We should say up front that we're EverDear, one of the six memorial diamond companies compared here. Because we have a stake in your choice, we've stuck to the facts each company publishes and linked every source. Where another company does something better than we do, we say so.
At a glance
Lowest price: EverDear, for a colorless diamond at every size we could compare, starting at $995.
Fastest: Heart In Diamond, at around 90 days.
Most cuts and largest size: EverDear, with 14 cuts and diamonds up to 6.29 ct.
Least ashes needed: EverDear, from 50 grams for diamonds under 0.50 ct.
Same price for every color and cut: Eterneva.
In this article
What did we check for each company?
We picked companies that families often look up by name when choosing a provider. For each one, we checked the same details: prices and the diamond sizes they cover, colors and cuts, how much ashes or hair is needed, timeline, paperwork, jewelry, pets, and shipping.
Every detail comes from each company's own website or published materials. Prices are in US dollars. Companies update their prices and services often, so check each company's website for current information.
We didn't compare customer service or how each company handles problems, because we can't judge our competitors on that without bias. Independent review sites are a better guide, including Google reviews.
Which colors and cuts does each company offer?
All six companies offer colorless and blue, and round is the one cut they all make. Beyond that, the choice varies widely.
Colors offered by each company
Scroll sideways to see every color.
| Company | Colorless | Yellow shades | Green | Blue | Pink | Red | Purple | Black |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algordanza | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Eterneva | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| EverDear | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Heart In Diamond | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| LifeGem | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Lonité | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Yellow shades include Heart In Diamond's orange-yellow and yellow-green and Lonité's amber and greenish yellow. LifeGem offers pink and red as one color.
EverDear’s seven colors in eight of our cuts: colorless, yellow, green, red, black, pink, and blue.
Cuts offered by each company
Scroll sideways to see every company.
| Cut | Algordanza | Eterneva | EverDear | Heart In Diamond | LifeGem | Lonité |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Princess | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Radiant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Emerald | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Asscher | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Cushion | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Heart | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Oval | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Pear | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Marquise | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Trillion | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Hexagon | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Uncut | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
EverDear also offers cat and dog cuts.
What sizes does each company offer?
Three companies start at 0.10 ct, and three start at 0.25 ct. The largest published size is 6.29 ct.
| Company | Smallest | Largest |
|---|---|---|
| Algordanza | 0.25 ct | 1 ct listed |
| Eterneva | 0.25 ct | 5 ct |
| EverDear | 0.10 ct | 6.29 ct; larger on request |
| Heart In Diamond | 0.10 ct | 3 ct and up |
| LifeGem | 0.10 ct | 3 ct and up |
| Lonité | 0.25 ct | 3 ct; larger on request |
Carat is a measure of weight. Here's how wide a round diamond is at each size.
How do prices compare at the same carat size?
Scroll sideways to see every size.
| Company | 0.10 to 0.19 ct | About 0.25 ct | About 0.5 ct | About 1 ct | About 2 ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algordanza | Not offered | $2,999(0.30 ct, color not stated) | On request | On request | On request |
| Eterneva | Not offered | $3,499 | $7,699 | $15,000 | $24,500 |
| EverDear | $995 | $1,200 | $2,800 | $6,000 | $11,000 |
| Heart In Diamond | $2,330 | $3,150 | $5,480 | $13,490 | $23,290 |
| LifeGem | $1,999 | $2,399 | $5,599 | $12,999 | $18,599 |
| Lonité | Not offered | $2,400 | $4,800 | $11,500 | $21,500 |
Prices are for colorless diamonds.
Every company's price covers making the diamond and its own certificate or authentication. EverDear’s full price list by carat is in How Much Does It Cost to Turn Ashes Into Diamonds.
How much ashes or hair does each company need?
The amount of ashes required ranges from 50 grams to 1 pound, depending on the company and the size of the diamond. Hair amounts are much smaller, starting at 1 gram.
| Company | Ashes | Hair |
|---|---|---|
| Algordanza | 250 g to 1 lb (its site gives both figures) | At least 5 g |
| Eterneva | About ½ cup | "A healthy handful" |
| EverDear | From 50 g (2 tablespoons) under 0.50 ct, up to 400 g for the largest sizes | From 1 g under 0.50 ct, up to 7 g for the largest sizes |
| Heart In Diamond | At least 100 g | About 2 g |
| LifeGem | 100 g | A palmful |
| Lonité | At least 150 g, or 200 g of cremated bone | At least 5 g |
At EverDear, we use only the amount needed to grow your diamond. Anything extra is kept secure, and we'll return it if you ask before processing begins. Any company should be able to tell you what happens to material it doesn't use.
Our welcome kit includes a 1 tablespoon scoop and a container for the ashes or hair you send.
