20 Jan 2003 | ML said...

I know what you're thinking. "It's not that bad." It's just a joke, and I'm taking it too seriously. But how can you look at a list on the industry's own marketing website and see "Of course there?s a return on your investment. We just can?t print it here." and not be aware that they're selling, along with war and market dominance, dysfunction. Want your materialistic, easily-misled wife to stop being such a frigid bitch? Buy her a diamond! Did your husband decide to increase your consumer debt in order to buy you a pair of earrings that were mined at gunpoint by children in Africa? Reward him with grudging sex and a temporary cessation of your relentless nagging!

Pretty funny.

20 Jan 2003 | Dave said...

I'll voice up & say that I puropsely did not purchase a diamond for my wife. Instead, I bought an antique blue saphire for about 1 weeks salary :-)

I have never understood the diamond thing, and I think big rings are down right ugly. Maybe if you have really fat fingers. Besides, this is dead on about the materialism. If the person getting the ring is concerned about the size/cost/etc., maybe you should really think about what you are getting into...

20 Jan 2003 | fajalar said...

Our rings cost 22$ a piece. Nice silver bands with celtic design.

I have no need to show the world that I own my wife and that I have the wife-currency to prove it.

I will never buy a diamond. Suck on that you cartel owners.

20 Jan 2003 | JF said...

I have no need to show the world that I own my wife and that I have the wife-currency to prove it.

But what do her friends think? ;)

20 Jan 2003 | Cade Roux said...

My fiance picked out a vintage diamond in a platinum setting (about 80 years old) herself which fits her beautifully (without sizing) at just under $4000. It was both less expensive and much smaller carat than I expected, has more personality than the 1 carat "rock"s most people seem to expect these days, and is very fiery (despite being an old european cut) and far more perfect than anything I could have picked myself.

20 Jan 2003 | pb said...

I think it's definitely time for the diamond thing to wear down, sort of like fur. The funny thing about dash's comment list is that while everyone was apparently in agreement, you know they are in the distinct minority (or lying). What are the alternatives? Vintage? Less expensive materials? Nothing?

Considering people like diamonds only because the *are* diamonds, cubic zirconium (or whatever) is a joke.

21 Jan 2003 | alisha said...

hes right.
but youll never change people. when diamonds are no longer in, theyll find something else to squander thier money on. When we bought our rings, I wanted a gold band and Peter wanted a titanium band. It was hard to find a jeweler who was willing to do it because titanium isnt a "precious metal" (even though its 3 times harder than steel), and has "no business being a wedding ring".

21 Jan 2003 | Don Schenck said...

My one back issue of Robb Report has this article ... oh never mind.

I like diamonds. Yankee Stadium's my favorite *grin*.

21 Jan 2003 | Chris said...

There was a documentary a few years ago about blood diamonds. They summed it up well: the Western worlds ultimate symbol of love is Africa's ultimate symbol of hate.

21 Jan 2003 | Chris, again... said...

Another thing, this past Christmas there were some stats circulating about the preferred gifts for women. Apparently high-definition television has replaced diamonds as the number one choice for desired gifts.

21 Jan 2003 | fajalar said...

I have no need to show the world that I own my wife and that I have the wife-currency to prove it.

But what do her friends think? ;)

Friends? Oh, I don't allow her to have friends. :P;)

I will add, though, that we did spend about 2500$ on a honeymoon to London and Edinburgh. Much more worth the money.

A diamond may last forever, but memories... um... fade with time?

21 Jan 2003 | Devin said...

Here is little video everyone might want to watch. GNN - A Diamond life

21 Jan 2003 | SU said...

Here is little video everyone might want to watch.

Incredible video, but not for the squeamish. They really mean "violent" and "graphic" when they warn you initially.

We bitch and moan about Microsoft and how they stifle competition in the computer software industry while letting companies like DeBeers off the hook for fostering violent acts like those in Sierra Leone. It's far too easy, sometimes, to lose perspective on the bigger issues throughout the world.

21 Jan 2003 | Don Schenck said...

Nobody cares about Sierra Leone, since it's in Africa.

Sucks, doesn't it?

22 Jan 2003 | Dave said...

Well, I can say that my wife has gotten more comments on her vintage blue saphire (see above post) than on any $800 diamond I could have bought :-) Can you even see an $800 diamond?

She often uses it as a chance to bring up exactly what is at issue, the violence done to humans just to bring these little stones to us. However, most people are unimpressed...

22 Jan 2003 | ~bc said...

I agree, but we are in the distinct minority: that's because most people just don't know and ignorance is bliss. They don't want to listen to downers, either. Additionally, I was thinking of the DeBeers v Microsoft comparison myself, thinking as "evil" as M$ is, they don't even know evil like diamond co's and oil co's in Africa do. It's just like colonial times there in many places. It's awful, and it ain't going to change but slowly, and if each of us "acts locally" by boycotting diamonds, conserving fuel (alt energy/ alt transportation) and avoid buying M$ (though next to diamonds and oil, this seems downright silly) then they'll slowly lose their power. And unfortunately, slowly is the only way humans and our actions ever change?

Stay the course, folks.

13 Jan 2004 | motorola said...

Mein Hobby ist es Gästebücher zu besuchen. Das ist immer ganz interessant und widerspiegelt so, was die Leute im Internet wirklich denken. War auch interessant bei Dir ! Bis zum nächsten Mal. All The Best OfNew Year. Sorry for my english i'am from Germany.

13 Jan 2004 | bramka sms said...

Mein Hobby ist es Gästebücher zu besuchen. Das ist immer ganz interessant und widerspiegelt so, was die Leute im Internet wirklich denken. War auch interessant bei Dir ! Bis zum nächsten Mal. All The Best OfNew Year. Sorry for my english i'am from Germany.