This is how a gemstone
is formed
from ashes or hair.
From a purely technical point of view, it is ‘pure chemistry’. But for MEVISTO, there is far more to it than that when a gemstone is created from the ashes or hair of a loved one or a pet. It is a story told by the sapphire or ruby – the story of those who have passed away and those who remain. And this story finds a home in the memorial stone: a space for a personal memento.
Gemstone production
in 9 steps
1. Extraction of the elements – up to 10 different elements are extracted from 50 g of ashes or 10 g of hair.
2. Melting the raw crystal – at temperatures exceeding 2,300 °C, a ruby or sapphire forms with aluminium oxide.
3. Cutting – the gemstone is cut by hand and engraved with an identification number.
4. Quality assurance & certificate – weight, colour, cut and ID are documented.
5. Setting into the piece of jewellery – in yellow, red or white gold, as required.
6. Quality promise – 100% manufactured in Austria, the finest craftsmanship.
7. Scientific verification – confirmed by independent universities.
8. ISO 9001 & traceability – clear tracking of every step.
9. Secure dispatch – with personal handover.
1. Extraction of the elements
Fundamentally, we are all made up of the same elements. It is only the composition of this biogenic material that is as unique as every living being. From the biogenic material – that is, the hair or ashes – we extract up to 10 elements. These include, for example, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. Together with the carrier material, aluminium oxide, this forms the basis for the gemstone. It is unique. Just like your departed loved one. And these personal characteristics shine through in the ruby or sapphire – pale or vibrant, light or dark, colourless or intense.
This process takes around two weeks. Afterwards, our staff prepare the extracted elements so that the gemstone can form. All of this is, of course, carried out with the utmost care. Because we know that, during these technically unique stages, we are working with elements from loved ones – people or animals. That your mum or Klaus are, in a sense, coming to life within it. And that is exactly how we treat them.
2. Melting the rough crystal
The next step is the actual growth process. Using a precisely controlled oxyhydrogen flame consisting of hydrogen and oxygen, a special ruby or sapphire grows from the previously extracted elements, together with aluminium oxide.
In our specially developed high-end facilities, we can monitor and control the entire growth process at all times. We generate the hydrogen and oxygen required for this directly on site – using our photovoltaic system and state-of-the-art hydrogen generators. This ensures that an energy-intensive manufacturing process is carried out as sustainably as possible.
At temperatures exceeding 2,300 °C , the individual elements from hair or cremation ashes fuse together. Layer by layer, a gemstone grows from this, embodying the uniqueness of a loved one or pet.
Within one to two days, the crystal has fully formed and is ready for the next step.
3. Hand-cut gemstones
Depending on your requirements, we cut gemstones ranging from 0.5 to 12 carats. There is a wide variety of cut styles to choose from – ranging from classically elegant to truly extraordinary. We are also happy to create bespoke sizes or cuts.
Every single gemstone is meticulously cut by hand. Our gemstone cutters look through a loupe around 1,000 times during the process … This commitment to quality makes every MEVISTO gemstone a masterpiece. After cutting, each gemstone is given a unique identification number, which is laser-engraved onto the girdle so that it can be identified at a later date.
4. Quality assurance and certificate
Every personalised ruby or sapphire from MEVISTO is supplied with an individual certificate. This documents the gemstone’s key characteristics – weight, colour, cut, size and its unique identification number.
For stones weighing 0.5 carats or more, each gemstone also features a delicate laser engraving on the girdle. This unique identification number permanently links the gemstone to its certificate, ensuring it can be clearly identified – even many years later. Before your keepsake gemstone leaves our premises, it undergoes a final quality control check.
During this process, the cut, engraving, certificate and all characteristics are carefully checked once again. Only when all quality standards have been met does your personal ruby or sapphire set off on its journey to you – ready to accompany you for a lifetime.
Every gemstone has its own character
Sparkling dark red, radiant beige or gleaming cornflower blue. It is not we who determine the colour of the memorial stone. It is the (deceased) people and animals. For their uniqueness is reflected in the ashes or in their hair. We can only set a general direction for the gemstone – red, blue or natural. The rest is down to the hair or ashes of your loved one. Whether as a memento of the deceased or as a token of love amongst the living.
Scientifically verifiable in the memorial stone
In collaboration with renowned universities, we have developed a process for creating gemstones. Using 50 grams of ashes or 10 grams of hair, we craft a ruby or a sapphire. We give it a sparkling new home. After around 30 working days (around 50 working days for jewellery), the memorial gemstone is on its way to you. It comes with a certificate and the story of your loved one.