How long does each company take?
Published timelines run from about 90 days to 12 months.
| Company | Published timeline |
|---|---|
| Algordanza | 4 to 8 months |
| Eterneva | 8 to 11 months |
| EverDear | 7 to 11 months |
| Heart In Diamond | About 90 days |
| LifeGem | About 6 months |
| Lonité | 9 to 12 months |
EverDear has one of the longer timelines, since larger diamonds and some colors need a longer growth cycle. If you'd like a diamond ready for a date that's coming up, such as an anniversary or a wedding, a company with a shorter timeline may suit you better.
What jewelry does each company offer?
Four of the six companies offer jewelry settings for your diamond, and all four price it separately.
| Company | Jewelry |
|---|---|
| Algordanza | None sold; it suggests taking the diamond to a jeweler you trust |
| Eterneva | Rings, pendants and bracelets, designed with the jewelers it works with, or set by your own jeweler; priced separately |
| EverDear | Rings, pendants, earrings, and bracelets, or a custom design with up to two free design drafts, priced separately |
| Heart In Diamond | Rings, pendants, and earrings, or a custom design, priced separately |
| LifeGem | Settings aren't included in the diamond price |
| Lonité | Rings, pendants, and earrings, or a custom design, priced separately |
EverDear R2132 ring
What does "certified" mean for a cremation diamond?
"Certified" can refer to documentation from the company that grew the diamond, to an independent grading report, or to both. It depends on the company.
Company documentation confirms that the diamond was grown from the material you sent, and may record its size, color, and cut. Algordanza, EverDear, Heart In Diamond, and Lonité each issue a certificate. Eterneva and LifeGem authenticate each diamond with their own gemologists.
An independent grading report comes from a gemological lab such as the International Gemological Institute (IGI) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It grades the diamond's carat, color, clarity, and cut. Eterneva, EverDear, Heart In Diamond, and Lonité offer independent certification as an option.
No test on a finished diamond can show where its carbon came from, as we explain in Are Cremation Diamonds A Hoax?. What links a diamond to your loved one is the record kept at each step. Here are some great questions to ask any company you are considering to work with to better understand how a company keeps records:
How are my loved one's ashes or hair tracked from the day they arrive?
How are orders kept separate in the lab?
What does your certificate say, and who signs it?
Can I get an independent grading report, and what does it cost?
Can I visit your lab, or get updates while my diamond is being made?
Each EverDear Certificate of Authenticity is stamped by hand and includes an analysis of the carbon sample.
What are the pros and cons of each company?
We've listed the companies alphabetically. Every pro and con comes from the tables above or from the company's own website.
Algordanza
Algordanza is a memorial diamond company based in Domat/Ems, Switzerland, founded in 2004. It’s a member of Swiss and international funeral associations, including SVB and FIAT/IFTA. It serves families in Europe, the Americas, Asia, South Africa, and Australia, and refers pet families to its partner, Semper Fides.
Pros
- States that its diamonds meet ISO standard 18323, the only company here to cite a standard
- Says it has used 100% renewable energy since 2004
- Sells through funeral homes as well as directly
Cons
- Two colors only, blue and colorless
- Publishes only a starting price, $2,999 at 0.30 ct, with the full price list on request
- Asks for the most ashes, 250 grams to 1 pound
- Its site doesn't name an outside grading lab
Sources: Algordanza, Selection and costs, FAQ
Eterneva
Eterneva is a memorial diamond company based in Kerrville, Texas, founded in 2015 by Adelle Archer and Garrett Ozar, after Archer had her mentor's ashes made into a diamond. It grows diamonds in Texas and Europe, accepts pet ashes, and ships to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, and Mexico.
Pros
- The only company here that charges the same for every color and cut
- Publishes a gallery of more than 1,100 custom pieces made for past customers
- Offers third-party testing of the carbon in the ashes on request
Cons
- The highest price of the six at every size in the price table
- Ships to seven countries only
- The second-longest timeline, at 8 to 11 months
Sources: Eterneva, Memorial diamond cost, FAQ, About, Gallery
EverDear
EverDear is a memorial diamond company based in Santa Clarita, California, founded in 2017. Our team manages and supervises every stage of each order. We make diamonds from ashes or hair, and from other keepsakes such as clothing, letters, flowers, or feathers, and we ship to more than 50 countries. We also make pet memorial diamonds from pet ashes or fur, including fur from a living pet.
Pros
- The lowest published price of the six companies for a colorless diamond at every size in the price table
- Offers the widest choice of cuts, with 14 options including cat and dog shapes, and the largest size, 6ct. The machines we use to grow diamonds can produce these larger stones.
