LifeGem

image I should create a category for things that sound fake, but are actually real. In that category I would place LifeGem. According to their website, a LifeGem is "a certified, high quality diamond created from the carbon of your loved one as a memorial to their unique and wonderful life." Or, to put it more plainly, it's a diamond made from cremated human (or animal) remains. Actually, I'm just assuming it's real because it seems to have received quite a bit of publicity from places like the BBC and NPR. But the obvious con to watch out for would be that after someone pays all that money they would then receive a diamond that wasn't actually made from the remains of their loved one. How would anyone ever know the difference?

Death

Posted on Tue May 11, 2004


Comments

My only real question is: if they can make diamonds with the remains of humans and animals, then wouldn't the value of diamonds be drastically reduced? Or was I just not aware that this process has been used for a long time?
Posted by Taylor  on  Fri May 21, 2004  at  01:16 PM
Not if the cost of creating the diamond from carbon exceeded the value of the diamond.
Posted by Ted  on  Tue Jun 01, 2004  at  06:12 PM
The real question is: Hoax or not, what's the point?
Posted by Gabriel  on  Mon Jun 28, 2004  at  07:36 PM
Taylor;
Created diamonds do not lower the market value of natural diamonds. It is required by law to list if a diamond is natural or manmade, and purists will always seek the rare, natural stone. Note also that the market mark-up on diamonds is about 800% of their original purchase price via wholesalers...now *there's* the joke!
Posted by catlady  on  Wed Jul 28, 2004  at  03:55 AM
here's a site that well is taking life gem's creations in a cynical light.

actually it's rather funny.

sick as hell though.
Posted by samson  on  Tue Oct 11, 2005  at  02:50 PM
the site being http://www.mailbomb.com dam it!

forgot to add that link, sorry for that.
Posted by samson again  on  Tue Oct 11, 2005  at  02:51 PM
First of all, diamonds are NOT rare. Not at all. The idea that they are rare is a marketing creation of DeBeers, primarily, as is the 'tradition' of giving diamonds as an engagement gift. This too was a marketing strategy by DeBeers in the 1930s. Link here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

As to LifeGem, this is a legitimate company that has a public presence and a very good reputattion.

I can see by all the comments here, and particularly by reading the initial post, that none of you has done any research. LifeGem is on line and they reply to all emails. In fact, they answer the phone and usually the owner answers.

I have spoken to the company on three recent occasions regarding their plans to turn some of Michael Jackson's hair into diamonds. I was sceptical but since speaking to the owners and receiving their press releases and other corroborating information and comfortable that they do indeed do what they say they do.

I am waiting on a reply from LifeGem as to how they verify for clients that the diamonds they produce are in fact created from the remains of their clients' loved ones and will update this place when I have a reply.

http://www.lifegem.com
Posted by WriterWriter  on  Wed Aug 19, 2009  at  12:59 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.