Subscribe Feed (RSS)Do women realize that diamonds are not even slightly “rare”?
March 12th, 2008 by admin | Filed under Other - Society & Culture.
Ordin asked:
Enough exist for every man woman and child on earth to have a cupful.
In other words we only have high prices because DeBeers (much like other industries ex. OPEC) controls world supply. Isn’t it time we stop giving money to a company that built its empire on slave labor and violent conflict (although they have actually taken steps to improve this)?
Enough exist for every man woman and child on earth to have a cupful.
In other words we only have high prices because DeBeers (much like other industries ex. OPEC) controls world supply. Isn’t it time we stop giving money to a company that built its empire on slave labor and violent conflict (although they have actually taken steps to improve this)?
PS. A man made diamond (NOT a CZ but literally the same exact material….its not LIKE a diamond it IS a diamond) is now about 1/3 - 1/4 the price and the difference? Man made diamonds are “too perfect” 
Perls are becoming increasing rare . Hold on to the real ones . You may need them some day.
I realize that they are not rare but there again I don’t ware them either.
First, its not just women who want or wear diamonds.
Second, you’re right - its an ingrained cultural habit that has been acquired over many years of propaganda from companies like DeBeers, to want diamonds.
Third, I, personally, find other gemstones more attractive than diamonds. I think an ad campaign needs to be started so everyone can concentrate on getting the majority of their jewelry with the gems THEY like the best, rather than the one that is advertised most often. That way opals, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, amethysts, etc. will all start to eat away at the market share of diamonds & the wealth will be spread around more evenly.
Fourth, unless someone is a REAL expert on diamonds, I doubt they could tell just by looking at a ring someone was wearing whether it was real or man-made.
I think it is less the rarity of the gem that makes them so alluring, but the refraction of light within.
Humans have always loved light and anything that played with it.
Oh, and also: women probably like the idea that you splashed out to buy them something that has no use other than decoration. It’s a gesture of sacrifice on your part to spend so much money on that, rather than an electric drill, for example, or new insulation for your house.
Personally, I don’t really like diamonds. Although the way they are made is fascinating to me - both synthetic and natural diamonds (or almost any gemstone).
You are correct, not many people realize diamonds are plentyful. But DeBeers and others do not want us to know this..I think there is a 300% mark up on diamonds
Diamonds ARE rare through their growth 140 to 190 km below the earth’s surface, through delivery by accident and in just a few locations. We are lucky to be alive while they are lying on the earth’s surface. Pure accidental !
De Beers did control the market supply long ago, now they do not anymore, as there are a handful of big players in the mining business : BHP,RioTinto, Alrosa, De Beers, …. Exactly like in iron ore, aluminium, oil, gold, platinum, … so that could mean it is normal. Indeed, because the mining costs are enormous, not even counting exploration and development costs before you mine. This costs make sure the diamonds are costly. Big mark ups, come on, grow up, huge risks, enormous investments and small margins ! Face economic reality. By the way, Microsoft is an example of what I call a oligopoly / monopoly, and most people call that now smart marketing, tolerate it.
You do not NEED to buy diamonds so why would you care then ?
However, lab created diamonds are basically not produced for jewelry use at all but for industrial purposes as they permit production of calibrated sizes.
The use of lab created diamonds in jewelry means nothing to me and represents in my opinion no value in long term. They are diamonds indeed, but I need to meet the first big collector or any buyer that asks me for them ! And I deal in big and rare ones. It is clear these customers do not want synthetics at all. I think nothing can beat the real thing here …