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The diamond world takes radical steps to stop a pricing plunge

bloomberg.com

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

#431

Post by kalleboo »

8organicbits wrote: post #381
jl6 wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you completely sure? https://caratsandcake.com/articles/wedding-fireworks-wedding... “Wedding fireworks can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $25,000, according to Theiss—it all depends on timing and the size of the show you want. The more common range is $3,000 to $5,000 for weddings.”

What's the objection here? A large party with a hired pyrotechnic specialist giving a performance using expendable supplies is going to cost some money. Is this an arguement against large parties in general?

It's a joke - fireworks burn. They're replying to someone talking about "literally burning up money"

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

#433

Post by svnt »

klyrs wrote: post #165
lelanthran wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> People with wives should tie their own happiness to their wife's, shouldn't they? I think it's more that the expectation that husbands exist to serve their wives is harmful. Be honest, do you really think a phrase meaning "keeping your husband happy and satisfied would make your life better" is not harmful?

The happiest relationships result from both partners putting the other first. This forum is predominantly men. As a woman, I see variations on that "keep the hubby happy" phrase all over womens' spaces. So yeah. Some equality here is a little refreshing.

I am getting tired of this default perspective that “it’s about time men got around to this.”

Anecdotally I’ve never read or heard the male term IRL so I decided to check the phrases on Google trends. Direct comparison of both full phrases shows that “keep the hubby happy” essentially doesn’t exist:

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=k...

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

#435

Post by subpixel »

selcuka wrote: post #110
subpixel wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The majority of people who understand that diamonds are a scam are not simultaneously attracted to diamonds.

How? You don't usually buy diamonds for yourself, so the person who understands the diamonds are a scam does not have to be the same person who is attracted to diamonds.

It’s far more common for people to collaborate on purchases like this than to surprise each other: you could go so far to say that people choose diamonds for themselves.

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

#436

Post by escapedmoose »

lelanthran wrote: post #286
escapedmoose wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I and most of my friends (late 20s to early 30s) have non-diamond engagement rings. The consensus is that diamonds are outdated, exploitative, and scammy. I also think they’re not as pretty/eye-catching as my lab-grown emerald.

I thought that lab-grown emeralds were more expensive than diamonds. If that is true, then buying something more expensive than the usual thing doesn't invalidate any of the arguments against diamond engagement/wedding rings. If emeralds are cheaper, then while I'd rather have the emerald anyway (it's prettier to my eyes), I can't see any person (male or female) preferring the cheaper jewelry.

My ring is vintage, the lab-grown emerald replacing whatever stone it used to hold. I imagine that brought down the price. My preference generally is for well-kept vintage jewelry. Beyond thriftiness, there’s an extra charm to wearing something loved by someone before you :)

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

#437

Post by tstenner »

bcrosby95 wrote: post #219
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…

Your wedding and funeral are the only two times everyone you care about will be in one room. And you only get to experience one of those. It's one of the few smart things to spend money on.

Birthday parties?

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

#438

Post by Retric »

benj111 wrote: post #384
Retric wrote: post #371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Value is defined in free markets by what you can sell something for. Artificial tradition as in created by a marketing campaign to sell a product. Same things as eating “KFC on Christmas” in Japan or more recently “Happy Honda Days” just slightly older and more widespread.

>but diamonds aren’t worth what you’re paying >Value is defined in free markets by what you can sell something for So if someone can sell you a diamond for X, it is worth X. So the diamond is worth what you're paying. Was Christmas created to sell Christianity? I just don't get the distinction. A 'natural' tradition isn't somehow more wholesome, we've just forgotten who invented it. And the meaning still derives from…

> So if someone can sell you a diamond for X, it is worth X.

Note quite, when most people buy land the seller doesn’t receive the full amount you pay realtors get their cut of the transaction. Same deal with used cars etc, the transaction costs are removed from the sales price when calculating value.

Commercial Diamonds are just an unusually extreme case.

> I just don't get the distinction. A 'natural' tradition isn't somehow more wholesome, we've just forgotten who invented it. And the meaning still derives from the people partaking in that tradition.

The meaning of diamonds still derives from advertising which is the haven’t stopped because people stop caring when they do. This clearly demonstrates the artificial nature of what’s happening.

Nobody needs to advertise saying excuse me if you bump into someone in a crowd, that has been maintained culturally for a long time without outside influence.

Saying someone created it therefore it’s all the same is a meaningless statement. People create different things, saying someone created something doesn’t imply what that thing is.

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

#439

Post by [deleted] »

ChrisRR wrote: post #405
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…

Or get her a pre-owned and/or lab-grown diamond which are insanely cheaper. While the cost of diamonds is pure marketing, I wouldn't want to pay thousands for something that is physically identical. If the fact it's been on someone's finger before bothers her more than the potential conflict, slave labour, manipulation and underhanded trading, then I don't think a little white lie is a bad thing. Spend the money on s…

[deleted]

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

#440

Post by sasaf5 »

snvzz wrote: post #422
sasaf5 wrote: post #419

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having a loving person to share a personal history with is an advantage that's difficult to outweigh.

Marriage is well-known to work counter to that goal. It destroys families.

Perhaps we live in much different cultures. I am curious. Well known where? By whom?
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