Diamonds. Will you spend a lot of money for something that is as common as rubies?
September 17th, 2007
Ridin’ Dirty asked:
After the movie blood diamond came out a lot of people became aware of how people died to mind for diamonds. Not only that but companies like Van Der Kamp and Debeers (sp.) keep diamonds from curculation so that the prices will stay high so that the consumer pays way more then the diamonds are really worth. As many diamonds that there are in the world a good sized ‘rock’ should cost no more than 20-50 dollars. Are you still willing to pay for a diamond that is extremely high priced and could have cost someone their life? And if so why?
Diamonds are not that special, why not a ruby, or a saphire or some other more attractive gem? Diamonds are over rated!
i have known about this subject since 1992 actually. Thanks
After the movie blood diamond came out a lot of people became aware of how people died to mind for diamonds. Not only that but companies like Van Der Kamp and Debeers (sp.) keep diamonds from curculation so that the prices will stay high so that the consumer pays way more then the diamonds are really worth. As many diamonds that there are in the world a good sized ‘rock’ should cost no more than 20-50 dollars. Are you still willing to pay for a diamond that is extremely high priced and could have cost someone their life? And if so why?
Diamonds are not that special, why not a ruby, or a saphire or some other more attractive gem? Diamonds are over rated!
i have known about this subject since 1992 actually. Thanks
Entry Filed under: Diamonds
7 Comments
1. gloria w | September 18th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Its funny that it takes a entertainment movie for people to become more educated of their consumerism!
2. George D | September 19th, 2007 at 7:43 am
I love them all. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires.
3. Get It Man | September 19th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
There are other places where diamonds are found besides Africa. Like Northern Asia, I don’t know if there is a war occuring there though.
4. Allan | September 21st, 2007 at 8:32 am
I agree with you that diamonds are over-hyped. But, it is untrue that they are not unique and relatively rare. It is the hardest stone on earth. Only another diamond can be used to measure the hardness of a diamon.
Here is the American Museum of Natural History’s description of diamonds:
5. romans_r_us | September 22nd, 2007 at 2:55 am
On really? wait a darn minute….! did you just compare {DIAMONDS} to [Rubies]? why stop there?
6. KevinStud99 | September 22nd, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Then I must be real morally enlightened because I don’t give a crap about diamonds. I’d much rather have a good burrito, or a video of a gorilla fighting a grizzly bear to the death. Now that would be cool.
If the ladies and the rappers weren’t so obsessed with diamonds, we could all do without.
7. dunny456 | September 24th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Diamonds are fairly rare, but have only been more valuable than pearls for about 100 years or so. However, you are right that DeBeers (which is not a company, but a cartel and therefore cannot even have offices in the US), which controls about 90% of the diamond market vastly overprices them. They have been able to do this through an extremely aggressive and clever marketing campaign which has driven up demand, because women like them, and men like to get laid. Basically, society (esp American society) has been completely doped into believing that a man doesn’t love a woman unless he forks over 2 months salary (for someone making $60,000/year that’s $10,000) for something which has absolutely no inherent value or use whatsoever. I wouldn’t have as much of a problem with this part of it if it wasn’t viewed as basically a necessity to buy a diamond ring when you propose to a woman.
The second big problem here–as seen in Blood Diamond–is that the diamond industry shamelessly exploits and oppresses the people who mine them.
Personally, I don’t plan on having any part in perpetuating either of these completely idiotic practices.