Transforming a loved one’s remains into a gorgeous, stunning diamond brings beauty from loss. Nowadays, cremation or memorial diamonds are more common than ever before, and it’s possible to find just what you’re looking for no matter your budget or style.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- What to Look for in a Memorial Diamond Company
- 1. Eterneva
- 2. Lonité
- 3. Algordanza
- 4. Heart in Diamond
- 5. Saint Diamonds
- 6. LifeGem
- 7. EverDear
- What Is the Process of Buying a Cremation Diamond?
Like with all types of memorial options, you want to make sure you know exactly what you’re choosing. With memorial diamonds coming in so many shapes, sizes, colors, and settings, you’ll want to look into multiple companies to find the best fit.
This is a highly personal process, so it’s understandable to want to find a diamond company you trust. With more options to choose from than ever before, these are the most popular cremation or memorial diamond companies explained.
What to Look for in a Memorial Diamond Company
Before we begin, let’s talk about what you should look for when choosing a memorial diamond company. Memorial diamonds are a type of memorial jewelry used to honor a deceased loved one. They’re made in a lab using a carbonized process that extracts the carbon from human or pet cremated remains or hair.
Through this lab process, the carbon in the remains turns into a synthetic or cultured diamond. These diamonds can then be graded by gemologist laboratories and scales. While the carbonization process is similar no matter the provider, you’ll still want to keep a few things in mind when choosing your diamond company.
What to look for:
- Pricing: While a memorial diamond is less expensive than a burial or some of the more expensive types of memorialization, it will still run you between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the size, setting, and color. Different providers offer different starting prices.
- Certification: There are a number of certifications these lab-made diamonds can have, so consider whether the provider has earned any of these and what they mean.
- Consultants: Many diamond providers have consultants who can assist you with this process. If you’re unsure what option is best for you, looking for a diamond company with this level of personalized care is a must.
- Settings: Aside from the diamond, some companies will include a custom setting to place your diamond in a gorgeous piece of jewelry. Otherwise, you’ll need to get it set yourself.
This is a highly personal process. Whether you’re turning pet ashes into diamonds or creating a memorial jewel for someone you love, you’ll want to learn as much as possible about the companies below.
1. Eterneva
Started by co-founders Garrett Ozar and Adelle Archer, Eterneva strives to bring its customer’s stories to life. After losing a close friend and mentor, Adelle wanted a way to honor the individual’s life. She and her partner discovered memorial diamonds as a way to create something meaningful and wearable from a unique legacy.
Today, Eterneva recognizes that a diamond is a symbol of love and life. It’s a way to share someone’s memory and carry them close each day. Eterneva’s diamonds start at $2,999 and come in a variety of sizes and price points to suit every style.
2. Lonité
Lonité originates from a Swiss word that means last in time. They see cremation diamonds as a way to honor someone’s death in a meaningful, stunning way. With this company dating back to the early 1950s, this is one of the original cremation diamond labs.
With certifications from the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute, they’ve earned the trust of thousands of clients over the years. Their diamonds come in all types and sizes, and the price begins at $1,400. They currently offer their lab services to those in the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Germany.
3. Algordanza
Another Swiss-made provider of memorial diamonds is Algordanza. The company name comes from the Rhaeto-Romanic word for remembrance, and these diamonds are truly a way to honor one’s loved ones.
Founded in 2004, Algordanza operates in over 30 countries and is ISO certified. They’re also a member of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services.
Starting at a price point of $2,999, Algordanza offers clients the unique option to pre-plan their own memorial diamond as part of their own funeral arrangements.
4. Heart in Diamond
Founded in 2005 in the UK, Heart in Diamond doesn’t only specialize in memorial diamonds. They also create lab-made diamonds for weddings and engagements as well as other celebrations.
As a leading global supplier, they hope to keep costs as low as possible. Their memorial diamonds start at $750 for mini diamonds. They also offer over 600+ setting variations so they can work with any budget or style.
5. Saint Diamonds
Saint Diamonds was created by Bernard Orlo, and it’s based in Atlanta, GA. By working with a Swiss lab, they develop and deliver memorial diamonds anywhere in the world.
The process is similar to other memorial diamond providers, but they also offer competitive pricing starting at $1,249. Offering help through each stage of the process, they treat every individual’s memory with kindness and empathy.
6. LifeGem
Another certified creator of high-quality cremation diamonds is LifeGem. The professionals at LifeGem see each diamond as a unique celebration of life and an opportunity to tell someone’s story. Though it’s based in Illinois, LifeGem has over 2500 certified partners across the US who help with personalized, custom settings.
LifeGem’s diamonds are independently recognized and certified for authenticity by the Gemological Institute of America. Like other providers, diamonds start at $2,999.
7. EverDear
Last but not least, EverDear also specializes in GIA-certified cremation diamonds. They include comprehensive pricing that covers the cost of the diamond itself, cut and polish, and in-house diamond certification.
The price of diamonds begins at $695, but it doesn’t include a setting, which must be purchased separately. They offer a variety of jewelry pieces to suit different budgets and styles.
What Is the Process of Buying a Cremation Diamond?
If you’ve never done this process yourself, it’s easy to get confused by what steps come next. Once you’ve selected your cremation diamond provider from the list above, you’ll follow a similar process outlined below:
- The 4 C’s: The first step is to make decisions on the 4 C’s: color, cut, clarity, and carats. In other words, you’ll need to choose what you want your diamond to look like, the size, the color, and the clarity. This has the biggest impact on the price.
- Setting: You’ll also have the option to choose a setting for your diamond. This could be a ring, a necklace, a pendant, earrings, or something else. You might also just order the diamond and choose a setting later.
- Collect a sample: From here, your provider will give instructions for how to send a sample of the ashes or hair. If you choose to provide ashes, you’ll likely need to send around half a cup of cremated remains. This could vary depending on the size of the diamond you choose, but you’ll be given a secure container and mailing instructions.
- Waiting period: Once your diamond order and the cremains have been received by the company, you just need to wait for your gorgeous tribute in the mail. This can take upwards of several weeks or even months, depending on the company’s current turnaround times.
- Receive your diamond: Finally, your diamond will be delivered to you in the mail or through a certified local jeweler. Now you’re free to wear your new piece, store it somewhere safe, and show it off.
If you’re not sure what steps to take, don’t hesitate to reach out to a representative of the company you choose. These professionals are familiar with the process, and they help families with their selection each day. Many of them understand the way grief plays a role in this type of memorial, and they’re equipped to help at each stage.
Legacy Diamonds: Create a Wearable Tribute
If you’re wondering what to do with ashes of a loved one or pet, a memorial diamond might be the right fit for you. With so many providers to choose from, you can have a gorgeous lab-made diamond that’s as stunning as someone’s legacy.
Available at a range of price points, a cremation diamond is an accessible, memorable way to honor someone’s life. And as more people look for alternative ways to tell their loved one’s stories, cremation diamonds are set to become even more popular.
If you are looking for a different way to keep your loved one close, you can also solidify their cremains into 40 to 60 cremation stones, which you can divvy up however you'd like, with Parting Stone.