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What You Didn't Know About Diamonds
wisebread.com — After Reading This All That Bling May Not Look That Special.
damienpassehl- 2523 diggs
- digg it
- thelab101, on 10/12/2007, -3/+114They're not entirely worthless...they do have industrial application.
you know, to cut other diamonds. ;)- gxcdesign, on 10/12/2007, -3/+29they make great record players
- masamunecyrus, on 10/12/2007, -3/+57They're just about the perfect semiconductor material, too.
I'm surprised that people think that the hardest known substance in the known world is useless.
EDIT: Here's an example of what diamonds can do in the semiconductor world.
http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2003Aug/gee20030827021485.htm - Kumaku, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Or better diodes.
- Jacob, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11And cutting tile/glass/other stuff. Diamonds have a pretty good industrial uses.
- Rhelim, on 10/12/2007, -15/+84(to the submitter)The capitalization in your caption is very annoying.
- pants428, on 10/12/2007, -7/+65Plus if you give a chick a diamond, she pretty much has to...
...
... - retral, on 10/12/2007, -18/+5This is off topic a bit, but I think it's the perfect time to ask: Is it true that if you heat a diamond to a certain temperature it'll just 'vanish' (for lack of a more scientific/specific term).
- AegisGFX, on 10/12/2007, -9/+87If your girlfriend demands you give her a huge rock or no nookie, then toss her to the curb. Its time women learned that love should have nothing to do with money. If it dose, then your a whore.
- Scottat2, on 10/12/2007, -14/+4Yep, all a diamond is is carbon.
- hammydude, on 10/12/2007, -2/+27i thought everone knew this stuff, diamonds are basically worth the same as glass, they have huge storehouses of them in africa, and they can manufacture flawless ones and sell for half the cost, why the hell would you buy real ones?
- Mr.Scientist, on 10/12/2007, -3/+41> why the hell would you buy real ones?
Because they cost more. Isn't that obvious? It's a luxury item. Its value is in the price that you have to pay for it. The girlfriend doesn't care about the piece of transparent carbon, she wants you to show how much you love her by paying a ***** of money for something that you give to her. - Copperhe4d, on 10/12/2007, -15/+2i know its kinda cheesy, but i made this my #1 >___>
- macmcrae, on 10/12/2007, -4/+20Talk about the amazing power of marketing.
Just look at how coveted this mineral is chemically identical to a man made stone.
BTW what is the point anyway? They reflect sunlight. OOOOOOooooo. Not nearly as impressive as a nice lcd display.
It is absurd that humans are killed over these things and continue to buy them at such artificially high prices. Grow a brain you mindless wealthy types. - redguard, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11The thing about diamonds being "rare" is very true. There are actually tons and tons of diamonds, but it's basically an oligopoly of a few large companies holding back the supply so as to artificially boost the value of these rocks. Don't be fooled.
- Cleanlyness, on 10/12/2007, -17/+2um I saw the movie. wow everyone here at digg is as dumb as I thought
- etnu, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9Diamonds are far from 'worthless'. If it weren't for the artificially high price, they'd be used extensively in many applications. Diamonds, if the market were operating properly, would be a relatively affordable, extremely hard substance with a lot of industrial applications. We all know about the drill bits and knives, but they also make excellent semiconductors and can be used in pretty much any application where material strength is a highly desirable characteristic.
I don't particularly care about the "conflict diamond" angle. Quite honestly, these groups are going to kill each other whether they're using diamonds, drugs, or some other valuable substance. Making diamonds worthless isn't going to stop the violence -- it's just going to make them change standards of exchange. - thomasb227, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Yeah, DeBeers execs are to be arressted upon entering the U.S. At least that's what I heard. There was a great article about how DeBeers marketed the diamond starting back in the '50s. As a kid hearing their slogans and ads, I thought it was the truth. Scary what this generations youth will believe or maybe we'll teach the question everything.
- Charlotte_Web, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5What impact has eBay had on the secondary market for diamonds? Are they significantly discounted from their original retail value?
