I am also convinced that diamonds are a scam. If you like the stone and think it is worth it, by all means, go ahead and buy it. I fucking love shiny things too. But really? Have you seen the price for a tiny 1 karat stone on a ring? That is ridiculous, there is no way in hell those stones are rare enough or warrant that kind of price, and even if the cutting process was the reason for the price ( as if it is not completely fucking automated by now). Fuck the diamond industry.
The reflections that moissanite makes are a lot more colorful. I prefer that, but some people may prefer the more subdued colors of diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are similarly priced, so just choose which one you prefer.
Either way, you're getting something lab grown. Almost all moissanite is synthetic because the natural stuff is far rarer than diamond. I don't know why it matters if it's formed naturally or made in a lab anyway (aside from avoiding the blood diamond problem obviously). Is it because we're playing god with diamonds?
For a while they weren't as good. Then they were TOO good. They were identical but the way the inclusions were structured was a giveaway (supposedly, I'm still not sure how true that was).
Now? The biggest giveaway is the lab certificate of authenticity.
Also like why would I care if it was made in a lab instead of obtained through large amounts of human suffering?
And as it is lab grown corundum is good enough for me. Choice in color, low price, and it’s not like I run in circles that have a problem with sapphire
I disagree on the first part. I think diamonds, properly cut diamonds anyway, are very pretty. But they are vastly overvalued and if humanity as a whole gave up on diamonds as an aesthetic item, I wouldn't shed a tear.
Moissanite is by far a better buy. It has more fire for 1/100th the price than a natural diamond.
But I feel like the people saying clear stones like diamond and moissanite aren’t pretty have never seen a clear, well cut, multi karat, example in the sun. The rainbow colors and brilliance from a clear high refraction stone like a diamond is frankly insane. You can see the rainbow colors shooting off of it from like 100 yards away if the lighting is right. No colored stone has quite the same wow factor as a good diamond or moissanite in the right light. That’s why diamonds have historically been in such high demand.
Opal, Alexandrite, and many other stones are equally beautiful in their own way. But it’s weird to make that point by putting down clear stones that are absolutely spectacular.
Because they were brainwashed into believing they're somehow valuable and a good investment that retains its value, despite them actually being neither of those.
It's funny because once the diamond is on the ring and sold it becomes worthless, the metal in the ring may be worth more than the stones after it leaves the store. I had thousands of dollars worth of diamond jewelry and could barely get a few hundred for it.
I am so anti-diamond that if a partner insisted on a diamond ring, I would have to think very hard about the whole relationship. Especially because it's one of the less interesting stones, even ignoring all the scam and ethical issues.
Same. My partner and I are engaged but there's never going to be a diamond in the picture. If they had found the diamond ritual important, we wouldn't be too compatible.
I also cannot deal with rings in general due to sensory issues.
We do want to find some kind of wearable, interesting symbol though.
Ooohhh have you about buying a band and wearing it on a chain around your neck instead? I know people who work with machinery do that to avoid their rings getting caught on the equipment.
I've always thought it was kind of sweet because now your ring hangs close to your heart everyday!
I know it's not the best recommendation, but my partner and I have matching tattoos on our ring fingers. It's a symbol for something we both really really love and it's delicate and sensible enough that no one looks twice. Even if we split, it's not their name or anything and it's still something that means a lot to me on its own and is vague enough to be something I'll still enjoy
Same. I like the whole engagement ring ritual but I’ll be damned if our marriage is going to hinge on my “proving my love” with some overpriced trinket that costs a couple months’ salary and loses 95% of its value when it leaves the store. If that’s what it takes for us to get married it’s not the type of relationship I want in my life.
My wife wore a diamond engagement ring (multiple small diamonds set in a ring), but it belonged to my great-grandmother, so it had value beyond just buying a diamond for the purposes of showing off your engagement. One of the diamonds fell out and got lost, so she stopped wearing it before any of the rest fell out. I would certainly never have bought her a new diamond ring even if I could have afforded one and she wouldn't have wanted me to.
Even before I knew how common diamonds actually are and that their perceived rarity and thus price are bullshit, I wasn't at all interested in shiny rocks. I'm not a fucking bird.
Rare earth gems arent necessarily elements (on the periodic table) diamond is just a form of a common element (carbon) but rare due to the conditions required to turn carbon into diamond (high pressure)
They can also make artificial diamonds that are good enough for jewelry, the perception that lab made diamond is different/worse than diamonds pulled from the ground is just propaganda to keep the artificial scarcity
If any of you want diamond jewelry, be it rings or necklaces or whatever, look up synthetic diamonds. Far cheaper and result is often the same if not better, as its made in controlled environment and perfect conditions it offers.
