posted 06-15-2006 03:49 PM            

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posted 06-15-2006 05:50 PM            

I have no expertise in this area, but they do look rather like Svorvski crystal I have bought in Austria. Given their apparent size, they would be awefully expensive to be precious stones.

posted 06-15-2006 07:16 PM            

There is no way anyone can id the stones from images. You would need to take them into a reputable jewelry supply retailer or gem retailer and have them identified. Local lapidary clubs might be a good source to find someone who can id the stones.

My guess is pretty blue and yellow stones...

posted 06-16-2006 10:57 AM            

Do you mean Glass or CZ when you say "pseudo" diamonds? If yes, then the answer is no they are not glass or CZ.

CZ = Cubic Zirconia

posted 06-16-2006 06:29 PM            

Are there anymore guesses before I reveal the 'secret' of these stones.

posted 06-17-2006 10:48 AM            

Without the hint my guess would've been synthetic sapphires, as both of those colors appear to be within the range for those stones.

It's very difficult to capture 'fire' in photographs, the colors resulting from the dispersion of light in diamonds. Do these have good fire in person?

For the curious, look up sphalerite sometime. It has an even higher dispersion than diamonds (more fire). And it's found in a veritable rainbow of color -- I remember some years ago Needless Markup (er, that is, Neiman Marcus) had made up bracelets forming a nearly full spectrum around, in sphalerite (it doesn't really do blues and purples). But it's softer and more fragile than diamond, so not really very practical for most jewelry mounts.

posted 06-17-2006 11:55 AM            

These stones are man made diamonds and the carbon used to make the diamonds is harvested from cremation remains.

No I'm not kidding. They are making and marketing these as the modern version of the mourning ring/jewelry.

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Created Individually For You

High-quality created diamonds have been present for many years. These diamonds are created by placing carbon, the primary element of all diamonds, in conditions that recreate the forces of nature. The LifeGem process differs by using an exact carbon source to create a beautiful and meaningful diamond tribute for you and your family.

In summary, here is how we create your LifeGem diamond...

Step 1. Carbon Capture - Now, after extensive research and development, we have discovered how to extract the carbon from a lock of hair. This advanced and delicate procedure has been specifically designed to capture almost all of the available carbon in a lock of hair. Our technology works only in a special high-nitrogen, low-oxygen atmosphere. We have refined this process to ensure the maximum available carbon for your LifeGem diamond(s).

Originally, we began the LifeGem creation process by capturing carbon from existing remains of your loved one's standard cremation. While we can, and still do, use this process for those who have previously lost a loved one, capturing carbon from a lock of hair means a LifeGem diamond is now available for anyone choosing cremation or burial... or if you purely want to create a symbol of your precious bond with someone you love.

Step 2. Purification - Once captured, this carbon is heated to extremely high temperatures under special conditions. While removing the existing ash, this process converts your loved one's carbon to graphite with unique characteristics and elements that will create your one-of-a-kind LifeGem diamond like no other in this world.

Step 3. Creation - To create your diamond, we now place this graphite in one of our unique diamond presses, which replicate the awesome forces deep within the earth - heat and pressure. The more time in the press, the larger the rough diamond crystal that results.

Step 4. Certification - Finally, our skilled diamond cutters facet your diamond diamond(s) according to your wishes, laser etch your unique identifier on the girdle, and certify it for authenticity. All the diamonds are individually inspected, graded, and identified by world-renowned gemologists trained by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The world's finest jewelers use this same certification process.

A diamond that takes millions of years to occur naturally can now be created from the carbon of your loved one in about twenty-four weeks. (Blue diamonds may take longer.)

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This company has apparently managed to get hair from Beethoven:

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diamonds from the carbon
from Ludwig van Beethoven's hair

The Beethoven locks of hair used for creating these LifeGems have been authenticated and provided exclusively by John Reznikoff of University Archives. Reznikoff holds the Guinness World Record for the largest and most valuable collection of celebrity hair. Reznikoff's collection also includes such figures as Napoleon, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. In total, the collection is valued at over $5 million dollars.

University Archives and John Reznikoff are the leading experts in memorabilia, document, and signature authentication. They have been providing their services to collectors worldwide since 1979.

Each Beethoven diamond will be a certified, high quality diamond between .5 and 1 carat in size. The Beethoven diamond process began in May and will be completed around the end of this year (2006). If you have not yet seen how beautiful this diamond will be, visit our gallery.

Authentication and Certification:
We have been creating diamonds for families out of personal carbon for five years by using an extremely detailed and precise process. Each new order is assigned a unique sixteen digit Tracking Number which is used to follow the carbon throughout the process as it becomes a LifeGem diamond. Prior to delivery each LifeGem is certified and identified by an outside source of highly trained gemologists, and the unique Tracking Number is laser inscribed on the girdle of each individual LifeGem diamond.

The Beethoven LifeGem will follow the same precise process with the progress of every step detailed and reported on this page.

What happens next?
Many museums and opera houses around the world are lining up to showcase these extremely rare diamonds. If you are interested in displaying one at your facility or event, or if you are interested in bidding on one of the three Beethoven diamonds, complete this form[form gone from the Internet]. We will notify you.

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posted 06-17-2006 03:35 PM            

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Can you create a diamond from a lock of hair?

Yes, a diamond can be created from a lock of hair. We will capture the carbon from the lock of hair you provide. The larger the lock of hair, the more carbon we will be able to collect. For example, the amount of hair collected from a standard male's haircut, or the amount that you could easily hold in one hand is more than sufficient.

If I want 2 or more diamonds, do I need to send in a larger lock of hair?

When creating your diamond from a lock of hair, the amount that you can hold in the palm of your hand will allow us to create multiple diamonds.

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posted 06-19-2006 04:03 PM            

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I wonder if anyone is developing a plan to extract precious metals from remains? Could there ever be enough to make the setting for the diamond?

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posted 06-19-2006 07:05 PM            

"Hair today and gone tomorrow."