The present invention relates to a method of making a more permanent remembrance from a graphitizable or carbon-containing material, wherein the material is part of or embodied in an ephemeral object that signifies a power, attribute, memory, custom, tradition, emotion or symbolism associated with a life experience or event. The method includes transforming the ephemeral object to the more permanent remembrance by converting the carbon-containing material to a synthetic diamond, thus transferring the power, attribute, memory, custom, tradition, emotion or symbolism of the object or the associated life experience or event into the diamond. The synthetic diamond can be prepared by transforming the carbon-containing material to a carbon compound or carbon-containing compound; and then converting the carbon compound or carbon-containing compound into the synthetic diamond.