cutting into their industry. Why buy a natural diamond when lab created are so much cheaper. Biggest reason is because De Beers holds a monopoly on the natural diamond market and controls what go into that market. Since they have no control over lab diamonds, which chemically is the same, the natural diamond industry is down.

[Azure]

LOL Ses!!!

You know, I can see it getting out of hand. "Is it a Rover day or a Fluffy day or a Blinky the bunny rabbit day?"

I don't know, I still like the idea of being a brilliant blue diamond on my bf's earlobe. I could go other places with that, but I have tactfully chosen not to, because this is a family site. . .

[Rubi Waters]

Originally posted by Flaire
No. Like others, I'd rather be toasted & sprinkled....

(Besides, I dont' really like diamonds anyway...would much rather end up a sapphire or ruby or something) 8O Still, I don't think I'd want someone WEARING me! :lol:
my thoughts exactly........never did like diamonds.

[shnen]

its just my shell though, its not ME. I would have to say it would be up to whoever gets my ashes, but its almost like not ever getting over the persons death... in a way it seems nice.. in a way it seems kinda freaky...

[Semele]

Originally posted by Azure


I don't know, I still like the idea of being a brilliant blue diamond on my bf's earlobe. I could go other places with that, but I have tactfully chosen not to, because this is a family site. . .

SNARF!!! You don't have to even say it. I am right there with ya! In some cases diamonds really are a girls best friend huh?!

:eek:

[WynterWynd]

:eek:



*backs out of the thread*

[Garnet]

Absolutely not!
Add me to the 'don't like diamonds' list.
I want to be 'toasted & tossed', too. I like to think that someday I'll be fertilizing something green & growing that my family/friends can look at & smile when they remember me.
Although I have threatened my family with the idea of my ashes being put in a book-shaped urn (Really appropriate for me) inscribed with "I told you I was sick!"

[Tiana_Ecarias]

To be a diamond would be kinda cool, but, the funny thing is, even a diamond isn't forever. They have found that diamonds slowly start to return to their original state(gasous, actually) over the same amount of time it took to become a diamond.

Hence why pieces that are 2 or 3 hundre years old have to have new settings made, they are slightly smaller then when they were first put in there.

Thought I'd share that interesting fact with you guys.

Tiana_Ecarias
'

[Blueowl]

Ya know when you are already a diamond in the rough why be one in the next life too?:D

just kidding, my vote was no, and I want my ashes scattered somewhere, I am still deciding where lolo

[Chibi-Fallon]

My thing about that is what would people do with me? I mean is someone gonna put Grandma Chibi in a ring and wear her around?
"That's a really nice ring."
"Thanks. It's my Grandma."
I mean so great, I've been crushed into a little diamond. Now what. Do you put it on display?
I'd rather just be gotten rid of somehow. I don't want people keeping my dead body in any form in the house. Or wearing me around.

[Azure]

Thanks, Semele ;)

[Dextra]

I'm with the toasted and scattered bunch! However, one of my friends wants me to have his skull! :ack:

So, I figure I can hang it on my wall for all to see. And when someone asks what it is, I can say, "Oh, that? That's the last guy that did me wrong!" :rotfl:

[Grey]

If I was to be a diamond it would be a blue one. As for the children thing Id have it set in the heirloom sword with a little set of initial in it. Or hey maybe since theyre so much ashes they could make multiple diamonds (same with differrant sizes ;) and I could make enough for my kids and grandkids (asuming I find a lady willing to see me let alone marry me)

[Blueowl]

Ya'll crack me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rotfl: :smoke: :lol:

[Witchy Cowgirl]

I've always wanted to be "toasted & scattered" but Hubby is "dead" set against it.;) So when I found this thread I was kinda excited. I told him this is what I want since you won't scatter me. (Even though diamonds aren't my favorite either.) I'd much rather have this done than to be stuffed in box.