It seems to me that eBay would be the greatest threat to DeBeers in the world right now. - bigstinky, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I guess I'm really lucky. All my wife wanted was a simple gold band. The thousands of dollars I would have foolishly spent on a goofy diamond, went to putting our house together and starting our family. Diapers boys, that's where to put your money...You'll see.
We have been happily married for 7 years. - PimpinOnWelfare, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2And yes, it WILL blend.
- ShrimpCrackers, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Ah I see...
"So Honey instead of a Diamond ring, I brought you something truly rare; a giant Lutetium ring!" - Cr0z, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2A more interesting fact about diamonds is that they are all (very) slowly turning into graphite, which is a more thermodynamically stable form of carbon. The process does take thousands of years though.
- MadOtaku, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"It’s undetectable with the naked eye. And it’s actually more brilliant."
I was going to write a witty comment about this quote, but I'll let it speak to itself. - roadracersweet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I am a digg noob (to posting). I should have replied under an existing post, my apologies.
"I do think the majority of the posters are missing one simple and significant point: The resources required to explore for and extract diamonds from Kimberlite are immense. Millions are spent to explore for a single pipe and up to a billion to develop that pipe into a producing deposit that generally will only average 10-15 years of production. The only reason diamonds have a value is because comsumers want them. This could be analagous to the worthless paper money you have in your pocket, or gold, which is really just another pretty rock(much to the dismay of all those in the 'return to the gold standard' economic movement). If diamonds were as easy to find as the gravel in your driveway then they would certainly be worthless as the supply would be high and the exploration/production costs low. Is the original poster someone who bought and expesive engagement ring only to be turn down by his significant other thus being stuck with a ring worth 50% at a pawn shop or are they simply doing some marketing by promoting synthetic diamonds as the link on the article suggests? I will leave it to fellow diggers to decide that for themselves. " - fronkman, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3hey there dumbasses,
you dont like diamonds because people suffer in the process of getting them to the showroom? do you drive any kind of car that uses oil? have you ever purchased anything made in china, india, taiwan, hong kong, malaysia or singapore? there are a lot of products out there that are made at the expense of other people in the world. people forced to work 20 hour days, getting paid pennies, prison labor, no labor laws to speak of. this all is used to make the clothes, electronics and other stuff we all buy every day.
you won't buy a diamond because you think the market is manipulated? sure, it is manipulated. but so is the market for oil. do you still buy oil? the stock market is manipulated, do you own stocks?
it sure seems to me like this all boils down to a bunch of cheap-ass teenagers who have never been in a real relationship and have no business making judgments about what they will buy their fiancees. if you are still working your way through puberty, you have no real experience to judge any of this.
oh, and i dont know what you are talking about with diamonds being a lousy investment. my wife and i had an opportunity to purchase a house and needed the value of her ring for the down payment. we got 140% of the price i originally paid. now, fifteen years later we are on our second house, i bought her a newer, nicer ring to replace the old one and we are very, very happy. oh and i agree with the guy who said kids are expensive. that is why you dont have kids before you have the money. wear a condom asshat.
you people are free to do what you want, but before you start accusing me of being an asshole, better double check that you aren't being a hypocrite. oh, and also SPELLCHECK; i can clearly tell you are all in 7th grade based on your spelling. - tinapaal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0░░░░█░███░█░░░░░░░█░███░█░░░████░█░░░░░█░
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My friend proposed to his girlfriend couple of months back with Moissanite jewelry ( http://www.definiteinfo.com/jewelry/moissanite-jewelry.html ). After accepting, she asked him why Moissanite jewelry. He explained the cost effectiveness and also the quality which is comparble to Diamonds. After some convincing, she finally accepted him and married.
- icekin, on 10/12/2007, -20/+1And to cut glass.
- asif5th, on 10/12/2007, -45/+6Tip Sheet for Writing a persuasive paper:
1) When convincing others not to do something, make many references to Gun-Ho Hollywood movies such as "Blood Diamond"
Any others to add?- soviyet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+30But... it's true. Who the hell cares if they use a lame tactic to dramatize the point?
- saisumimen, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Because people who didn't already know this by now are the type that don't really know about "stuff" unless they see it on "tee-vee" or "at the movies". I say it's a good tactic.
