Memorial Diamonds

The memorial diamond industry has been flourishing globally since 2002, as companies emerged offering a unique service: transforming the cremated remains of a deceased person into a lab-grown diamond. The process supposedly utilises carbon extracted from cremated ashes and reproduces the conditions deep within the Earth to form diamond crystals. So, we ask the question:

Which diamond has been made with your loved one’s ashes?     The answer is neither!  It’s not possible.
 

The Memorial Diamond Industry: A Growing Market

In the past two decades, the memorial diamond market has evolved.

These companies’ prey on consumers at their most vulnerable time by promoting their diamonds as a way to preserve the memory of loved ones, offering a tangible connection to the departed through a unique, everlasting gem. However, the market remains unregulated, and consumers are left to trust the claims made by these companies regarding the authenticity and composition of the diamonds.

Australian Consumer Law and Memorial Diamonds

In Australia, consumer protection is governed by the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), which seeks to ensure that businesses provide accurate information and do not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct.

When it comes to cremation diamonds, several ethical and legal questions arise regarding whether the claims made by these companies align with the ACL's mandates. At the core of the issue is the question of whether the diamonds are genuinely created from a loved one’s ashes or if they are, in fact, just expensive lab-grown diamonds with no trace of the deceased’s carbon.

The Carbon Dilemma: Can Cremated Ashes Form a Diamond?

The process used to create memorial diamonds—High Temperature High Pressure (HPHT)—mimics the natural formation of diamonds deep within the Earth. However, cremation processes reach temperatures between 1600°F and 1800°F, significantly higher than the burn temperature of carbon (1405°F). This results in the complete vaporisation of organic carbon, rendering the ashes devoid of the element necessary to form a diamond.

Despite this, cremation diamond companies acknowledge the issue, stating that the cremation process eliminates most of the body’s carbon. Some companies propose alternative methods, such as performing partial cremation or adding external carbon sources to the ashes to make the diamond. While these methods may technically produce a diamond, the crucial point is that the final product cannot guarantee that any of the deceased person’s carbon remains in the diamond.

Pricing of Memorial Diamonds:

Given the lack of verifiable carbon from the deceased in these diamonds, the price disparity between memorial diamonds and traditional lab-grown diamonds is alarming. Cremation diamonds typically cost up to ten times more than lab-created diamonds of the same size, colour, and quality.

This inflated pricing, based on the grief and vulnerability of those who have lost loved ones, points to a questionable business practice. Australian consumers may feel pressured into purchasing these diamonds as a way to honour a loved one, but the high price raises ethical concerns, especially when the product’s authenticity cannot be guaranteed.

Are Promotional Claims Verifiable?

One of the most concerning aspects of the cremation diamond industry is the veracity of its promotional claims. Many companies have been caught misrepresenting their operations. For example, one company once displayed images of diamond presses on their website that were not their own. The equipment shown was not capable of producing diamonds, yet the company falsely claimed these machines were part of their diamond-making process.

Such misrepresentations not only raise ethical questions but also fall under the scope of Australian Consumer Law, which prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct.

For those interested in memorial diamonds, it is crucial to understand the potential risks and the reality of what is being offered. While the idea of turning a loved one's ashes into a diamond may seem appealing, consumers should be fully informed about the limitations of the process and the potential for misleading practices.

Consumers should be advised to approach cremation diamonds with caution, especially if claims are unverifiable or unsupported by scientific evidence.