- Needs the least amount of ashes and hair for diamonds under 0.50 ct: 50 grams of ashes or 1 gram of hair
Cons
- Our timeline is 7 to 11 months, slower than three of the other companies
- GIA grading is only available for uncut diamonds
- Financing is available to US customers only
Sources: EverDear pricing, Order Instructions
Heart In Diamond
Heart In Diamond is a UK-based memorial diamond company founded in 2005, with websites for the US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand. It delivers internationally, accepts pet ashes, and also accepts other materials such as clothing fragments or letters.
Pros
- The shortest published timeline, around 90 days
- The only company here that offers purple
- Also accepts other materials, such as clothing fragments or letters
Cons
- The largest published surcharge for a cut: pear and marquise cost 30 percent more
- White (colorless) is one of its higher-priced colors: $2,330 against $1,770 for orange-yellow at 0.10 to 0.19 ct
- The only company here whose website doesn't mention a lab tour or visit
Sources: Heart In Diamond, Cost, About
LifeGem
LifeGem is a memorial diamond company based in Illinois, founded in 2002, with its lab in the Chicago area. It accepts pet ashes, has separate websites for the UK and Europe markets, and lists more than 5,000 partner locations in the US.
Pros
- The longest-running company here, making diamonds since 2002
- More than 5,000 partner locations in the US
- Says 100 grams of ashes is enough to make several diamonds
Cons
- Round brilliant is the only cut
- Ordering starts with a phone call and a printed order form
- The site doesn't name an outside grading lab
Lonité
Lonité is a memorial diamond company based in Horgen, Switzerland, founded in 2016. It’s a member of SVB, FIAT/IFTA, and the Japan Laboratory Grown Diamond Association. It accepts pet ashes and ships to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries.
Pros
- The only company here whose price includes shipping in both directions
- Accepts cremated bone fragments as well as ashes, and says how much it needs
- Its amber color costs less than colorless: $1,400 against $2,400 at 0.25 ct
Cons
- The longest published timeline: 9 to 12 months
- Every cut other than brilliant costs extra
- Uncut diamonds are only available from 0.35 ct
Is EverDear legit?
Yes. Families in more than 50 countries have ordered memorial diamonds from us. Our founders have been designing and refining their own HPHT diamond-growing equipment since 2011. Here’s what you can check for yourself:
Reviews: Families have left more than 140 Google reviews across our listings for different countries.
Press: The Los Angeles Times included us in its September 2026 guide, How to memorialize a beloved pet.
Visiting: You're welcome to tour our research lab in Santa Clarita, California. Book an appointment.
Independent grading: You can add an IGI grading report to any order.
And here's how we handle your order:
Tracking: Every order gets its own ID from the moment it's placed, and we sterilize our equipment between orders.
Documentation: Every diamond comes with our Certificate of Authenticity, including an analysis of the carbon you sent and a declaration signed by our lab scientists.
A visitor being shown around our research lab in Santa Clarita.
Questions about choosing a memorial diamond company
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No single company is the best choice for every family. The right one depends on your budget, how soon you'd like the diamond, the color and cut you want, how much ashes or hair you have, and the documentation you expect. Compare those details side by side, read independent reviews, and ask each company how it tracks your loved one's remains.
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For a colorless diamond of 0.10 to 0.19 ct, EverDear has the lowest starting price of the six companies compared here, at $995. LifeGem starts at $1,999 and Heart In Diamond at $2,330 for the same size and color. The other companies start at larger sizes, so compare prices at the same carat weight and check what each price includes.
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Yes, as long as you send enough ashes or hair for each diamond. Some companies lower the price for more than one. LifeGem charges $1,799 each for two or more colorless diamonds of 0.10 to 0.19 ct, and EverDear's Family Plan takes 5 to 15 percent off each diamond in a set of two or more grown from the same ashes or hair.
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Five of the six companies here make diamonds from pet ashes: Eterneva, EverDear, Heart In Diamond, LifeGem and Lonité. Algordanza refers pet families to its partner, Semper Fides. At EverDear, we turn pet ashes into diamonds and can also use fur, including fur from a living pet. Our cuts include cat and dog shapes.
A last word from one of the six
Reading through six companies' details is a lot to take in, especially while you're grieving. That you've done it says how much the person or pet behind this decision means to you.
We wrote this knowing you might choose another company. Whichever one you're leaning toward, ask all of us for the same things: a clear price for a stated size, a timeline you can plan around, and a specific answer about how your loved one's ashes or hair are tracked.
This choice can wait until you have all of the information to make a decision that comes with peace as you honor your loved one. Bookmark this page, and come back to the tables when you reach out to these companies. If you'd like to talk it through with us, our team would be glad to hear from you.