Not everyone is up with current events; we need to let Ric Romero so that all the soccer moms and old ladies know about this too. - iloveliberals, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0Makes me wonder if propaganda flicks like this will be regarded by hip kids in the future much as anti-commie propaganda is regarded by hip kids today: corny, overreaching, insulting.
After all, back in the day, commies really did pose a threat, but propaganda was so bad that it eventually backfired.
Maybe the diamond cartels will invest in really over-the-top anti-diamond propaganda to create a backlash from viewers. Maybe they already have. - eexlebots, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2But that is the kind of stuff that happens with diamonds. It's not very clumsy as far as propaganda is concerned-in fact it's a damn good movie.
- mutatron, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9A woman I know who used to sell jewelry worked it out so that her engagement ring has one large sapphire with two much smaller diamonds on either side. Similar expense to a diamond, but much better value.
- Software2, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2So she had a blue gem to compliment her two red ones?
- manova, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13I did something similar for my wife. I got a family diamond (dead grandma doesn't need it and it has sentimental value) and put it on an ornate band with two small sapphires. I saved a ton of money (way under a $1k) and she got a ring that total strangers will compliment out of the blue. Recycle, recycle, recycle.
- excalpius, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2If you mean you got more bang for your buck, then okay. But regardless you purchased a couple of VALUELESS stones for a whole lot more money than they are worth. You can't sell them...period.
- BrotherLuigi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0The whole point of a diamond is that they're unique. Same reason snowflakes are considered beautiful.
And the point about reselling is moot, the diamond is supposed to symbolize your 'everlasting' love, you'd never sell it.
I mean, I guess you could want to re-sell it if you get divorced... but then you've got more to worry about than a diamond... half your *****.
- mejor, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12I heard somewhere they're experimenting with diamonds as cores for Computer Processors because they can withstand extreme heats... Only problem is they need a material that they can put the diamond core on that can withstand the heat as well.
- chingy1788, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2i heard the same too
there was an artivle posted on Digg some time ago
apparently they reached 80GHz (from memory) and another company reached 200GHz or something - StarManta, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"Only problem is they need a material that they can put the diamond core on that can withstand the heat as well."
Diamond case?
Of course you need a diamond floor and so on... - Conspiracy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1make the whole computer out of diamond!
- chingy1788, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2i heard the same too
- thetimeisnow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+29http://www.realdiamondfacts.org/
http://stopblooddiamonds.org/- Promantarius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12That blood diamond site was recommending you buy expensive 'legitimate' diamonds, whereas if the ability to fabricate diamonds for very low prices is just around the corner you'd think not buying any at all would be the smarter plan...
- excalpius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Don't buy diamonds...period. Come up with something UNIQUE for your lady. :)
- signal15, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I know someone that owns a mine in Sierra Leone. Some of the workers there were stealing diamonds and got their hands chopped off. He has to go over there about a month out of every year, and he hates it. The money is good, but the conditions are terrible.
- monergism, on 10/12/2007, -12/+40Sentences Don't Need Capital Letters For Every Word.
- Jozer99, on 10/12/2007, -17/+4Yes They Do.
- surfmadpig, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5But article titles (officially) do. I'd say that titles on digg probably don't though. Because they are viewed as lists, it gets annoying.
Edit: (just noticed that the description also has every word capitalized, you're right.)
- Bbanda, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Well look at the bright side for us younger guys, if they really are close to fabricating diamond which I assume they are, diamonds are gunna cost a whole lot less when we get around to having to buy one for proposal/wedding. Isn't technology great?
- Tenlow, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3No, "real" (meaning natural) diamonds will get even more expensive.
- evensong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16How do you tell it is "real" if they are indistinguishable? In fact, some articles point out that man-made diamonds are now even more brilliant than natural ones.
- typo180, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12"...some articles point out that man-made diamonds are now even more brilliant than natural ones."
(read: this one) - ajchavar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6an interesting thing i learned in one of my first com classes was that diamonds never were the traditional engagement or wedding stone, people preferred colored stones.
then debeers came around with the diamonds are forever ads/etc and made diamonds high in demand, so they inflated the costs and made tons of money. - Mr.Scientist, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7> How do you tell it is "real" if they are indistinguishable?
