Startup is developing carbon-negative diamonds

Aether uses CO2 sucked from the air to create their diamonds, providing the industry's most ethical alternative available to date

Spotted:  Aether, a NYC-based startup, is creating what may be the world’s first carbon-negative diamonds.

From worker exploitation to deforestation and water pollution, traditional diamond mining is fraught with issues. Even lab-grown diamonds, which are marketed as a more ethical alternative, are typically made from fossil fuels.

Pioneering carbon-capture technology is used to pull C02 from the atmosphere, with multiple machines located on the rooftop of a power-generating waste incineration plant. After this, Aether refines it so that it can be used in a reactor and then turned into a diamond over the course of two or three weeks.

A two-carat Aether diamond can offset an impressive two and a half years’ worth of the average American’s emissions (on average, the carbon footprint in the U.S. is around 16 tons). However, the startup will incorporate the diamonds into a new line of fine jewellery with the aim to appeal to consumers based on design — not only because of their environmental message. 

“We want to make sure that this is something that you’d buy on its face, just because of the way it looks, because of the way it makes you feel. The environmental element to this is really kind of the icing on the cake. Because at the end of the day, most Americans – most people in general – don’t know their carbon footprint,” said CEO Ryan Shearman.

Aether will start with limited production but believes the process will scale. The company will launch first with a waitlist and plans to begin selling products by the beginning of 2021. 

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