Synthetic diamonds are practically perfect. So perfect that "real diamond" marketers have pivoted to say that the best diamonds have imperfect, like people.
I have one and it's exquisite. My husband had originally proposed with a dull, heart-shaped blood-diamond that cost him about 10k. I think he could tell that I didn't like it, and told me it could be returned.
I felt bad for not liking the first, but worse about the thought of some poor lil kid digging it up in Africa. We found a synthetic diamond that is PERFECT and glitters like crazy. I'm extremely happy with my synthetic diamond ring. It's the prettiest piece of jewelry that I've ever owned. Highly recommended
I agree diamonds are dumb and overpriced when you can get a better result from moissanite or lab grown.
That said, I’m curious why you assume it’s a blood diamond? Conflict diamonds only account for ~5% of all diamonds in the trade. Russia and Canada combined account for >50% of all rough diamonds in the industry.
Honestly, because diamonds are just cliché, over priced and over made meaning that don't have a real high value and all the other gemstones have gone so unloved over the years. I mean, as a 28 year old man I fucking love my emerald earrings. Ruby ones as well for that matter. Fuck diamonds my dudes puts some color in the bling.
I am wearing opal right now. Diamond are just kind of meh.
I worked in diamond exploration for years. We joked that we were turning diesel into diamonds -- just not through compression. Seriously kids, buy a lab diamond if you want one.
I remember applying online for work study jobs as a freshman. Every single application required me to provide three references, but I could only give two (maybe that sounds weird, but just take my word for it lol). I ended up just filling the third with N/As, except they had to fit the input requirements so it was weird stuff like "[email protected]". I put a note in the comments at the end to explain it, but I only heard back from two of the dozens of positions I applied for, and I couldn't help but think that was a reason. But idk, what else was I supposed to do? ಠಿ_ಠ
It all worked out tho, and I absolutely love the job I have now. And thank fuck, I'll have no shortage of references next time. Thanks for reading if you got this far lmao.
My wedding band is titanium and wood ($17).
My wife's is silver and cubic zirconia cast as Nenya, Galadriel's ring from LotR and made by WETA Workshop, who did the movie props ($75).
So much cooler than gold and diamonds => 3 months salary, at least for us.
It's a boring stone that is basically just very hard to scratch and it's other thing is being expensive. It is basically the most unimaginative gem you can buy. It's not even really rare
Even if you got money for jewelry why pick the boring pointy piece of glass? There are gems and materials so much cooler than diamonds. My personal favourite is jade.
I am also convinced that diamonds are a scam. If you like the stone and think it is worth it, by all means, go ahead and buy it. I fucking love shiny things too. But really? Have you seen the price for a tiny 1 karat stone on a ring? That is ridiculous, there is no way in hell those stones are rare enough or warrant that kind of price, and even if the cutting process was the reason for the price ( as if it is not completely fucking automated by now). Fuck the diamond industry.
Moissanite is the same, fraction of the price. DeBeers can suck it
I think they're better. Way more fire, less brittle, and a more unique and much rarer stone.
First discovered 120 years ago in very tiny amounts in a meteorite crater, it wasn't till the 90s that you could actually get a moissanite gemstone.
The reflections that moissanite makes are a lot more colorful. I prefer that, but some people may prefer the more subdued colors of diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are similarly priced, so just choose which one you prefer.
Either way, you're getting something lab grown. Almost all moissanite is synthetic because the natural stuff is far rarer than diamond. I don't know why it matters if it's formed naturally or made in a lab anyway (aside from avoiding the blood diamond problem obviously). Is it because we're playing god with diamonds?
A whatanite 🤨?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_1sKwajEOZM
Also, all the violence involved in the industry. I prefer my sparkly shit to involve less blood.
It's definitely a scam, because they gained their value through manipulation as well as artificial and controlled rarity.
For a while they weren't as good. Then they were TOO good. They were identical but the way the inclusions were structured was a giveaway (supposedly, I'm still not sure how true that was).
Now? The biggest giveaway is the lab certificate of authenticity.
Also like why would I care if it was made in a lab instead of obtained through large amounts of human suffering?