Certificates, of course. Expensive certificates. - freezervv, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Afaik, manmade diamonds glow under UV light (or the real ones do). Too tired to google though, so don't know if that's true/still true.
- Otto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7No, it's not true. These manmade diamonds that will be on the market in a few years (some are on the market right now) are actually *real* diamonds. There is no actual difference between diamonds somebody dug out of a hole vs. these which are made in a pressure cooker.
They don't glow under UV. They aren't "less" valuable somehow. They're identical. The only thing that lets you tell the difference is the utter perfection of them: They have no flaws.
Diamond is just carbon in interesting formations. Whether it was made naturally or not. - Mr.Scientist, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I wasn't kidding. There will be certificates. They're doing the same thing to keep the value of diamonds up against the stigma of blood diamonds. You can buy certified conflict-free diamonds, which are of course otherwise indistinguishable from blood diamonds. That's the point of blood diamonds, after all.
- etnu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4The way that they identify "fake" diamonds is to look for purity -- "fake" diamonds are so much purer than "real" diamonds that most good jewelers would recognize one right away. That's right folks, the "better" product is worth less than the "natural" one.
People paying $1000 for a little shiny rock is so incredibly stupid. My wife has a $300 ring, and half of that cost went to engraving and the lifetime replacement plan. If someone isn't going to marry someone because they didn't buy a big enough rock, they're not worth marrying. There are millions of better things that you could spend those thousands on. - halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@etnu
"If someone isn't going to marry someone because they didn't buy a big enough rock, they're not worth marrying."
You should put that on a bumper sticker, and proceed to drive around your town's jewelery district. Hopefully, a few guys will get the hint and NOT waste three months pay on a diamond.
If you're going to waste that much cash on a ring, get a star sapphire. They're far more stunning.
- Shirk, on 10/12/2007, -13/+34I guess I'd write up a list about how worthless diamonds are if I were an angry single female blogger too.
- AhrenBa, on 10/12/2007, -1/+51Yeah, the Da Beers corporation has a severe monopoly on the diamond industry and has created thousands of myths and false statements about diamonds. This is why monopolies are bad, people...
- Domza, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Its De Beers, not Da Beers.
- sacherjj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Just buy your girl a brat if she is a fan of Da Bears.
- JD52, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Here is some fantastic reading on the diamond cartel.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond- pixelbender, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3You do know that was written in 1982 (aka a quarter century ago!). And while it is interesting, it'd be nice to have some more up to date info.
(and its the first listed reference in TFA. you thief)
- pixelbender, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3You do know that was written in 1982 (aka a quarter century ago!). And while it is interesting, it'd be nice to have some more up to date info.
- westoncampbell, on 10/12/2007, -18/+3I could care less about jewelry. In fact, I've never cared about it.
- vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -2/+32So what you're saying is that you COULDN'T care less.
- treecha02, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Ah! My biggest pet peeve. I'm glad someone else pointed it out before me.
- tentwentyfour, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Actually, both are acceptable sayings. Saying "I could care less" is sarcastic, as you are implying that you really couldn't care less.
Good effort trying to make yourself look smart though.
Wikipedia ftw. - MadOtaku, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1couple of dumbasses. both ARE correct, and like the guy above me says, one has implied sarcasm. reminds me of people correcting other's "grammer."
- Arcadian, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16" Jennifer Connelly says in the movie Blood Diamond, “People back home would not buy a diamond if they knew it cost someone their hand.” Now you know. "
My mother would. She even saw the movie, too. Didn't phase her one bit.- vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20Rather than make a rude comment about your mother, I will just let you use your imagination.
- alexanEmpire, on 10/12/2007, -4/+32Heh.....I'll do it!
*in a Sean Connery voice*
Q: What's the difference between you and a malard with a cold?
A: Well, one is a sick duck.........I forget the rest but YOUR MOTHER'S A WHORE!!!! - Nick22, on 10/12/2007, -14/+4"My mother would. She even saw the movie, too. Didn't phase her one bit."