But in the end, if everything goes as it should, it's really not up to me (or my Hubby) but to my sons.

[Mythrel]

Originally posted by Radocs
My ashes will be scattered. I don't wanna be a diamond. ;)

I agree with Radocs...

[Rae ShadowWolf]

I want my body donated to the Body Farm in Tennessee. A wonderful program which helps Forensics. The experiments done on the corpses (weather, clothed or not, covered or not, etc.) help discover a closer time-line for when the person was killed (died).

Here is a nice little story telling more about it.

http://www.rense.com/politics6/flesh.htm

[~ Monk ~]

I think my biggest fear about being turned into a diamond would be getting stolen and ending up in some seedy pawn shop...:eek:

[Crystal_Raye]

I picked other. If possible I would want some of my ashes to be turned into a diamon or two so my loved ones could always have something to hold on to. The rest of my ashes I would want to be scattered over the ocean, the forest, the desert sands, and the snowy mountain tops.

But actually that's what most diamonds are, dead plants and animals. Hundreds of thousands of years ago when the plants would die they became compressed into coal which then was compressed into diamonds. But the fact that humans could make a real diamond in a couple minutes or even a couple years seems pretty far fetched. Plus with humans everywhere creating "true but false" diamonds would distort the rarity of the diamond. Its best to leave these things up to the Goddess, she's got all the time in the world.

[Brenners]

Haha, I don't want someone wearing me on their finger, that's so weird to even think about. Heck, I wouldn't even be able to keep someones ashes in an urn, couldn't do it, sorry.

I want to be buried inside the earth, in a pretty wooden coffin, with a crown of herbs and flowers around my head, and some other things. I would like to donate my organs though.

[Haruka2077]

I think it's cool, but I want my ashes built into my library, so I can haunt it. :ghostie:

[Haruka2077]

I want my body donated to the Body Farm in Tennessee. A wonderful program which helps Forensics. The experiments done on the corpses (weather, clothed or not, covered or not, etc.) help discover a closer time-line for when the person was killed (died).

Here is a nice little story telling more about it.

http://www.rense.com/politics6/flesh.htm

Ooo yeah, that would be cool too... *is torn*
Ah, well, I'll just give 'em my husband's body- when I'm done with it. :smoke:

[RoseKitten]

I voted other, I don't really want to be a diamond... too boring :P However, I *really* want to be burned on a wooden raft and set afloat in the ocean ^_^

[Pesha]

Don't even want to think about at this time.

BB
DS.

[TheTempestuous1]

Greetings:

I've never heard of this before...but then I don't get out as much as I would like.
Hope no one minds - but I am member of several online Pagan communities and will pass along this "diamond" issue to other boards as well....

Personally, I'd always planned on being "scattered" wherever - told my girls the garbage bin is just fine...cause I am LONG gone from this earthly body ---
but ---
hmmmm

now given such a facinating choice --- would I wish to have my remains made into a diamond?
First reaction is to say "naaa...sounds silly." BUT...further reflection might be:
My grandmother is no longer within this realm. She passed unto the Summerlands some 9 years ago now.
Would I not LOVE beyond all else to gaze upon my finger as I type to you here now...and see her in Diamond fashion....
wearing her in such a sparkle and beautiful manner...

interesting...curious..."most curious" (favorite Harry Potter line)

Of course - for me....although this sound like a beautiful Option - I could not actually Choose this. For I am the Mother of THREE daughters...count them...threeeee...
just who would wear the diamond?
Ugh...

perhaps find another setting other than jewlery(?)
LOL
what an interesting thread.
Like I mentioned I will share this with others as well.
thanks!


You all obviously didn't bother to read the website:
They only need 8 ounces of ashes to make however many diamonds you want
They extract the carbon atoms from the ashes to turn it into graphite which is then put under high pressure to form a diamond.

Thus you could have multiples and still be spread somewhere too.

