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Diamonds Suck (2006)

diamondssuck.com

11–20 of 618 posts

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#11
post #2

The worst part of the diamond industry is how much space is wasted here in New York for diamond stores. Around Midtown there are whole blocks of sketchy diamond stores. No way all are profitable.

I'm sure you appreciate how easy selling diamonds makes avoiding taxes. Diamonds and High-End Art make it nearly impossible to not help launder.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#12
post #4

Great advice. Possibly coming from someone who doesn't have a girlfriend. :) try to give such a stone to a girl and see how amused she is gonna be. You are just gonna sound "cheap". Diamonds are a status, not a beautiful stone. edit: I see many downvotes. Guys, seriously, was it for me, I would buy nothing. It's just how this world works. You can express your anger by downvoting me, I'll be fine, but please don't fal…

Yes, this discussion reappears every time diamonds are mentioned on HN. Pretty brilliant marketing campaign by De Beers, though, that somebody will think you're "cheap" if you don't buy a big enough diamond that somebody dug out of the ground.

In the end it's just a conversation between people who say, "You can't just ignore these social conventions" and people who say "these social conventions are stupid, find someone who isn't so shallow."

If you think everyone falls into one camp or the other, however, then you have a lot to learn.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#13
post #6

Similar arguments can be made about almost any fashion item. People don't buy fashion due to it's great quality, and most of the time not even due to good design, but mostly just to show off.

True of any human vanity.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#15
post #8

After reading about Moissanite I went out and got a nice custom diamond ring. I've seen it in person and sometimes you CAN tell, because of the 'fire' its way more rainbowy than diamond, diamonds are 'whiter' looking. I'm not even opposed to CZ if it looks pretty, but I wanted to give her a diamond and gold, and anything else would have felt like a substitution.

This is what annoys me. The geek and idealist in me doesn't want to give her a diamond because it's not that valuable. Yet, I don't want to be cheap. I don't want her to feel like I don't value her enough.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#16
post #4

Great advice. Possibly coming from someone who doesn't have a girlfriend. :) try to give such a stone to a girl and see how amused she is gonna be. You are just gonna sound "cheap". Diamonds are a status, not a beautiful stone. edit: I see many downvotes. Guys, seriously, was it for me, I would buy nothing. It's just how this world works. You can express your anger by downvoting me, I'll be fine, but please don't fal…

Yea, I know what you mean, but times are changing. Diamonds will eventually be the Fox, or Mink coat. It's not quite there yet though.

There are some enlightened people out there, and then there's the Kardashian. You don't want a Kardashian. They have an expiration date. If you think I'm being sexist; I mean Rob. Yes, the boy who has the personal chef, and cries about his weight. (I like the kid, but I knew I would get blowback. So covered my statement with an easy target.)

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#17
post #4

Great advice. Possibly coming from someone who doesn't have a girlfriend. :) try to give such a stone to a girl and see how amused she is gonna be. You are just gonna sound "cheap". Diamonds are a status, not a beautiful stone. edit: I see many downvotes. Guys, seriously, was it for me, I would buy nothing. It's just how this world works. You can express your anger by downvoting me, I'll be fine, but please don't fal…

I am a woman in a happy, long term relationship. I have issues with your assumption about "girls". I told my boyfriend not to give me a diamond because every aspect of what diamond actually embodies goes against my value.

There are certainly women who adore diamonds, but not every woman does.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#18
> Isn't it amazing (and scary) how brainwashed people are about the "value" of diamonds, even though they're not actually worth that much?

I've never understood this argument. Aren't they worth what people are willing to pay?

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#19
post #18

> Isn't it amazing (and scary) how brainwashed people are about the "value" of diamonds, even though they're not actually worth that much? I've never understood this argument. Aren't they worth what people are willing to pay?

[deleted]

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#20
post #18

> Isn't it amazing (and scary) how brainwashed people are about the "value" of diamonds, even though they're not actually worth that much? I've never understood this argument. Aren't they worth what people are willing to pay?

Yes that is true, what he was saying is that if more people were educated about it, that worth would drop like a rock. Pun intended
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