Ya my ***** didnt phase her one bit either.
err... - excalpius, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4Mine did. :)
- alexanEmpire, on 10/12/2007, -0/+31A fact that they left out, which I feel is REALLY important, is that Kay Jewelers lies to you when they say "Diamonds are forever". That is not true because diamonds eventually decay into graphite.
That's right! That super expensive hunk of blingin' carbon will become nothing more than what is at the end of an ordinary pencil.- ViceVirtue, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5At least it will be a pure form of what's at the end of a pencil. Pencils are made of graphite and clay, which is used to make it softer.
- gossipninja, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Wired had an article a few years back about the man made diamonds. Interesting read. I always told the info from this article to people i know and they always thought i was lying when i said diamonds weren't worth anything. I heard once, "if it doesn't have 4 wheels and bucket seats, it should cost 15 grand."
- gossipninja, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1also the big diamond markets sold hitler industrial grade diamonds to build his war machines, couple that with the diamond trade brutality and you have genuinely evil companies.
- hokeywhiteboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+32When a friend of mine asked his girlfriend to marry him, he proposed with a sapphire ring.
After accepting, she asked why he had not gone with a diamond… whereupon he explained that sapphires have better resale value.
She married him anyway :-)- marinist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Very true: sapphires or rubies are much rarer, and were the preferred stones before the diamond mania began.
- mzwaterski, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2He's already planning on re-selling the stone? His financial future or his relationship future must be looking bleak...
- raina, on 10/12/2007, -2/+41I'm a girl and I think diamonds are horrible and boring. Sparkly is nice and everything, but fake stuff shines, too. You could buy so much fun stuff with that money. My heart would be more easily won over by a guitar, a cruise, a MacBook, a cotton candy maker.. anything really. (;
- JavertHolmes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+34So what you're saying is that I should buy the future woman of my dreams a floating guitar that makes cotton candy. No wonder I suck at relationships.
- AegisGFX, on 10/12/2007, -12/+7Macbook...., all thats tells us is that you are a techno-peasant.
- typo180, on 10/12/2007, -2/+27Wow, if I could propose with a MacBook and have her be happy about it, I'd know I found the right woman.
But for her, I'd go Pro. - raina, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Well, I did get a MacBook Pro as a gift after saying yes to the guy who proposed with a cheap ring from Pike Market. I'm just sayin.
- rezonq3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3So what you are saying is, you are the coolest woman alive...
k so would an artificial diamond lined Mac Book Pro, presented on the cruise of your dreams steal you away from the guy you are currently married to?
Juuuuust wonderin'... ;)
- JavertHolmes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+27I wish you could sneak "Do you want an expensive diamond ring if/when we marry?" in as a first date question. It'd waste a lot less time. A person who wants an expensive diamond ring says so much about them on so many levels. Let's look at some of them:
1) Using the ring as a symbol of caring. "My husband cares about me so he spent $X on me." For some husbands, throwing money at a woman is the easiest thing in the world. Far easier than dealing with *actual problems* in their relationships.
2) Using the ring as a symbol of bragging. "Look at what we can afford." You are shallow. Why am I with you?
3) Using the ring as a symbol of sacrifice. There are an infinite number of ways to demonstrate a man willing to sacrifice for his wife. Why did you choose the same symbol that all other couples have chosen?
4) Levels of dissatisfaction if the husband doesn't spend X weeks worth of income on her diamond ring. Who came up with X's value?
As you can tell, I'd make a fun spouse :)- freehunter, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9You are missing one important point, though. The meaning. Most women, no matter how much they say they don't, love cliche stuff. I am getting my girl a very unorthodox gift for our first Valentine's day, but I am also getting her flowers and chocolates, too. She's love the originality of the unorthodox gift, but she'll also have something to show to her friends. Women like cliche, don't try to mix things up.
- vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17s/unorthodox gift/anal beads and a vibrator/g
Don't deny it. - Spacejack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Seconding the women like cliche thing. The trick is to serve her up the chintziest, stupidest lame-ass cliche that you can think of... but somehow make her think her desire for it is unique.
- Uberdork, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Women are like crows and raccoons. Just shake your car keys at them. It works.
- MotionAesthetic, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1This is also why bongs are so brightly colored. It's so stoners can boast about the number of hideous clashing colors on their bong.
