Memorial Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds
Most people are reluctant to purchase synthetic diamonds like memorial diamonds because they doubt the authenticity of these gemstones. They would often prefer to buy natural diamonds even though diamond mining has caused environmental degradation and poor health among the diamond miners and residents in these areas.
We have cited information on the similarities and differences of natural diamonds and memorial diamonds. These include their sources of carbon, the length of time it takes for these diamonds to be created, how they are produced, and the properties they possess.
CONTENT
SOURCE OF CARBON FOR NATURAL AND MEMORIAL DIAMONDS
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Highly-organized carbon is the main element needed to produce diamonds. We take a look here on the sources of carbon for both natural diamonds and memorial diamonds.
SOURCE OF CARBON FOR NATURAL DIAMONDS
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Natural diamonds are made up of minerals and other materials containing carbon. Through extensive studies on diamonds, it has been found out that these stones contain both organic and inorganic carbon sources.
Other elements and impurities present in natural diamonds include nitrogen, boron, radiation, and other lattice defects.
There are the so-called eclogitic diamonds that have organic carbon sources. This kind of carbon has been pushed down from the Earth’s crust before becoming a diamond. On the other hand, harzburgitic diamonds have carbon from inorganic sources. These types of diamonds are found deep within the Earth’s mantle.
SOURCE OF CARBON FOR MEMORIAL DIAMONDS
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For memorial diamonds, source of carbon are the cremains of your departed loved ones. There are even various ways in which you can turn your loved one’s ashes into diamonds. Memorial ashes are often used but hair can be added as well.
With EverDear & Co., 100 grams of cremated ashes are needed to make one memorial diamond. If you would like to make memorial diamonds from hair instead, you will have to send us 2 grams of hair. If you would prefer to have a combination of ashes and hair, 50 grams of cremated ashes and 1 gram of hair would be equivalent to produce one memorial diamond.
Besides, turning memorial ashes into diamonds is not only limited to your departed parents, siblings, spouse, children, or other friends. You can also turn the ashes or hair of your pets into memorial diamonds too!
HOW ARE NATURAL AND MEMORIAL DIAMONDS FORMED?
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What is the difference between the formation of natural diamonds and memorial diamonds?
FORMATION OF NATURAL DIAMONDS
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To produce natural diamonds, materials containing carbon are normally exposed to high pressure with an approximate range from 45 kilobars up to 60 kilobars. On the other hand, the temperature can range from 900 degrees Celsius up to 1,300 degrees Celsius.
Studies show that the estimated depths where diamonds are created are at an estimated 140 kilometers up to 190 kilometers, although some diamonds can still be found at a depth of 300 kilometers.
FORMATION OF NATURAL DIAMONDS
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One of the reasons why natural diamonds take a long time to be formed is due to the changing conditions in the Earth’s mantle and crust. There are temperature changes and movements in the oceanic and continental plates. These may also contribute to changes in the underground pressure for diamonds to be created.
Scientists can only give a range on how old natural diamonds are. It is known that they are billions of years old, with under 1 billion to 3.3 billion years old, to be more specific.
Most diamonds are created in the continental plates because these are more stable and thick. The longer the diamond crystals are in this area, the larger they tend to grow.
These natural diamonds will be brought closer to the Earth’s surface through volcanic eruptions. However, the magma in these volcanoes must come from a depth where the diamonds are created. This kind of geological activity rarely happens.
There are volcanic craters that extend downward called volcanic pipes. These pipes are known as the primary source of mined diamonds. They are considered a type of diatreme, and created through the violent, supersonic eruption of deep-origin volcanoes. Volcanic pipes are made up of carrot-shaped, solidified magma. These have two characteristic types of rocks – kimberlite and lamproite.
It should be noted that the magma itself does not contain diamonds. It only carries rocks, minerals, and fluids.
KIMBERLITE PIPES
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Kimberlite (also called the blue ground) got its name from the town of Kimberley in South Africa. This is an igneous rock because it is formed through the solidification of magma. But how do these kimberlite pipes really develop?
A low ring of ejected particles called a tuff ring is created around a bowl-shaped depression over the subterranean column of magma when eruption takes place instead of developing a large elevation like most volcanoes do.
After some time, the tuff ring will be eroded back into the bowl and will fill the depression with ejected particles. Diamonds are not the only stones found in kimberlite pipes; garnets, peridots, and spinels can also be found.
