One of the most common questions I hear at Megan Goldner Designs is:
“Do you turn ashes into diamonds?”
The short answer?
No.
But the real answer is far more meaningful because what I actually do is deeply personal, completely handmade, and designed to honour your loved one in their truest form.
So let’s talk about the difference between turning cremains (cremated remains) into diamonds… and what I create for you here in my studio.
What Is Cremains-to-Diamond Jewellery?
Cremains-to-diamond services have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, and for good reason. The process is quite scientific, it involves extracting carbon from a loved one’s cremains (or hair), which is then subjected to extreme heat and pressure in a lab to grow a synthetic diamond. This diamond can be cut, polished, and set into jewellery like any other gemstone.
The process is fascinating and it’s offered by legitimate, reputable companies around the world. However, it’s not a quick or inexpensive route. The average piece can take 6 to 9 months to create and often starts from R65,000 or more.
It’s an incredible way to honour a loved one… for those who resonate with it.
But it’s not what I do.
What I Actually Do at Megan Goldner Designs
My keepsake jewellery is created with a completely different philosophy.
Instead of transforming your loved one’s cremains into a gemstone, I carefully and respectfully preserve them in their natural form, visible, beautiful, and safe, within resin and precious metals.
I work with:
Jeweller’s-grade resin
High-quality, cosmetic grade pigments, shimmers, and flakes
Sterling silver, gold, or plating options
Tiny amounts of your chosen inclusion (cremains, hair, fur, breastmilk, dried flowers, and more)
Each piece is individually handcrafted by me and no two are ever alike. You choose the colours, the finishes, the style, and even whether or not the cremains remain visible.
These pieces are infused with meaning and intention. Every swirl and sparkle is created with care, not a generic setting from a lab, but a memory captured in a wearable work of art.
Preserving, Not Transforming
What I do isn’t about changing what remains of your loved one, it’s about carrying a tangible connection to them with you, always.
The cremains aren’t altered, chemically processed, or extracted. They’re honoured, held safely in the materials that surround them, lovingly placed into a ring, pendant, bead, or charm that you helped design.
That means you can still see and feel that essence every time you hold the piece.
Cremains-to-Diamond vs Keepsake Resin Jewellery
Let’s look at the two options side-by-side:
If you are reading this blog on your mobile, turn your phone sideways to view the side-by-side comparison correctly 🙂
| Cremains-to-Diamond | Megan Goldner Designs |
|---|---|
| Lab-grown synthetic diamond from extracted carbon | Handcrafted keepsakes with cremains preserved as-is |
| Uses heat, pressure & carbon extraction | Uses resin, shimmer, pigments, and precious metals |
| Prices start from R65,000+ | Most pieces range from R1,500 to R3,500 |
| One item per at least 500g of cremation ashes | You can create multiple keepsakes from a small amount |
| 6–9 month turnaround | 4–6 weeks turnaround |
| Symbolic representation | Direct physical inclusion |
Why This Matters to My Clients
So many of my clients come to me unsure of what’s possible. They’ve heard of “ashes to diamonds,” but they don’t always know the difference, or that there are other, more affordable and more personal options available.
I want you to know:
You don’t need a lab-grown diamond to carry someone forever.
You need a piece of them, safely held, in a design that reflects their spirit and your story.
That’s what I offer, and it’s an honour every single time.
Custom, Made With Heart
Every keepsake I create is:
✔️ Handcrafted to order
✔️ Fully customisable
✔️ Infused with your chosen colours and shimmer
✔️ Designed for everyday wear or sacred keeping
✔️ Packaged with care, respect, and reverence
From the moment your package arrives, your keepsakes are kept safe, never mixed, and always treated as sacred. This is not just a piece of jewellery, it’s a piece of your heart.
In Closing... You Deserve a Choice
Keepsake jewellery is about remembering. It’s about holding grief and love in the same breath, and finding a way to carry it forward.
If you want a diamond, I can refer you to beautiful companies who do just that.
But if what you’re truly looking for is something personal, sacred, handcrafted, and rooted in love, I’m here for that.
Let’s create something beautiful together.
🖤
Megan
#designingmemories
📝 P.S.
Yes, I can refer you to reputable “ashes to diamonds” companies if that’s what your heart is set on. But if you’d prefer something visible, handcrafted, and more affordable, you’re in the right place.