- Jemulov, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15I'd rather profess my love to my fiance by hand making the engagement ring myself. Besides, whatever happened to, "It's the thought that counts."
- nazadus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6As already said, it's like comparing ***** sizes.
What's the point of having all those shiny LED's and stuff in a desktop? None (except for cost, of course). It's about e-penis size.
Same thing. - Software2, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1That's just a myth created by disestablishmentarianists to fuel their anti-corporate agenda. In reality, thought doesn't count at all. Just look at our government!
(Yes, the joke is intentional) - Phyltre, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I have to disagree about the computer LEDs thing, I'm rebuilding my PC tomorrow with some shiny lights but nobody else who knows anything about computers is ever going to see it. Sometimes we just do things for ourselves...
- nazadus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6As already said, it's like comparing ***** sizes.
- EngelJ, on 10/12/2007, -10/+1more informations about the diamond scam
an old 1982 The Atlantic article - EngelJ, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10more information about the diamond scam
an old 1982 The Atlantic article
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond- emjaymj, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Why is this being dugg down?
- excalpius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The previous one was dugg down because he forgot the LINKY!
- Joe_rigby, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2That's a damn long article .. !
- bobotheking, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2Interesting read, but I'm always annoyed by titles that tell me that I don't know something. I knew almost everything on that list. I think putting "What you don't know about..." in your title is just as bad as putting "Addicting" in a game link or "Breaking" in any news link.
- Buelldozer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3That diamonds manage to stay so expensive at retail, while having such a horrible resale value is indicative of how much discretionary income first world societies have. The next time a major depression comes along diamonds will lose most of their value almost overnight, because as the article describes, their value is almost entirely media driven.
- cgruber, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Good timing. I let my wife get the 8 grand Leo she wanted from Kays this weekend. Happy 5 year anniversary.
- vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Look on the bright side, if you are ever strapped for cash you can probably resell it for enough for a nice meal at McDonalds, hell you could probably even supersize at least one of your combos.
- Jozer99, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Cost saving tip: save on your engagement ring by flying to Africa and wading into the cyanide processing pits to find dropped stones!
- Software2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Yeah, but it takes too long to get children to do the polishing for you. DeBeers is like 7-Eleven: they charge a bit more for the convince factor.
- LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3 so there's a digg story on diamonds
if anyone comments "diamond is the hardest metal"
i'm permabanning ben- mrkmrk, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3***** spammer.
- spudnic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Who's Ben? And why will you block him? And what the ***** are you on about?
- mummydigger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Um... diamond is made from carbon, which is not a metal... I'm doing this in grade 9 chem right now... should've thought it was common knowledge.
- TheXeno, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I had no idea
- logicnazi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I've always thought it was way more romantic to give a synthetic diamond than a real one. I'd rather give a symbol of human progress and technical ingenuity than a rock that was found in the ground. Of course I can understand why those of a less technical orientation might not see the romance of a synthetic diamond the way I do but conflict diamonds are just one more reason to go synthetic.
Still, one has to ask if the harm caused by conflict diamonds is worse than the benefit the money from the legitimate diamond trade brings to poor African countries. I think it very well might be but I just don't know.
As an aside this story doesn't seem to really grasp the reason we give diamonds. We give them BECAUSE they have become a symbol of love and permanence in our society AND because they are particularly expensive. It is the very expense of receiving a diamond that makes it a good romantic gesture. By spending the equivalent of several months work on a 'useless' object for your significant other you demonstrate how much they mean to you. If you bought them something functional it wouldn't demonstrate that you were willing to sacrifice that much effort for them (because you could expect something functional in return). This is the same reason it is romantic to give roses and chocolates on V-day but not blenders. - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13My girlfriend works at a jewelry store and insists most of this is false. Who knows though, I'm still pretty iffy on diamonds.
When she was getting trained on how to sell everything in the store, she came home once and asked me a question to show off what she'd learned:
Her: "What is a diamond?"
Me: "Aged and compressed carbon. Glorified pencil lead"
Her: "........ a woman's best friend and a man's best weapon"
I still like my answer best- AlfaWolph, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22Looks like she's been thoroughly brainwashed like the rest of the American public.
