There are two ways to put a loved one into a diamond. A grown-from-ashes diamond is made by extracting carbon from the remains and growing a new diamond from it, which usually takes months. A DNA-infused diamond starts as a certified diamond that you choose, and DNA from the remains is infused into it in about an hour.
Both are real diamonds and both are meaningful. Here is how they differ, so you can choose the one that fits your family.
Side by side
| DNA-infused (Eternal Diamonds) | Grown from ashes (example: LONITÉ) | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | DNA from your material is infused into a lab-grown diamond you have chosen | Carbon is extracted from ashes or hair, purified and crystallised under high pressure and high temperature |
| Time | About an hour; you take it home the same day | 3 to 9 months for one carat, about 6 months on average |
| Material needed | About 5 g (a teaspoon of ashes or a lock of hair) | At least 200 g of ashes or 10 g of hair |
| Choosing the stone | You pick the exact shape, carat and colour up front | Size and colour are ordered up front; growing time depends on both |
| Being there | You can infuse the DNA yourself in the lab, or watch by video | Not usually possible |
| Certification | GIA or IGI grading of the diamond, DNA Origin Certificate from an accredited lab, engraved inscription and blockchain registration | IGI certification plus a certificate of origin |
Source for the grown-from-ashes column: LONITÉ Singapore’s published process, October 2026. Other providers vary.
How a grown-from-ashes diamond is made
The provider extracts carbon from the cremated remains or hair, purifies it, and places it in a high-pressure, high-temperature machine where it slowly crystallises into a diamond. The diamond is then cut and polished. Because growth is a slow process and every person’s remains are different, it takes months and the final stone can vary.
The appeal is that the diamond’s own carbon came from your loved one. If that matters most to you, it is the right method.
How a DNA-infused diamond is made
You choose a finished lab-grown diamond, graded by GIA or IGI. A small amount of material is collected, purified, and infused into that diamond using our FUSION process with advanced plasma technology. The infusion takes about an hour and you can do it yourself.
The appeal is control and presence: you know exactly which stone you are getting, you need very little material, and you can be there for the moment it happens.
Which should you choose?
- Choose grown-from-ashes if you want the diamond’s carbon itself to come from your loved one, and you are comfortable waiting several months and sending more material.
- Choose DNA-infused if you want to be present, keep most of the ashes, choose the exact stone, or need the diamond for a date that is coming up soon.
What both should give you
- An independent grading report you can verify
- Proof that the stone carries your loved one: a certificate of origin from an accredited laboratory
- A clear record of how your material was handled from collection to finished diamond
- Honest timelines, including any jewellery setting
- A straight answer about what happens if something goes wrong
Frequently asked questions
Is a DNA-infused diamond a real diamond?
Yes. It is a lab-grown diamond graded by GIA or IGI, with the same structure and hardness as a mined stone.
Why does growing a diamond from ashes take so long?
Carbon has to be extracted, purified and slowly crystallised under high pressure and high temperature, which usually takes months.
Which method needs less material?
DNA infusion needs about 5 g. Growing a diamond from ashes typically needs 200 g of ashes or 10 g of hair.
Can I keep some of the ashes?
Yes. Because DNA infusion uses so little, most families keep almost all of the ashes.
Not sure which is right for you? Talk to our concierge on WhatsApp (+855 16 804 933), Telegram (@EternalDiamonds) or email concierge@eternal-diamonds.com. Tell us who the diamond is for, and we will take it from there.