LifeGem
A LifeGem synthetic diamond may not be appropriate to use for an engagement ring, but LifeGem has a truly unique approach to making man-made diamonds. LifeGem will make custom diamonds from carbon samples of deceased family members. Marketed as a “diamond tribute for you and your family,” the company gets the carbon sample from cremated ashes or the hair from a deceased and use the carbon sample as the seed to create a synthetic diamond.
LifeGem was founded in 1999, and is headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. They also have offices in Europe, United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and Canada. LifeGem collaborates with funeral homes and cremation service businesses in those countries to offer their unique synthetic diamonds.
LifeGem uses High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) to make their diamonds. Most man-made or synthetic diamonds are usually marketed as being less expensive than natural, mined diamonds, but that is not the case with LifeGem, which uses the emotional and sentimental value of its diamonds to command prices much higher than natural diamonds.
Learn more about Lifegem diamonds at the company’s website: http://www.lifegem.com/