- Otto, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11>>>My girlfriend works at a jewelry store and insists most of this is false.
And she's still your girlfriend?
You, sir, have no standards. - Zervas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7your girlfriend is wrong
- crashflow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12"You can't make somebody understand something if their salary depends upon them not understanding it."
- Upton Sinclair - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@Otto:
I have extremely high standards, which is why she _is_ still my girlfriend (after a year+). Her jewelry store job is a temp gig while she waits to get into school. I'd rather she didn't love sparkly things, but it's not a big enough issue to end an excellent relationship.
As for her being wrong, or this article being wrong, I am not qualified to say, and I don't think everyone here should treat this list as fact. "I read it on the Internet" is not the most reliable source of information. - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1
Take for example this "fact"
"Sure De Beers won’t buy diamonds coming out of Cote d’lvoire, but they’ll turn a blind eye to the smuggling of diamonds from there through Ghana and Mali where they are certified as being conflict-free."
Tell me, why would De Beers turn a blind eye to people illegally distributing products that directly compete with them? It would be to their benefit to stop the smuggling, if it is happening. - crashflow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ahawks
De Beers has no mines in Ivory Coast. When the diamonds appear in Ghana and Mali, who will purchase the diamonds? Maybe a company that at one point had a 80% market share of the world's diamonds. Since the diamonds are classified as conflict-free, De Beers gets no bad publicity from purchasing them. Its not competition if you are the end buyer, it just deflects the blame.
- aquax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I'm glad my girlfriend is one of the 3 out of 4 women who prefer a plasma TV over a diamond ring.
http://www.digg.com/tech_news/3_out_of_4_women_now_prefer_a_plasma_tv_to_a_diamond_THANK_YOU_GOD- ornerycat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I must be a freak of nature. I'm a woman, just married, and we both agreed to get simple gold bands since diamonds are a waste of money. I love my ring.
- MewTwo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4to cat, I'm proud of you as a woman. I like the idea of a nice simple band. beautiful.
- skyfire1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I better start weight training so I can palm a plasma tv.
- rspeed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I've brought this up in conversations a few times and the people I was talking to were always shocked (and some even refused to believe me).
If I ever get married, there will not be a diamond on the engagement ring. In fact, I plan to use the emerald ring my grandmother left me in her will. It is worth much more than money to me.- wageslave1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I did much the same thing.
My grandfather lost a ruby from a ring when I was 5-7ish. 10-ish years later, after my Grand father had the ring fixed (stone replaced) my eldest sister found it in the bottom of their fridge. It had apparently sat from the time it came loose, unnoticed for many years. When my eldest sister was a poor student, there was little disposable cash for Xmas gifts; being the eldest, she was always expected to give something. So, one year, she gave me the ruby.
When I finally relented to ask my long loving partner to marry me (another long story about my reluctance to parrot pointless rituals), I had Grandfather's ruby set in a ring that I used to propose.
Actually represents something to us, not some notion learned through the public-propaganda-campaign from a cabal of diamond-hucksters.
***** diamonds, ***** brands and ***** the public discourse dominated by empty, destructive, pro-consumption emotional manipulation -- perfectly embodied by the place "diamonds" possess in the mind of popular culture. - tenibani, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I like the idea of sentimental rings. Be careful with the emerald, however, as they are very soft. They scratch easily and are usually not considered an ideal material to wear on your hand every day. I just don't want you to lose your precious hierloom!
- rspeed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@tenibani
That's why it's an engagement ring, not a wedding ring.
For wedding rings I'd probably want just simple platinum bands.
- wageslave1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I did much the same thing.
- DrunkenCP, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Despite the slightly sensationalist tone of this article, most of the facts are true. A lot of terrible things happen to other people to make diamonds as we see them happen. Pretty soon diamonds will be synthesized, and it will be nearly impossible to tell the difference. Of course, that will just drive up the cost of "real" (read: mined) diamonds. Oh well. If I get engaged, I'm giving my bride-to-be a bottle opener ring.
She'll use it a lot.
