Diamonds Suck (2006)

#1

Post by nsomaru » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:14 AM UTC

Diamonds Suck (2006)
diamondssuck.com

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#2

Post by icebraining » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:50 AM UTC

Previous discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12944464

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#3

Post by nailer » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:51 AM UTC

Another option: second hand diamonds, which diamond merchants will tell you don't exist. People die, if they don't pass their stones onto their children, this is where they end up.

Sotheby's jewelly auctions. Know what you want, buy stones and ignore settings (they'll be dated and you can sell the metals), and know you're the only retail customer in a room full of diamond merchants.

Another option: get a house deposit and work on building an eventual family with your woman rather than provide her with trinkets.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#4

Post by isostatic » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:54 AM UTC

> If I can prevent a single reader from needlessly dropping $6,000-10,000+ on a diamond engagement ring, this site will be a success. Financial worries are the #1 cause of stress in a married relationship - there is absolutely NO excuse to start your married life by taking on that level of debt.

Average U.S. wedding cost $30k in 2014, while the average engagement ring was $5600, or 19% of the cost [0]

https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-of-wedding

While reducing/eliminating the cost of the ring is a big saving, the entire wedding industry is a shocking way to start your marriage (especially given about half will end in divorce)

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#5

Post by maaaats » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:55 AM UTC

What is the difference between a diamond and an expensive handbag or other accessory?

If a thing is worth what people pay, how come diamonds are a scam and other items not?

I have a hard time grasping this everytime an anti-diamond article pops up. I can see the logic in not using that kind of money on a ring, but not what's so special about the price/scarcity/fashion of diamonds compared to other luxury goods.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#6

Post by charlesdm » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:56 AM UTC

isostatic wrote: post #4

> If I can prevent a single reader from needlessly dropping $6,000-10,000+ on a diamond engagement ring, this site will be a success. Financial worries are the #1 cause of stress in a married relationship - there is absolutely NO excuse to start your married life by taking on that level of debt. Average U.S. wedding cost $30k in 2014, while the average engagement ring was $5600, or 19% of the cost [0] https://www.val…

Not everything is about money though. Want to have an extravagant wedding? Fine. Want something basic? Also fine.

Yes: diamonds, jewellery, mechanical watches etc are all bad value for money. People don't buy them because they're bad value. They buy them because they like wearing them, and women buy jewellery because it makes them feel pretty.

That's life. It's fine throwing money away sometime.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#7

Post by mehwoot » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:57 AM UTC

If you think that solely the physical properties of the stone are what matters then you dont understand the point of an engagement ring.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#8

Post by kuschku » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:58 AM UTC

maaaats wrote: post #5

What is the difference between a diamond and an expensive handbag or other accessory? If a thing is worth what people pay, how come diamonds are a scam and other items not? I have a hard time grasping this everytime an anti-diamond article pops up. I can see the logic in not using that kind of money on a ring, but not what's so special about the price/scarcity/fashion of diamonds compared to other luxury goods.

Natural diamonds are exactly the same as synthetic ones. Except you have to pay much more, and people have to suffer unnecessarily in mines for it.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#9

Post by starbugs » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:58 AM UTC

maaaats wrote: post #5

What is the difference between a diamond and an expensive handbag or other accessory? If a thing is worth what people pay, how come diamonds are a scam and other items not? I have a hard time grasping this everytime an anti-diamond article pops up. I can see the logic in not using that kind of money on a ring, but not what's so special about the price/scarcity/fashion of diamonds compared to other luxury goods.

Who said that other items are not a scam as well?

I think the point the author is trying to make is that you can invest your money more wisely if you buy something that retains its value instead of depreciating drastically the moment you close the transaction.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#10

Post by chrisseaton » Wed, May 30, 2018, 10:58 AM UTC

People who are against diamonds seem extremely aggressive about making sure other people agree with them and validate their opinions.

I can't imagine making a website about any of my jewellery preferences (short of ethical, which isn't mentioned prominently here).