Shine On You Crazy Diamond

A company called LifeGem Memorials will take the cremated remains of a loved one and turn it into a man made diamond. They have now perfected a way of making the diamonds from hair samples, so the remains can be interred. To publicize this technology, they are going to turn a sample of the composer Ludwig Von Beethoven into several diamonds which will then be sold to raise money for charity.

LifeGem Memorials, a company that first gained attention in 2002 by making diamonds out of the carbon from cremated human remains, now says it can make diamonds out of human hair, allowing people to bury their loved ones but still have a memento they can carry with them.

To publicise this — and to raise money for charity — the company has teamed with John Reznikoff, who is in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest and most valuable collection of celebrity hair.

Reznikoff is giving six to 10 strands of Beethoven's hair to LifeGem, which will use it in a process to create three diamonds of between 0.5 and 1 carat in weight.

Greg Herro, chief executive officer of LifeGem, said the diamonds will initially be put on a worldwide tour of museums and opera houses for about half a year as the company tries to gain attention for its ability to make diamonds from hair.

"We thought, well, what better way to do it than with an international icon who is known to millions," Herro said.

Eventually, the diamonds will be sold at auction, with the proceeds donated to raise money for military families, Herro said.

Now, the charity they are going to support is very worthwhile - the money is to go to the families of soldiers. So I think their hearts are in the right place. It just seems kind of creepy to me, but I'm old fashioned, I guess. However, if you want to turn aunt Gertrude into a gemstone in the afterlife, more power to you. It beats having the relatives freeze-dried.

Here's the LifeGem website.