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The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

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Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#151

Post by paulddraper »

forgetfreeman wrote: post #149
xivzgrev wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guys, buying diamonds, can complain all day about what a rip off it is (it is). But if you apprise your fiancé of the alternatives / opp costs (moissanite, man made, second hand, etc) and she still wants a new diamond, just get her a new diamond. It will make her happy for years. My wife had her heart set on a pink diamond, so that’s what I got her. I made it clear though that if I got this, she is not getting a new…

Better advice: upgrade to a fiance that isn't distracted by pointless bling.

oh yes preference for a diamond ring is definitely a dealbreaker

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#152

Post by philwelch »

renegade-otter wrote: post #131
jamiek88 wrote: post #4

Has anyone ever tried to sell an engagement or wedding ring with diamonds? You get cents on the dollar. Even or I should say especially brand names like Tiffany. The whole thing is a scam from start to finish and I wish I could go back in time and avoid the entire thing.

That's the whole idea. There is no secondary market for diamonds - it's not a scarce resource. Scarcity is completely artificial, combined with decades of marketing campaigns. "Diamonds are forever". Yeah, they are - because once you buy it, you can't really sell it to break even, let alone make a profit. Gold has natural market price fluctuations at least.

No, there has to be a secondary market somewhere because professional diamond theft is a thing. So they have to be able to fence the diamonds somewhere. And this isn't a small time thing, either; there have been a few diamond heists in the past couple of decades in the tens of millions of dollars/pounds/euros each, involving serious professional criminals.

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#153

Post by jonkho »

cactusplant7374 wrote: post #95
WheelsAtLarge wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tend to agree. This falls in the same realm as a fancy wedding versus a trip to a courthouse to get married. Some couples are fine with going to a courthouse, others will never accept it even if they have to borrow to accomplish it. When it comes to big weddings there is no such thing as a smart expense. Most couples would be better off by going to a judge to get married but that just can't be accepted by many. Dia…

I guess if they are desperate to get married they do whatever. Of they can discuss expectations at the beginning of the relationship like they do with other goals (i.e. kids or no kids).

They literally paying to go to the clink. Nothing that a marriage license permits you to do that you can’t do without one. Except you can be liable to get sued when the relationship ends. Literally the only differentiator of significance.

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#154

Post by thsksbd »

gumby wrote: post #16

It's about time. Even more useless than gold. Hopefully it's next, though at least it's somewhat fungible and has a small industrial use.

Diamond and gold are far from useless. Quite the contrary, they're way both too expensive to use in applications where they'd be ideal.

Copper is used as cheap gold

Mica is used as cheap diamond.

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#155

Post by makeitdouble »

tuatoru wrote: post #58
xivzgrev wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guys, buying diamonds, can complain all day about what a rip off it is (it is). But if you apprise your fiancé of the alternatives / opp costs (moissanite, man made, second hand, etc) and she still wants a new diamond, just get her a new diamond. It will make her happy for years. My wife had her heart set on a pink diamond, so that’s what I got her. I made it clear though that if I got this, she is not getting a new…

I have no idea why you're being downvoted for sharing a personal story. And your opinion is as valid as anyone else's in matters of taste. De gustibus non est disputandum .

Didn't downvote, but online forums are rarely a good place for relationship advice.

In particular, if you're marrying someone, getting a grip on what she might appreciate for years is a good first step, especially as the premise is the discussion has already been started in the couple and she voices her own opinions.

How it goes down from there is probably a microcosm of how they'll deal with their future decisions.

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#156

Post by throwaway2037 »

tuatoru wrote: post #58
xivzgrev wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guys, buying diamonds, can complain all day about what a rip off it is (it is). But if you apprise your fiancé of the alternatives / opp costs (moissanite, man made, second hand, etc) and she still wants a new diamond, just get her a new diamond. It will make her happy for years. My wife had her heart set on a pink diamond, so that’s what I got her. I made it clear though that if I got this, she is not getting a new…

I have no idea why you're being downvoted for sharing a personal story. And your opinion is as valid as anyone else's in matters of taste. De gustibus non est disputandum .

    De gustibus non est disputandum.
I had to look it up: >

There is a whole Wiki page about it! [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_gustibus_non_est_disputandu...

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#157

Post by throwaway2037 »

amrocha wrote: post #118
xivzgrev wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guys, buying diamonds, can complain all day about what a rip off it is (it is). But if you apprise your fiancé of the alternatives / opp costs (moissanite, man made, second hand, etc) and she still wants a new diamond, just get her a new diamond. It will make her happy for years. My wife had her heart set on a pink diamond, so that’s what I got her. I made it clear though that if I got this, she is not getting a new…

If she wants a diamond despite knowing all the misery the diamond industry spreads, then you should probably just break up

In 2023, the diamond mining industry in South Africa and Botswana is pretty clean, treats workers well, and pays good wages. I cannot answer for other countries in Africa, but you can be very specific about the origin of your diamond when buying it.

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#158

Post by makeitdouble »

smt88 wrote: post #99
ta93754829 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Do you, uh... want to explain? It's definitely a cringy, antiquated phrase, but it doesn't seem harmful. People with wives should tie their own happiness to their wife's, shouldn't they?

Relationships are complicated, any random motivational poster's catchy phrase is going to be harmful for a few millions of people.

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#159

Post by gnicholas »

gowld wrote: post #144
gnicholas wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I hear, moissanite (and man-made diamonds) are pretty much indistinguishable from natural diamonds. How would someone's friends figure out that it's not a natural diamond? I would think the only way the wife would know is if she asked about the diamond's papers, if she was going to get an insurance policy for it or something.

Lying to your spouse is wrong even if you can't think of a way you would get caught.

I wasn't advocating for lying, just pointing out that one would not easily be embarrassed in front of friends with the substitutes available today.

Re: The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

#160

Post by Nick87633 »

gnicholas wrote: post #112
bombcar wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And make sure you appraise her of it - shenanigans like buying something else and passing it off as a diamond could result in her being absolutely embarrassed in front of her friends, which should not be a position you want to put her in.

From what I hear, moissanite (and man-made diamonds) are pretty much indistinguishable from natural diamonds. How would someone's friends figure out that it's not a natural diamond? I would think the only way the wife would know is if she asked about the diamond's papers, if she was going to get an insurance policy for it or something.

Moissanite has a different refractive index and dispersion. They do look different.
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