Monday, January 11th 2016. Far from the gravestones and caskets found in graveyards all over the world, a technique has been created in Switzerland, to transform the ashes of human corpses into beautiful diamonds; turning death into a prettier memory of our loved ones.
Algordanza Ibérica is the name of the Company that has been making diamonds out of the deceased’s ashes since 2004; through a scientific process with certification ISO 9001. Yasmín de la Vega is part of the company’s board and commented that “the magic of our service, is that when a diamond is delivered, we’re practically giving a family their loved ones back.”
The origin of such an amazing idea happened at the Science Academy of Russia, then applying the project’s concept in Switzerland as a “unique concept”; while asserting that “it is the only laboratory that can achieve diamonds only from human body material with no additives or color manipulations.”
The manufacturing of the diamonds that come out of a corpse’s cremation starts with the extraction of carbon existing in the ashes in order to purify; turning it into 99.9% carbon atoms, meaning, the molecular structure of the carbon is turned into graphite. Depending on the size of the gemstone, the transformation time takes between 3 to 15 weeks; since in this time-lapse the stones are heated to high temperatures and applied pressure, so that only the carbon and boron in the ashes remain. Up to four diamonds can be created from the ashes of one human body.
Each diamond created by this technique oscillates between 4.500 up to 36.000 USD, according to the carats and the size of the desires gemstone; most of the mourners have paid that and more just to honor their fallen relative and helping themselves in the grieving process. There over 14 countries in the world with human diamondcraft as one of their options for funerary rites.
The extravagant concept is getting approval in Mexico, one of the first countries in Latin America to accept it. It was also thanks to the acceptance by the Catholic Church; since within their religious cult -the most practiced in the country- cremation is the main rite after death.
Accepting and grieving the loss of a loved one is extremely hardened, it can take months or even years, depending on the case or how a person deals with their situation. Many appeal to silence, whereas others prefer to remember them through crafting diamonds out of human ashes. Who among you would resort to this funerary option? Would it be the best choice in your opinion?
ALFA