5. Set in a piece of jewellery
Goldsmiths combine the gemstone made from ashes with a piece of jewellery you can wear – in either yellow gold, rose gold or white gold. As well as our own exclusive range of 14-carat gold designs, we also create bespoke pieces of jewellery for you, tailored entirely to your wishes, preferences and taste. Crafted with great care and finesse, your gemstone made from ashes will sparkle in earrings, a ring or on a necklace.
6. Our Quality Promise
Because we know how much love means. At MEVISTO, we craft gemstones from ashes or hair entirely in Austria. And our gemstone cutters use their delicate hands to shape the keepsake, micrometre by micrometre. Every facet is designed to capture the radiance you shared together.
In addition to meticulous quality assurance, the engraving of the gemstone and scientific verification, uniqueness is of the utmost importance to us. Every step is closely monitored and tracked. After all, any possibility of mix-ups must be ruled out. We also attach great importance to the scientific verifiability of the elements in the gemstone, as this is what makes MEVISTO’s sapphires and rubies unique.
7. Scientific evidence
We are able to verify the personalisation process using analytical measurement methods. Here at MEVISTO, we developed this unique method in collaboration with experts and universities. Independent certificates confirm that the gemstones contain the elements added from hair or ashes, and that the composition of the elements within the sapphire or ruby is unique. No two gemstones are alike – not only in appearance, but also because of the elements within them.
8. ISO 9001 certification
At MEVISTO, every gemstone made from ashes or hair is assigned a unique ISO code – a certificate number. This enables us to verify its origin at every stage of the process – from ordering through to production and dispatch.
State-of-the-art computer systems support us in this. Finally, we engrave the certificate number into the gemstone. It is so small that you can only see it with a magnifying glass. We photograph it for you and include the image in your gemstone certificate.
Accompanied by a certificate and scientific verification, your gemstone is on its way to you. There you will also find the ISO code, which attests to the precision of the process used to create your keepsake.
9. Secure delivery
If the gemstone is not to be collected from one of our partners – such as funeral directors or jewellers – we will arrange the exact time of delivery by telephone.
We want to ensure that the parcel is handed over in person. So that a beloved (deceased) person or a beloved (deceased) pet can return safely home. It is not just a stone; it is a precious treasure.
In whose honour should a memento
be made?
This is what
memorial gems can look like...
From the very beginning, we carefully document every sample of hair, fur, or cremation ashes entrusted to us. Each keepsake is assigned a unique identification number, and no step in the production process is carried out without this identifier. Ensuring the highest possible level of accuracy, care, and traceability is one of our greatest priorities.
If you feel uncertain about sending such valuable and meaningful materials by mail, you are always welcome to visit us in person and hand them over directly. We are also happy to give you a guided tour of our manufactory, offering you a closer look at the unique MEVISTO production process and the craftsmanship behind every personalized gemstone.
Unlike memorial diamonds, MEVISTO does not rely on carbon to create a personalized gemstone. Our rubies and sapphires are made from corundum (aluminum oxide)—the natural mineral from which all rubies and sapphires are formed.
Instead of carbon, we use the unique elements found in the cremation ashes or hair of a person or pet. After all, we are all made of the elements that were once forged in the stars—often referred to as stardust. It is this unique elemental composition that makes every MEVISTO keepsake gemstone truly one of a kind. It is like an "elemental fingerprint".
During our proprietary process, elements such as calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and other naturally occurring trace elements are extracted from the ashes or hair. These elements are then permanently incorporated into high-purity aluminum oxide as the crystal grows. They become part of the ruby or sapphire itself, influencing its individual color nuances and characteristics.
The result is a personalized ruby or sapphire created from ashes or hair that permanently carries the unique elemental signature of a loved one or beloved pet—a scientifically verifiable process that is unique in the world.
Yes. Hair and cremation ashes can be combined, even from multiple people or pets, to create a single personalized gemstone.
This option is especially meaningful when there is only a small amount of hair or ashes available. In many cases, families choose to combine different biogenic materials to symbolize the lasting bond between loved ones. The result is a unique ruby or sapphire that preserves the connection between those it represents in one timeless keepsake.
You can choose from three base color families: Natural, Red, or Blue. The final color of each gemstone is influenced by the unique elemental composition of the biogenic material—such as ashes, hair, or fur—making every MEVISTO gemstone a true one-of-a-kind creation.
Because every person and every pet has a unique chemical signature, no two gemstones are ever exactly alike. The individual elements incorporated into the crystal influence the gemstone's final shade and intensity.
Our gemstones may vary within the following color ranges:
- Red: from colorless and soft pink to light red, orange, and deep ruby red
- Natural: from colorless to champagne, peach, light brown, and dark brown
- Blue: from colorless to light blue, deep blue, and violet
This natural variation is not a flaw—it is a reflection of the individuality of the person or pet the gemstone represents, making every MEVISTO sapphire or ruby truly unique.