The ascent of diamonds to the Earth’s crust is due to the incorporation of silicate materials in the magma. The high acidity of this composition results to the release of carbon dioxide in the form of bubbles. The melt will foam and its density will be reduced, leading to the increase in the buoyancy of the magma. Because of this, kimberlite will keep moving until it reaches the Earth’s crust. The magma travels fast, through explosive eruptions.
Scientists say that these kimberlite pipes must be around between 70 million to 150 million years ago, but there are other kimberlite pipes that can be 1,200 million years old. They are only found in the oldest surviving areas of the continental crusts called cratons. The pipes are formed at a depth of 150 kilometers, deeper than any other type of volcanic rocks.
LAMPROITE PIPES
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Lamproite is another type of volcanic rock that has high magnesium oxide content. Unlike kimberlites, which are only found in the oldest parts of continental crusts, lamproites can be found in different geographic locations, but are quite insignificant in terms of volume.
Lamproite pipes are just like kimberlite pipes, except for the broader cone of ejected rocks due to the corrosive action of the volatile compounds and boiling water. This broad cone will be filled with volcanic ash and other geological materials. These pipes are made of volcanic material deposits with the shape of a martini glass although they appear mostly flat on the surface.
FORMATION OF MEMORIAL DIAMONDS
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There are three important stages that EverDear & Co. does when turning ashes to diamonds. Here are the steps:
Carbon extraction and refinement of the cremated ashes
Creation of diamonds from memorial ashes
Cutting and polishing of the memorial diamonds from ashes
CARBON EXTRACTION AND REFINEMENT OF THE CREMATED ASHES
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The first step in turning ashes to diamonds is to gather the cremated ashes and hair. These will be exposed to extreme heat in a vacuum environment. Afterwards, these will be process through the application of wet chemical methods.
The carbon extraction and refinement of hair can be done either through heat in a vacuum environment or processing with the use of acid.
CREATION OF DIAMONDS FROM MEMORIAL ASHES
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The second step would be to expose the cremated ashes and/or hair to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT). EverDear & Co. uses a belt press that will imitate the similar HPHT conditions that take place underground so that diamonds will be formed. A diamond seed will be placed at the bottom of the belt press, with the temperature set to more than 2,000 degrees Celsius. This high temperature will melt the catalyst metal and the carbon source, and will be crystallized. Through this process, a rough memorial diamond from ashes is formed.
CUTTING AND POLISHING OF THE MEMORIAL DIAMONDS FROM ASHES
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These diamonds from memorial ashes have to be cut and polished for them to become even more beautiful. We have artisans that will design the crosswork on these rough memorial diamonds. The main facets have to be placed on these memorial diamonds from ashes to show maximum weight, high clarity, and the best angles.
After the initial crosswork has been done, these facets will be polished. The final facets will be polished when the main facets are smoothed. EverDear & Co.’s experts use cutting-edge tools and scientifically-advanced techniques to make sure that the cutting and polishing processes are done with precision. Our aim is to make the perfect diamonds from memorial ashes for you.
Turning ashes into memorial diamonds takes a considerably shorter time frame to be made, only spanning months.
EverDear & Co.’s yellow memorial diamonds only take 5 to 6 months to be created, while our blue and colourless memorial diamonds from ashes take slightly longer with 7 to 10 months.
PROPERTIES OF NATURAL AND MEMORIAL DIAMONDS
COLOURS OF DIAMONDS
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Both memorial diamonds and natural diamonds are available in a wide variety of colours. These can range from Fancy Light to Fancy Vivid.
COLOURS OF NATURAL DIAMONDS
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In the case of natural diamonds, the ones with more vibrant colours are considered more valuable since these stones are rarer. Examples include the Pink Star, Oppenheimer Blue, and Cullinan Dream. Colourless natural diamonds are less valued because they are more common
Natural diamonds can have the following colours: yellow, brown, gray, black, colourless, orange, red, pink, blue, green, or purple. There are times when diamonds can have mixed colours such as yellow-orange or blue-green as well.
COLOURS OF MEMORIAL DIAMONDS
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In the case of EverDear & Co.’s diamonds from memorial ashes, yellow diamonds are the most common due to the presence of nitrogen in the ashes and hair of our departed loved ones. This is called the Golden Star and is the most affordable colour for memorial diamonds in EverDear & Co.’s lineup.
We also transform memorial ashes into blue diamonds, called the Azure Serenity. This is done through the removal of nitrogen in the chemical composition, leaving boron. This colour would be perfect for people who would like to be reminded that their departed loved ones are in heaven.
