How long does it take to make a diamond from ashes?
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Turnaround time is one of the first questions families ask when they're considering a memorial diamond — and it's a fair one. You're making a decision that matters deeply, and waiting an unknown amount of time while grieving is its own kind of difficulty.
The honest answer varies depending on who you go with. This post explains why timelines differ, what the process involves, and what to realistically expect.
Why does it take time at all?
Growing a diamond is not a quick process. Whether the carbon source is ashes, hair, or any other material, the HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature) growth process can't be rushed without affecting the quality of the stone.
Once the carbon has been extracted and purified from your loved one's ashes or hair, a rough diamond is grown crystal by crystal inside a pressurised chamber over several weeks. After growth, the rough stone is cut and polished, and graded by an independent lab if you've chosen that, before it's returned to you.
Each of those stages takes time. The main variable between providers is how long they queue orders before processing begins — and how many orders they're running simultaneously through their laboratory. Colour matters too: coloured diamonds need extra steps, so they take longer than colourless ones.
How long does it take with most providers?
Many international providers quote between seven and twelve months, and some take longer. A review from one well-known provider noted a wait of around fourteen months from start to finish. For a side-by-side look, see our guide to memorial diamond companies in Australia.
The reasons for these long timelines are a mix of production capacity, international shipping logistics, and in some cases, simply the volume of orders they're managing at once.
If you've been quoted close to a year by a provider and that feels too long, you're not alone in feeling that way.
How long does it take with Endura Diamond?
At Endura Diamond, the typical turnaround from when your ashes or hair arrive at the laboratory is around three months for a colourless diamond, and around five months for a coloured diamond.
That's the full process — carbon extraction, diamond growth, cutting, polishing, optional IGI grading, and return shipping to you in Australia.
The reason we can move faster isn't that we cut corners on the process. It comes down to lower order volumes as a newer, Australia-focused provider, and a direct relationship with our laboratory partner that keeps logistics tight and predictable.
We're transparent about this: these are our current typical timeframes. If anything changes — if production times shift — we'll tell you before you commit.
Does faster mean lower quality?
No. The quality of a memorial diamond is determined by the purity of the carbon extraction, the stability of the growth environment, and the skill of the cutting. None of those factors are related to how long a provider's queue is.
If you'd like independent proof of quality, an IGI grading report is available for $199 including GST on diamonds from 0.2ct. It verifies the stone's carat weight, cut, colour, and clarity, and the standard is the same regardless of how long the order took to fulfil.
What happens during the wait?
Once we receive your ashes or hair, we'll confirm receipt and keep you informed at each stage of the process. You won't be left wondering what's happening.
The stages are:
- Receiving and logging your carbon source
- Carbon extraction and purification
- Diamond growth (the longest stage)
- Cutting and polishing
- IGI grading, if you've chosen it
- Quality check and return shipping to you
We know that for most families, this isn't just a purchase — it's something that carries real emotional weight. We treat it that way.
How do I get started?
The first step is ordering a Welcome Kit. It arrives with everything you need to collect and safely send a small amount of ashes or hair — a collection tin, a scoop, a prepaid Australia Post return satchel, and a guide walking you through the process.
The Welcome Kit costs $99. It's refundable, and the $99 is deducted when you place your diamond order.