Badumm-tsch! - losman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I have a client who is a jeweler and he confirms diamonds are terrible for investment. He recommended gold if you want to invest. Synthetic diamonds will be a boon and hopefully make DeBeers redundant.
- BillDoE, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Actually that is stolen from a James Bond Flick. And what advertisments on tv these days do have any truth to them? Most advertising I see is blatent false advertising desguised as comedy.
- thume, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3If you want to buy a diamond, you could always buy a Canadian one.
- FAT_PIGGY, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2blood diamonds
- Zervas, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0actually I knew all that about diamonds and more. I guess titles telling me what I do and do not know shouldn't tick me off, but they do. Point is; I've been preaching against diamonds for years but try using a rational explanation when telling your fiance why she isn't getting a diamond. it does not go over well. at least I convinced her to go for an antique ring. then the price isn't as jacked up, relatively.
- kmcknight, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I read a book back in elementary school, I can't remember the name, but it was about a guy that goes around the world in a balloon and arrives on a lost island. In that book there was a diamond mine where they slowly released diamonds to the world one by one to keep the value up and I remember the line, if we shipped out all the diamonds we had on a boat right now it would be worth less than a boat load of glass...
- Goombellaofgoom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You're thinking of "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne. A very odd story, but a classic.
- labbrat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2No, you're thinking of "The Twenty-One Balloons" by William Pene du Bois. Loved that book.
- TechCF, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well I did know (it was posted in Wired a year ago or so)
- MewTwo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1yeah, this isn't exactly breaking news. ive known about it for a long time too.
- dohidied, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2My mom uses her diamond to flash light in people's eyes. It's ***** annoying.
- MitchC, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Good for ***** you. You watched the movie 'Blood Diamonds' and translated it into text. Congratu-*****-lations!
- rockmyway, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1excellent... really well written... this makes perfect sense after watching blood diamond...
- JesusIsSatan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I've known diamonds were a marketing scam over a decade ago. Pre-WW II, diamonds were relatively cheap because there was practically no demand for them. It was only when DeBeers came up with the idea of marketing them as engagement rings that the demand skyrocketed. You'd have to ask your grandmother to verify this, but I'm almost certain this is true.
- hudef, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Cubic Zirconia for the win!
- Snowbeam, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2As a kid, I always thought that the romantic thing to do, if I was going to get a diamond, was find the imperfect diamond somewhere on the southern/western edge of the African continent. I would bring it back to my loved one and have it cut for her the way it was meant to be.
Childhood dreams are amazing, they are uncluttered with the destitute or reality. Many countries could have had a fantastic diamond industry and tourism industry just based on resources like diamonds. Imagine, rather than having a monopoly play around with your lands resources, you could have had a portion of those resources being competitively competed over by companies. You could have had another portion that was preserved for the nation as a whole and even a smaller portion that was used in tourism and by tourism, I don't mean the ability to just come and see the mines, but one where you could be involved in the mine by physically going to drill for your own diamond. Who knows, maybe a reality TV show will take that one up some day.
My dream has grown up though, and rather than go hunt for the elusive diamond, we'll have the adventure of a lifetime. Of course, if she insists on a diamond, then so be it. I'll be up the ***** creek. I've always liked the dudes who have their future brides choose between a big wedding or a house. If only there was a way to throw the diamond ring into that bargain too...
I may not like what De Beers have done, but like any other smart organization out there, they queued in on a human need and provided for it. When we as individuals feel fooled by this, we go after a scapegoat to cut down on our own responsibility/culpability in what has been going on. De beers and other organizations in their industries should take fault for their share of the crap the cause, but as individuals, we shouldn't merely think we have washed our own hands clean by now thinking we weren't responsible and were also victims. - YellowDucati, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1http://www.duggmirror.com
- doofusoftheday, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I forget who first said it but, a diamond is forever but a tattoo shows real commitment. Diamonds what a bunch of hooey.
- ornerycat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Yeah!
We need to start a matrimonial tattoo tradition (not you and me specifically, but society in general).
- ornerycat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Yeah!
- AboveBeyond, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1The new tradition should be $3000 flat-screen high-definition TVs for wedding proposals instead from now on. Everyone knows that those area absolutely worth it!
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