andrewdelvard

At first I thought this was a little distastful, but the more I think about it....Yeah if modern technology can offer a way that people feel comforted after the loss of a dear one, then what better way than for the ashes to be turned into a Diamond.
Here's the story....



Synthetic diamonds made from the ashes of a British man are to be set into jewellery so they can be worn by his family.
Brian Tandy's ashes were sent to the US by LifeGem, based in Hove, Sussex, and turned into gems for his wife Lin and daughters Gayle, 25, and Claire, 21.

Mrs Tandy, 51, from Reading, Berkshire, returned to LifeGem on Saturday for help to get the diamonds set in rings.

The company went with her to a Brighton jewellers to advise on the process.

The geologist's ashes were heated and pressurised to produce the gem.

The process produces a raw crystal which is then polished and shaped.

Mrs Tandy's £2,250 pale yellow diamond was the first produced by the company.

She ordered further pieces for her daughters so they can remember their father who died from heart failure in April 2003.

Mrs Tandy said: "It was a very personal memorial to my husband.

"It was a very emotional decision to have it done and it was something we did not take lightly.

"We thought about it for a long time and they (her daughters) just wanted something very personal for their dad.

"Every diamond is individual and unique and that was so appropriate for their father.

"It was something they can keep close to them and be a constant reminder."

David Hampson, chief executive of LifeGem, said: "Cremated remains consist partially of carbon so what we do is extract the carbon, purify it then put in a commercial diamond press and grow a synthetic diamond.

"But it is a synthetic diamond with a specific carbon source which is your loved one.

"It is a very essence of the person you have lost - it is a mobile memorial that never has to leave your side.

"What we have found is that it gives a lot of people a great deal of comfort and solace.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3544076.stm

OllyK

Whatever floats your boat I guess

yoza

Fair enough.....

But how would they feel if they lost the stone, or it was stolen.

" Oh no, someone's robbed my Dad ! "

Or, " Oh no Ive lost my Dad........again. "


People like this would probably be devastated, you cant just go out a buy another one, can you ?

Whatever.

yoza

In Loving Memory :-

He was a shining example.

Always had that 'twinkle' in his eye.

Had a sparkling personality.

The ladies loved him.

A little jem........






This just doesnt work on a Monday morning, I cant seem to get into the zone.

Leslie

I can't see anything wrong in that. Good luck to them.

Les

red_dog104

I think it's a great idea! I would consider that if I had the money to do it.

Spoon

Yes but nibbling your wife's ear only to realise just how close you are to the mother-in law with your tongue..............

unclebuck

It's a bit Chavtastic though. Turning the deceased into 'bling'.

UB

imlach

Always a bit intrigued by ashes....

After all, you get burnt up in a creamatorium, and surely they have loads of different people's ashes lying around in the burner??? When you actually receive the ashes of your loved one, do you wonder :

a) Are they the right ashes
b) How many other people are there in the urn
c) Do they give a toss about making sure people get the correct ashes?

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust....etc. Has anyone ever taken the crematorium to court over the 'wrong ashes'?

Diablo

What you get is ground up bone which is removed after the cremation. Contrary to popular belief the skeleton does not turn to ash in the process.

So yes, you do get the right ashes.

D

andrewdelvard

If this is right and the bone is not carborised at the point of cremation, the the bone 'grind' must be further processed by the diamond manufacturer.
(I guess?)

carl

But surely ground up bones is mostly calcium?

Diablo

Don't know the exact process, but I can only assume the bone is carbonised by the burn.

But its right, the ashes you get are the ground (presumably carbonised) bone