Ring! Ring! Death’s calling!

There’s been a lot of death in the news lately which I find disturbing. I mean, I’m not exactly AFRAID of death, but I’m not inviting him to a dinner party anytime in the near future. It’s interesting to note that this rash of deaths has spawned a whole plethora of news articles on every possible aspect of ‘that moribund state.’ For example, from last week’s MSNBC.com: A company called DNA2Diamonds is offering to create sparkling gems from a deceased pet’s ashes or a lock of its hair. In just 70 days, they can turn what’s left of your beloved furball into a red, yellow-green or cognac diamond (you can choose the shape and carat size) and set the stone in a ring, bracelet, earring or pendant. Wow. Fluffy is now a necklace. Who knew?

Sadly, in case you were thinking of getting a set of CZs made from your now deceased six cats, this ice doesn’t come cheap and can cost from $2,000 to $18,000 depending on the cut, size and color of the stone you pick. Of course, if you’re slightly demented like me, you’re already moving on and wondering, “Yes, but . . . what about Granny? Can SHE be made into oh, say, a ruby? Something that might go with that wig she liked to wear?”

Well, just keep reading . . .
Though diamonds can also be made from human DNA, that’s not where the largest percentage of DNA2Diamonds’s business lies. “These diamonds last forever,” company president Bischoff tells PEOPLE Pets. “And we’re finding that even in a recession, creating a diamond in memory of a beloved pet continues to be our most popular option.”

When Hot Cop read the above article, he snorted and said, “That’s the dumbest thing that I’ve ever heard!” I started to agree, but at about that same time, my sweet not-so-little Po dog lifted his head and gazed at me soulfully as if to say, “Why WOULDN’T you do that for me,
Mommy?” Ok, he doesn’t call me ‘Mommy.’ That’s silly. But he DOES gaze at me soulfully.
Seriously.

Courtesy of: The Goddess Blogs

DNA 2 DIAMONDS...What to think?

As seen on Sweetly Provocative.

What a strange idea! Making a diamond out of DNA? Having DNA in a diamond? When I first heard about this idea I immediately thought about Angelina Jolie and her vial of Billy Bobs blood she used to wear around her neck. People like to forget how creepy she used to be. Making out with her brother and whatnot.

Anyway, I started to look into the process of how these diamonds are made. The scientific part is interesting, but you have to collect ashes or hair (basically anything that has carbon) and send it in to the company.

DNA2DIAMONS then uses a pressurized machine to make this unique diamond with
your personal carbon. My question is, How do take a hair follicle from someone? Ashes….easy enough, they aren’t going to ask questions. But hair? You could snip some hair while they are sleeping…going a bit higher on the creepy scale but so is the alternative.

“Honey. I’ve got this gift idea for our anniversary coming up. But I’m going to need a follicle of your hair.” “What? Why?” “I cant tell you.” :/

Next thing you know she suspects you’ve got some VooDoo crazy gift coming up next.

An easier alternative could be making a diamond from your dogs hair. They aren’t going to ask questions. I like this idea a little better. I mean if you a dog lover you are going to go thru a few in your life…. Its just reality. I mean how long is the “farm” story going to work. ”Kids, your mother and I took Goldie to the farm last week. That’s why you haven’t seen him. But don’t worry he’s got plenty of cows and chickens to play with. “This is old. Why don’t you sit your kids down with a real explanation and give a quality life lesson. Explain the truth over a diamond that was made using Goldie hair (personal carbon).

“Goldie will forever live in our hearts and this is a diamond we made in his honor, so we never forget. Diamonds are forever and you can always look down at this ring (necklace, bracelet, what ever you choose) and remember the good times and slobbery kisses.”

Once you get past the creepy explanation of this product it makes for a pretty cool gift. Iwear my great aunts wedding band from 1950s. I love it and the memories it represents. Its symbolizes 50 years of marriage, a real marriage. Back in the days when people didn’t jump ship over spilled milk.

I would like to pass on to my future children a diamond that symbolizes my mother. It is a very unique idea. Not just the diamond itself , but what it represents.... What it can represent. What could yours represent? For me, my mothers DNA2DIAMOND would represent her story of struggle, love, faith in me and determination which can be passed from generation to generation.
There are plenty of scenarios where this gift could be cool. I like the idea of using it for an anniversary. In a time of digital immediacy and instant gratification, How special can a personalized diamond be for your loved one? Its forever. “Im in love with you forever. I will always be with you even if something happens to me, and one day our story will be told.” I mean who wouldn’t want to hear that? I think I just swooned myself.

If you wanna check out DNA2DIAMONDS Blog..go for it. Its there in that last sentence.

Shine on You Crazy Diamond

As seen on Sustainlane.com.

I’ve wondered lately about how green or eco-friendly ethically-mined diamonds are compared to diamonds created in a laboratory, or so-called “cultured diamonds.” I have no plans to get hitched any time soon… but I’ve just wondered from a strictly environmental (and not social) standpoint if one is more environmentally friendly than another.