And as it is lab grown corundum is good enough for me. Choice in color, low price, and it’s not like I run in circles that have a problem with sapphire
There's a whole book about the scam and it's available online:
https://www.2facetruth.com/diamond-invention/prologue.htm
Was a very good read before I proposed.
diamonds aren't even that pretty, like oh wow how impressive, a bit of particularly reflective glass..
meanwhile there's minerals like labradorite or opal that have actually interesting optical effects and CHANGE COLOUR, for a fraction of the price.
I disagree on the first part. I think diamonds, properly cut diamonds anyway, are very pretty. But they are vastly overvalued and if humanity as a whole gave up on diamonds as an aesthetic item, I wouldn't shed a tear.
Moissanite is by far a better buy. It has more fire for 1/100th the price than a natural diamond.
But I feel like the people saying clear stones like diamond and moissanite aren’t pretty have never seen a clear, well cut, multi karat, example in the sun. The rainbow colors and brilliance from a clear high refraction stone like a diamond is frankly insane. You can see the rainbow colors shooting off of it from like 100 yards away if the lighting is right. No colored stone has quite the same wow factor as a good diamond or moissanite in the right light. That’s why diamonds have historically been in such high demand.
Opal, Alexandrite, and many other stones are equally beautiful in their own way. But it’s weird to make that point by putting down clear stones that are absolutely spectacular.
Spending too much on therapy currently
Boomers are buying diamonds - why?
Because they were brainwashed into believing they're somehow valuable and a good investment that retains its value, despite them actually being neither of those.
It's funny because once the diamond is on the ring and sold it becomes worthless, the metal in the ring may be worth more than the stones after it leaves the store. I had thousands of dollars worth of diamond jewelry and could barely get a few hundred for it.
I am so anti-diamond that if a partner insisted on a diamond ring, I would have to think very hard about the whole relationship. Especially because it's one of the less interesting stones, even ignoring all the scam and ethical issues.
Same. My partner and I are engaged but there's never going to be a diamond in the picture. If they had found the diamond ritual important, we wouldn't be too compatible.
I also cannot deal with rings in general due to sensory issues.
We do want to find some kind of wearable, interesting symbol though.
Ooohhh have you about buying a band and wearing it on a chain around your neck instead? I know people who work with machinery do that to avoid their rings getting caught on the equipment.
I've always thought it was kind of sweet because now your ring hangs close to your heart everyday!
I know it's not the best recommendation, but my partner and I have matching tattoos on our ring fingers. It's a symbol for something we both really really love and it's delicate and sensible enough that no one looks twice. Even if we split, it's not their name or anything and it's still something that means a lot to me on its own and is vague enough to be something I'll still enjoy
Same. I like the whole engagement ring ritual but I’ll be damned if our marriage is going to hinge on my “proving my love” with some overpriced trinket that costs a couple months’ salary and loses 95% of its value when it leaves the store. If that’s what it takes for us to get married it’s not the type of relationship I want in my life.
My wife wore a diamond engagement ring (multiple small diamonds set in a ring), but it belonged to my great-grandmother, so it had value beyond just buying a diamond for the purposes of showing off your engagement. One of the diamonds fell out and got lost, so she stopped wearing it before any of the rest fell out. I would certainly never have bought her a new diamond ring even if I could have afforded one and she wouldn't have wanted me to.
oxidized titanium rings are better in literally every single way
Even before I knew how common diamonds actually are and that their perceived rarity and thus price are bullshit, I wasn't at all interested in shiny rocks. I'm not a fucking bird.
I love shiny rocks. But diamonds are boring.
Cries in Gorilla Tag
millennials aren't buying a rare earth gem that has its price and value artificially increased for maximum profits*
Isn't it not rare earth as it doesn't contain rare earth elements
Rare earth gems arent necessarily elements (on the periodic table) diamond is just a form of a common element (carbon) but rare due to the conditions required to turn carbon into diamond (high pressure)
My wife wanted amethyst because "everyone gets a diamond ring. And it's purple!" It was also very cost effective.
Also...they're less likely to be morons who live their lives based on television commercials made by con artists
Because diamonds are dumb as fuck
-Gen Z
Have they tried marketing discolored green ones as "Avocado Diamonds"?
I mean what does the diamond do besides just sit there and be pretty?
For the same money, I can buy a model train
They can cut glass very easily. But they can make artificial diamond good enough for that in a factory.
Think it’d rather take the artificial diamond cutters
They can also make artificial diamonds that are good enough for jewelry, the perception that lab made diamond is different/worse than diamonds pulled from the ground is just propaganda to keep the artificial scarcity
Shit you’re right..
