If you're searching for a way to turn a loved one's ashes into a diamond, you deserve an honest explanation of the science — and what your real options are.
This is not a commercial choice. Cremation ashes do not contain enough usable carbon for reliable HPHT diamond creation. This page explains why — and what you may be able to do instead.
The HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) process that creates memorial diamonds requires a source of near-pure carbon. This is why hair works so well — it is composed primarily of keratin, a protein whose molecular structure is built on a carbon backbone.
Cremation ashes are a very different material. At the temperatures of cremation (760–980°C), organic compounds — including carbon — are almost entirely burned away. What remains is mostly calcium phosphate (the mineral component of bone), along with other inorganic compounds. The residual carbon content of ash is extremely low — typically less than 1–2% — and heavily contaminated with minerals that disrupt crystal growth.
This is why Silmaril cannot accept cremation ashes. We have made the decision not to offer a service we cannot stand behind. We are a hair-to-diamond specialist, and that is what we do exceptionally well.
Many families have saved hair without realising it holds this possibility — in a locket, an envelope in a drawer, a memory box, or a baby book. Even hair kept for years or decades is perfectly suitable. Carbon does not degrade in stored hair.
Some hairdressers keep client records and clippings. If your loved one was a regular customer, it is worth asking whether any hair was retained.
Vets sometimes retain fur samples from procedures. Groomers may have saved clippings. Fur from a pet brush collected over time can also be sufficient — approximately 20 grams of pet fur is what we need.
If you're not sure whether what you have is sufficient, email us at [email protected]. We will tell you honestly whether we can help — and if we can't, we will say so directly. There is no obligation.
Some international companies claim to offer this service, but the process is scientifically problematic. Cremation ashes are primarily mineral compounds — not carbon — and the usable carbon content is too low and too contaminated for reliable HPHT diamond growth. Silmaril does not offer this service. We work exclusively with hair.
Silmaril does not accept pet ashes for the same reasons — insufficient usable carbon, high mineral impurity. However, if you have saved fur from your pet (from a brush, groomer, or vet), we can transform that fur into a lab-grown memorial diamond. Approximately 20 grams of pet fur is required.
Yes — significantly. Hair is composed of keratin, a protein with a carbon-rich backbone, making it an excellent and reliable source of organic carbon. Ashes have almost no usable carbon. The resulting diamond from hair is of consistently higher and more predictable quality.
We understand this is a difficult situation. Unfortunately, if no hair is available, Silmaril is unable to help. We would encourage you to check with family members, hairdressers, or (for pets) vets and groomers before concluding that no hair exists. If after exploring those avenues you have no hair, we recommend searching for international ashes-to-diamond providers and researching their processes and guarantees carefully before ordering.
For human hair: approximately 10 grams — roughly a small saved lock. For pet fur: approximately 20 grams. Saved or old hair works just as well as freshly cut hair. Any unused hair is returned to you with the finished diamond.
Silmaril's memorial diamond necklaces are NZ$3,280 for The Guardian (0.57ct in 18K white gold) and NZ$2,650 for The Warmth (0.57ct in 18K yellow gold). Both prices are all-inclusive — diamond, setting, and NZ delivery. Compare current international offers by currency, shipping, setting and certification choices before ordering.
Diamond production is approximately 60 days from laboratory sample receipt. Silmaril's customer delivery estimate is approximately 80 days from receipt of a suitable sample to delivery of the finished jewellery.
Yes — all of New Zealand. You send your prepared hair sample by post, and we return the finished jewellery by insured courier. You never need to visit us in person.
If you have a lock of hair — from a person or a pet — Silmaril can transform it into a lab-grown memorial diamond. Transparent New Zealand pricing starts from NZ$2,650.
Learn About Hair to Diamond Pet Memorial Diamonds