[Everwynd]

Sure! Why wouldn't I want to be sparkly, beautiful, valued and admired? (I like to think I already am but why stop now?)

I think my other option is to have my ashes sent up in a balloon until it hits that point in the atmosphere where it bursts and then I can be one with the air...maybe even become rain later...:hearteyes

[donatello51]

Your body returns to the Earth as rot or as ashes and either way your going to die. Eventually the Earth itself dies and becomes dust which is scattered to the "cosmic winds". These are gathered together to make other planets or even perhaps a star.
Why settle for a lump of colored carbon when you can be a star or a planet? Seems like a cheap way to end up to me. Simply becoming a gem on someones toe ring or a bauble around someones neck or ending up in a jewelry box forgotten amidst the other trinkets and trivia we collect in life. For me I'll say No Thanks to becomming a diamond. I have greater things to become then the most commonest of gemstones._inabox_

[aluokaloo]

it's just...weird and kinda grotesque.

[gwendar]

I wouldn't bother... after thousands [or millions, I forget] they just turn to graphite or something like that... heh, I don't know chemistry at all. My best friend is a chem major, that's what he told me...
But that's not really why I wouldn't do it, really I'd be afraid I'd get turned into an engagement ring... haha

[LyraDragonStar]

I wouldn't like that at all. to me, it's wrong. It's weird. There are better things to do with your body..whether you're still part of it or not. lol. I find it kind of sick to wear a family member in the form of a gem...it's just weird.

Then...that would be like putting a price on your body, wouldn't it? I wouldn't want to be marked...or have people show me off on their finger or aroudn their neck with people constantly pointing..."ooh look!!" And what if they lose the diamond or forget what it was?? What if they put it in a pawn shop!! I could be marked down and sold cheap. *pouts*

:lol:

[CoolJ]

Just bury me and drop flowers on me please, provided there will still be Earth to be buried in when the time comes

[Gypsy flower]

it sounds cool, I am not sure if I would do that though, maybe..:ghostie:

[mallorean]

Assuming it could be worn by one of my offspring i think it would be pretty darn cool. However I wont be cremated.:hehehe:

[Cyzarine]

I would. If I wanted to leave something that my children could wear to remeber me and keep me with them...yeah, I would.

[FaeFollower]

Ooh, no way, that's bizzarre. Can you imagine complimenting someone on a diamond ring she's wearing and have her respond, "Oh thanks, its my grandmother."? How odd. I think I would prefer a green burial; it makes much more sense.

[HeavensHope]

wow, you can do just about anything now a days. I wouldn't come back as a diamond though, I'm not much of a diamond person to begin with.

[WtchyChick13]

Ooh, no way, that's bizzarre. Can you imagine complimenting someone on a diamond ring she's wearing and have her respond, "Oh thanks, its my grandmother."? How odd. I think I would prefer a green burial; it makes much more sense.


:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:


Holy old thread we have here! This thread was started during my first incarnation here at MW! :lol:



My mother and I were actually talking about this recently and while I think it's an interesting idea (I'm a rock-hound so I definately found it to be kind of cool.), I'm such a small person that if I were to go first, she would have to have me turned into Pave sized stones or better yet diamond dust! Then she could sell me on late-night tv for only $19.95!


I've gone to a wierd area here haven't I? :2G: :woah: :shaker:

[LyraDragonStar]

When you begin to discuss selling yourself on late night TV after you die...then yes...lol.

[~Anamorata~]

I'd have to think about it, but it is a lovely idea all the same. I saw the first mention of LifeGem, on a programme on A&E's Family Plots...:thumbsup:

[bbnflpn]

i would totaly do it. besides it says that you only need about 8 oz of ash to make the dimond so you can do what you want with the rest. scatter or share with relatives. and you can have your pets made in to dimonds too. if i had the cash i would do that. i would make my herbie a yellow dimond. he is a yellow tabby in the first place and i would always want to keep him with me allways.