For the same money I can buy a model. Why pretend it's not transactional when it is?
Huh?
For the same reason I only put $10 of fuel in at a time .. I'M BROKE BITCH!
$7 Today. The price was down to 2.58/gallon though. Win
Sure, but if you only put in $9 of fuel in that tank and saved that $1 for a diamond, you could get her that diamond ring in 50... 80 years tops!
If any of you want diamond jewelry, be it rings or necklaces or whatever, look up synthetic diamonds. Far cheaper and result is often the same if not better, as its made in controlled environment and perfect conditions it offers.
Synthetic diamonds are practically perfect. So perfect that "real diamond" marketers have pivoted to say that the best diamonds have imperfect, like people.
I have one and it's exquisite. My husband had originally proposed with a dull, heart-shaped blood-diamond that cost him about 10k. I think he could tell that I didn't like it, and told me it could be returned.
I felt bad for not liking the first, but worse about the thought of some poor lil kid digging it up in Africa. We found a synthetic diamond that is PERFECT and glitters like crazy. I'm extremely happy with my synthetic diamond ring. It's the prettiest piece of jewelry that I've ever owned. Highly recommended
I agree diamonds are dumb and overpriced when you can get a better result from moissanite or lab grown.
That said, I’m curious why you assume it’s a blood diamond? Conflict diamonds only account for ~5% of all diamonds in the trade. Russia and Canada combined account for >50% of all rough diamonds in the industry.
Idk, I'm an x-South African so call it guilt?
Yeah, moissanite is more brilliant and made form SiC which I think is really cool from an electronics standpoint.
Honestly, because diamonds are just cliché, over priced and over made meaning that don't have a real high value and all the other gemstones have gone so unloved over the years. I mean, as a 28 year old man I fucking love my emerald earrings. Ruby ones as well for that matter. Fuck diamonds my dudes puts some color in the bling.
I am wearing opal right now. Diamond are just kind of meh.
Not falling for Debeers ads anymore probably.
I worked in diamond exploration for years. We joked that we were turning diesel into diamonds -- just not through compression. Seriously kids, buy a lab diamond if you want one.
Also they're expensive as fuck
Yeah, well maybe if you stopped eating avocado toast, you could afford that expensive as fuck diamond!
maybe they know about blood diamonds and don't care about shiny things that serve no purpose.
Im almost certain eternally filling out myworkday applications will be my personal hell
Don’t forget to answer every question on the application.
See the resume attached.
See the resume attached.
See the resume attached.
See the resume attached.
See the fucking resume attached.
Aaaaand I didn't get the job.
I remember applying online for work study jobs as a freshman. Every single application required me to provide three references, but I could only give two (maybe that sounds weird, but just take my word for it lol). I ended up just filling the third with N/As, except they had to fit the input requirements so it was weird stuff like "[email protected]". I put a note in the comments at the end to explain it, but I only heard back from two of the dozens of positions I applied for, and I couldn't help but think that was a reason. But idk, what else was I supposed to do? ಠಿ_ಠ
It all worked out tho, and I absolutely love the job I have now. And thank fuck, I'll have no shortage of references next time. Thanks for reading if you got this far lmao.
I like the job I have now, too, but I barely got it. If I ever want to leave, I have no idea who to ask to be a reference.
The LinkedIn will continue until a resume standard is accepted.
Other gemstones are not getting enough love. I would love to have a cool topaz ring.
My wedding band is titanium and wood ($17). My wife's is silver and cubic zirconia cast as Nenya, Galadriel's ring from LotR and made by WETA Workshop, who did the movie props ($75).
So much cooler than gold and diamonds => 3 months salary, at least for us.
I've heard there are dope synthetic gemstones that are also cheaper to produce
Because inflation is up and minimum wage has barely changed fir better or worse.
It's a boring stone that is basically just very hard to scratch and it's other thing is being expensive. It is basically the most unimaginative gem you can buy. It's not even really rare
Cuz why would I buy an allotropic modification of carbon, it's all around me. Hell, I'm made from it.
Investing in gold on the other hand... yeah, that makes sense.
Even if you got money for jewelry why pick the boring pointy piece of glass? There are gems and materials so much cooler than diamonds. My personal favourite is jade.
Amethysts best. The big grape croncher.
Classic, you can tell because the people in it look like 2013 hipsters
That job application issue has been around a long time. It's not a millenial ssue.