Michael Jackson’s Hair Is 5 Carats of Diamonds
Michael Jackson fans will always remember the pop stars legacy through his music for years to come. Now, a Chicago based Diamond company is trying to give new meaning to “A Diamond is Forever” with plans to make his hair last for an eternity.
During the filming of the infamous commercial for Pepsi in 1984, Michael Jackson suffered second-degree burns to his scalp after his hair caught fire by a pyrotechnics accident.
Executive producer Ralph Cohen threw his jacket over Michael Jackson’s head to extinguish the flames. As Jackson was rushed off to the hospital, Cohen intuitively picked up Jackson’s charred hair, which is currently being preserved by John Reznikoff, University Archives president.
“The provenance and authenticity of this lock of hair is impeccable, including the highly publicized video showing the original owner of the hair using his Armani jacket to extinguish Jackson’s hair,” said John Reznikoff. “This jacket was included with the purchase of the hair.”
Michael Jackson with The Jackson 5 and production crew on day of the Pepsi shoot. Included is the charred lock of Michael's hair with the Armani Jacket Ralph Cohen used to extinguish Jackson's hair. (LifeGem photo / June 28, 2009)
A portion of the hair will remain in Reznikiff’s extensive collection that also includes hair from such fame as Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, and Marilyn Monroe.
Now, some 25 years later, those famous MJ hairs will be given to Chicago-based LifeGem to create a limited number of certified, high-quality diamonds. You got it — the King of Pop will be turned into about 5 carats of diamonds. Founder Dean VandenBiesen explained that carbon will be extracted from his hair at 5400 degrees and turned into crystals, which can then be processed into diamonds with the heat and about 1,000,000 pounds of pressure.
“LifeGem specializes in creating diamonds from locks of hair and other cremated remains. Our plan is to give people an opportunity to own a diamond made from Michael Jackson’s DNA,” said VandenBiesen. “We are currently evaluating the hair sample to determine how many diamonds can be created. This will be a limited collection and we anticipate great interest.”
The isn’t a new process. In 2007, LifeGem and Reznikoff conspired to create diamonds from the hair of another musician: Ludwig van Beethoven.
LifeGem has yet to put a price on the King of Pop’s diamonds, but Beethoven’s went for $240,000 per diamond.
Now what is the meaning of “A Diamond is Forever”? Unfortunately, Diamondscape.com will not offer one of these Diamonds to be set in a Diamond Engagement Ring…