I spoke with Neil Koppel, president and CEO of Renaissance Diamonds Inc and a thirtyyear veteran of the jewelry industry. I asked him the 28-carat question: do cultured diamonds have less of an environmental impact than ethically-mined ones? I suppose his answer is not all that surprising, given his occupation: “Between the destruction of the environment and pollution caused by run-off chemicals… ‘yes’ is the appropriate answer,” he said.

We do already know that mining is one of the dirtiest industries on the planet. And according to the Environmental Literacy Group, most diamonds come from a process called “open pit mining,” which involves moving large amounts of rock and dirt around and can cause environmental damage from all of the energy used, the disruption to ecosystems and animal habitat, and acid runoff.

I’ve never personally witnessed diamond mining (though I did see "Blood Diamond")… but I was curious to know more about how diamonds are created in labs. This is what I learned from Neil:
A cultured diamond grown in a laboratory takes about four days to create. I’m told that the whole process uses about as much energy as a blow dryer uses to blow dry a wet head of hair. Neil says the quality of cultured diamonds does not suffer. In fact, the Gemological Institute of America grades them exactly the same as natural diamonds, as far as cut, clarity, color and carat.

Sounds pretty good to me, if what you’ve got your heart set on is a diamond. But I’m not going to make the final call until I talk to more people in the know and see these processes for myself.

If you’re interested in more information about conflict diamonds, check Amnesty International.

Lab-Grown Diamonds in the news...

SCIENTISTS have, for the first time, shown the tiny technology capable of making renewable energy affordable on a mass scale.

It emerged last week that Evince Technology Ltd, based in the Printable Electronics Technology Centre, NetPark, Sedgefield, has developed a diode capable of converting electricity, including that from wind turbines, tidal power and photovoltaics – solar power – more cheaply than existing devices.

Dr Gareth Taylor, Evince Technology’s chief executive, who has been working on the device for ten years, said just one of the tiny diodes could eventually be needed to control power coming from renewable sources, which are more difficult and expensive than traditional power sources to put into the national grid because the amount of power they create fluctuates.

At present, electricity has to be converted using numerous silicon devices, each able to take only 3,300 volts, and transformers.

But the five pence-sized diode developed by Evince needs only a single diamond strip, just half a millimetre thick and grown in the lab, to control 15,000 volts, the level of voltage coming from the National Grid.

Courtesy of The Northern Echo.

Diamonds made from the deceased (or living)

Many people keep the ashes of a loved one, long after they have passed. This doesn’t exclude pets! But there’s a seemingly better way to preserve the remains of that beloved pet, turn them into diamonds. But they don’t actually have to be dead to do that:
DNA2Diamonds is offering to use personal DNA carbon taken from a lock of hair to create a one-of-a-kind diamond. Meaning you, a loved one, a pet or even an entire family can be turned into a GIA-certified diamond, within 70 days. Prices range from $2,000 up to $18,000.

As seen on Pneud.

Diamond Prices Going Up - Consider Lab-Created

The price of rough diamonds increased 16% in 2008. Demand in emerging markets, primarily Asian countries, is cited as one of the primary reasons.

As the price of mined rough diamonds rises, the idea of lab-created gems becomes even more attractive. Not only are lab-created gems chemically, optically and physically identical to their mined counterparts; and are not marked by the same degree of social and environmental impact; they are also typically a terrific value.

Colored gems and diamonds in particular can be as much as 25% of the cost of mined gems.

DNA2Diamonds creates genuine, GIA-certified cultured diamonds made from the signature carbon extracted from a lock of hair or cremated remains, in 70 days or less. DNA2Diamonds can be created in various styles, colors, and sizes, including Radiant, Princess or Brilliant cuts in sparkling colors of deep red, yellow-green, or cognac and in sizes ranging from 0.25 carats to 2.0 carats. These personal diamonds and can be set into a ring, bracelet, earrings or worn as a pendant. Prices start under $2,000 and range up to $18,000 depending upon the cut, size and color chosen.

DNA Diamonds

Now your sweetie can make your engagment ring from his own blood, sweat and tears. Or maybe a lock of hair. No, I'm not joking. A friend sent me this website today and I just had to share.

DNA2Diamonds uses the latest technology to extract the unique DNA carbon from a lock of hair - from you, a loved one, an entire family, or even a pet. We can also obtain DNA carbon from cremated ashes. From this, we create a magnificent, personal, GIA certified, one-of-a-kind diamond.

DNA2Diamonds are physically identical to traditional earth-mined diamonds. And yet, they're different. They're personal. Of all the diamonds in the world, they are the only ones containing the DNA signature of you or your loved one. A DNA2Diamond embodies the very essence of what makes the person or family pet you love unique. When you deeply love someone, you know what makes him tick, what's "in her DNA." Now you can wear it.

Courtesy of Laura, Head Over Heels