Unlike natural diamonds, colourless diamonds from memorial ashes are the most expensive because they have the most extensive purification process. We call this the Immaculate Soul and this is the most classic among all colours when turning memorial ashes into diamonds. This shade will look great on any piece of memorial jewellery.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OF DIAMONDS
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It is difficult to see any difference between natural diamonds and memorial diamonds at first glance. They look practically alike, and one can only be distinguished from the other through magnification.
Natural diamonds often have inclusions, blemishes, and other imperfections. It is not common to have “perfect” natural diamonds since these were made in a natural environment where unpredictable geological conditions take place.
It is easier to avoid these imperfections when turning memorial ashes into diamonds because the formation of these diamonds from ashes is done in a simulated environment. There are certain factors which can be manipulated to avoid these inclusions and nicks. As a result, there are some diamonds from memorial ashes with higher clarity than natural diamonds.
OTHER PROPERTIES OF DIAMONDS
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Natural diamonds are known as the hardest material on Earth, with a perfect score of 10 in the Mohs scale of hardness. However, most natural diamonds possess multiple crystalline structures that leave them more vulnerable to fractures and cracks.
In the case of memorial diamonds, the technological breakthroughs have enabled diamonds from memorial ashes to have an improved crystalline perfection, orientation, and purity. These traits make them resilient, and sometimes, of even higher quality than natural diamonds.
Both types of diamonds also have these other properties: electrochemical properties, electronic properties, optical dispersion, and thermal conductivity to name a few.
You can click on the whole process to create brilliant diamonds from ashes for more detailed information on the processes to create diamonds and their properties.
THE COST OF MEMORIAL DIAMONDS FROM ASHES
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Luckily, EverDear & Co. offers the best and most competitive prices in the memorial diamond market. Our diamonds from memorial ashes prices start at only A$1100 because we use innovative tools and state-of-the-art technology in making them. This allows to lower production costs and lower memorial diamond prices compared to natural diamonds.
Does EverDear & Co. have discount plans if more than one memorial diamond from ashes is ordered?
EverDear & Co. has the following discount plans when turning ashes into memorial diamonds.
5% discount on the total memorial diamonds cost for orders of two in the same colour and size.
5% discount on the total memorial diamonds cost for orders of two or more memorial diamonds from ashes in different colours and sizes.
8% discount on the total memorial diamonds cost for orders of three in the same colour and size.
10% discount on the total amount for memorial diamonds from ashes of four or more in the same colour and size.
MEMORIAL DIAMONDS ARE REAL DIAMONDS.
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Memorial diamonds from ashes are just like natural diamonds because they have the same properties and chemical composition. The only differences are the places where these are formed, the length of time taken to create them, and the source of carbon. In fact, these differences are the factors that make the process of turning cremated ashes into diamonds more affordable than natural diamonds.
These diamonds from memorial ashes also have the sentimental value that natural diamonds do not have since these are made from the cremains or hair of our departed loved ones.
EverDear & Co. issues a certificate of authenticity to assure you that the memorial diamonds you have are real diamonds. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certifies the following:
Carbon source for the memorial diamonds from ashes
The 4Cs of memorial diamonds
The setting material used
HOW TO ORDER A MEMORIAL DIAMOND FROM EVERDEAR & CO.
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If you plan to order EverDear & Co.’s memorial diamonds from ashes, please leave a message at the contact us page of our website or email us at cs@everdear.co for more detailed information.
We will send the Order Form and Product Brochure to you. Our Product Brochure will give you ideas on what colour and number of carats you could select when turning ashes into memorial diamonds.
The Order Form must be printed and filled in with the necessary information. You will also have to send the cremated ashes or hair to us in a suitable container such as zip bags alongside the order form. After that, 50% of the total price must be paid within 7 days of placing the order.
When the production of the memorial diamond from ashes has been finished, EverDear & Co. will send you photos of the final product. The remaining 50% of the total cost for memorial diamonds will be due before the final delivery.
MEMORIAL DIAMONDS ARE A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO PRESERVE THE MEMORIES OF YOUR LOVED ONES.
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Memorial diamonds are not only more affordable than natural diamonds; special meanings are also attached to these gemstones because they are made from the cremains of our departed loved ones.
We often associate diamonds with luxury, but memorial diamonds can add flexibility to these items too! You can have your diamonds from ashes mounted onto EverDear & Co.’s memorial jewellery. We have a selection of memorial rings, memorial earrings, memorial bracelets, and memorial pendants that will highlight your memorial diamonds from ashes.
To start the journey of reliving memories with your loved ones, please contact us through the EverDear & Co. website.
https://everdear.co/memorial-diamonds-vs-natural-diamonds/
