Comments on: Synthetic Diamonds: The Future of Bling? http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/ Everything That's Wrong With You And Your Money Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Funny about Money http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/comment-page-1/#comment-2831 Funny about Money Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:29:51 +0000 http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/#comment-2831 IMHO, Dunkin' Donuts' coffee is better than McDonalds, and far better than Starbucks. The whole "diamonds are forever" thing is a manufactured folkway created by DeBeers' advertising and PR people. It is, in a word, a rip. If you want a clear sparkly stone on your finger, by all means get a synthetic one: it's a lot less questionable morally and a lot more reasonable financially. Or...how's about just a nice plain gold band? Will you be any less loved? If so, should you...well...maybe reconsider the whole affair? .-= Funny about Money´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/funny-about-money/funny/~3/U9ZJVNnWjHA/" rel="nofollow">Saved! Benefits cover without bankrupting</a> =-. IMHO, Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee is better than McDonalds, and far better than Starbucks.

The whole “diamonds are forever” thing is a manufactured folkway created by DeBeers’ advertising and PR people. It is, in a word, a rip. If you want a clear sparkly stone on your finger, by all means get a synthetic one: it’s a lot less questionable morally and a lot more reasonable financially.

Or…how’s about just a nice plain gold band? Will you be any less loved? If so, should you…well…maybe reconsider the whole affair?
.-= Funny about Money´s last blog ..Saved! Benefits cover without bankrupting =-.

]]> By: Dan Isaacs http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/comment-page-1/#comment-2818 Dan Isaacs Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:39:25 +0000 http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/#comment-2818 Ha. DeBeers obviously has a vested interest in perpetuating the idea that some difference exists between lab-grown and Africa-exploited diamonds. They are the same thing, however. DeBeers has a near monopoly, and synthetics are a threat to that. You can pay more for the ones dug out of mine in Nambia, or pay less for ones made in the USA. Not only do you pay less, but you can rest easy knowing your compressed carbon had much less carbon emitted to the atmosphere during it's travels your finger. Ha. DeBeers obviously has a vested interest in perpetuating the idea that some difference exists between lab-grown and Africa-exploited diamonds. They are the same thing, however.

DeBeers has a near monopoly, and synthetics are a threat to that. You can pay more for the ones dug out of mine in Nambia, or pay less for ones made in the USA. Not only do you pay less, but you can rest easy knowing your compressed carbon had much less carbon emitted to the atmosphere during it’s travels your finger.

]]> By: Dave C. http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/comment-page-1/#comment-2809 Dave C. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:20:16 +0000 http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/#comment-2809 The diamond engagement ring is as much of status symbol for the woman as it is for the man, maybe even more so for the man. In a way, it indicates that he is so successful that he can "waste" money on an extravagance that accomplishes nothing but look pretty, and still not even get to wear it himself. Personally, I don't feel it is a waste, but some people would argue that the money would be better spent on a down payment for a home. .-= Dave C.´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.ihopetoretiresomeday.com/2009/08/first-step-towards-planning-for.html" rel="nofollow">The First Step Towards Planning For Retirement</a> =-. The diamond engagement ring is as much of status symbol for the woman as it is for the man, maybe even more so for the man. In a way, it indicates that he is so successful that he can “waste” money on an extravagance that accomplishes nothing but look pretty, and still not even get to wear it himself.

Personally, I don’t feel it is a waste, but some people would argue that the money would be better spent on a down payment for a home.
.-= Dave C.´s last blog ..The First Step Towards Planning For Retirement =-.

]]> By: Alexandra http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/comment-page-1/#comment-2808 Alexandra Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:05:27 +0000 http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/#comment-2808 I wish I could trade in my real diamond for a fake or synthetic and invest the difference. I really couldn't care less, but strangely, it's my husband who balks at it. To him, it's a symbol of his hard work and for some reason he just can't give it up. I wish I could trade in my real diamond for a fake or synthetic and invest the difference. I really couldn’t care less, but strangely, it’s my husband who balks at it. To him, it’s a symbol of his hard work and for some reason he just can’t give it up.

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/comment-page-1/#comment-2807 Mrs. Micah Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:30:15 +0000 http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/#comment-2807 If it sparkles, I'd rather have a synthetic one (mine is 2nd-hand). I think it'll help people conform to the usual social mores without feeling guilty about the diamond trade and therefore I think it'll start catching on. .-= Mrs. Micah´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrsMicah/~3/gB2O782XQac/" rel="nofollow">9 Small College Expenses that Add Up to Big Bucks</a> =-. If it sparkles, I’d rather have a synthetic one (mine is 2nd-hand). I think it’ll help people conform to the usual social mores without feeling guilty about the diamond trade and therefore I think it’ll start catching on.
.-= Mrs. Micah´s last blog ..9 Small College Expenses that Add Up to Big Bucks =-.

]]> By: LifeExcursion http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/comment-page-1/#comment-2803 LifeExcursion Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:35:43 +0000 http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/#comment-2803 I wish some rapper would start a trend of no bling....But that may be too outlandish.... Thanks for the info in this post. I wish some rapper would start a trend of no bling….But that may be too outlandish….

Thanks for the info in this post.

]]> By: shortymike http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/comment-page-1/#comment-2802 shortymike Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:54:31 +0000 http://weakonomics.com/2009/08/12/synthetic-diamonds-the-future-of-bling/#comment-2802 I think that "synthetic" diamonds will be used more and more as time goes on. As consumers become more aware of the social implications that go into buying a diamond other alternatives will become more viable. Whether this be buying diamonds from Canada or ones grown in a lab, I think people will try to avoid practices that may put other people's lives in danger. (I'm not saying it's morally wrong to buy mined diamonds; it's just hard to make sure you're not funding terrorism or slavery). What De Beers is doing now is marketing the story. This is used to sell all kinds of higher margin items from milk to cars. Personally, I don't buy into it. Scientifically there isn't a quality issue so I'm sure to buy these knock-off real diamonds. I think that “synthetic” diamonds will be used more and more as time goes on. As consumers become more aware of the social implications that go into buying a diamond other alternatives will become more viable. Whether this be buying diamonds from Canada or ones grown in a lab, I think people will try to avoid practices that may put other people’s lives in danger. (I’m not saying it’s morally wrong to buy mined diamonds; it’s just hard to make sure you’re not funding terrorism or slavery).

What De Beers is doing now is marketing the story. This is used to sell all kinds of higher margin items from milk to cars. Personally, I don’t buy into it. Scientifically there isn’t a quality issue so I’m sure to buy these knock-off real diamonds.

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