diamonds are so pointless

I'm not a fan of diamonds although I do own a black diamond solitaire as I like to be different/contrary. 2ct set in a Tiffany style solitaire in silver and it costs £180 20 years ago . But my most beautiful piece of jewellery is a 1 inch oval opal ring, set in gold. It's just glorious, the colours change and glimmer in the different lights and it can look pink/white/blue and I love it. Cost £400 about 8 years ago. I also love aquamarine and Saphires and emerald. Currently developing a new appreciation for pearls. So many beautiful stones to costs other than diamonds.

To me I think they are liked because they are 'marketed' to be liked like caviar, I have never come across anyone who genuinely likes it other than the next poster who says 'wow it is so delicious'

I just think the idea of being presented with a rock by a man… And hanging around waiting for the moment he’s going to do it. No from me! We decided to get married. No diamond.

I wear them because I’ve been given them, they look pretty and they have sentimental value. I wouldn’t spend my own money on them.

There are ethical issues I would consider about the damage to the land they come from and the people doing the mining which has got to be more important than any sexism.

Do you wear them? Why? Do you think this is a sexist issue? men mostly mine them and women mostly wear them. Why do so many millions of man hours go into something to adorn women?

I don't think it's a sexist issue. Diamonds were a way for men to make money. Women happen to be the ultimate beneficiaries. Some sweeping generalisations there but I think the principal stands.

I think lab grown diamonds are the future. They are lovely and sparkly without the exploitation, and I am all in favour of anything that adds something pretty to our rather grim world.

I agree OP, to me they are such a waste of money - even if I had it, I couldn't imagine spending thousands on something that just sits there on my hand (admittedly looking nice), when I could get a car or a holiday instead. At least they are things you can use or enjoy.

Also, most people couldn't tell the difference between an actual diamond and something you can buy for super cheap.

The only reason they’re valuable at all is because of an incredibly successful marketing strategy by De Beers many years ago. They created the idea of scarcity and that diamonds were desirable and it was so successful it is embedded in western culture even today.

‘Artificial’ diamonds will kill off the industry anyway. Diamonds would be quite cheap if the market wasn’t rigged. And manufactured diamonds will destroy the false market.

I think a lot of people are coming round to a similar point of view, hence the popularity of lab grown diamonds. All of the sparkle without the ethical qualms.

Yes and they don’t mine too much of them to keep the price up ! Once I learned that plus ‘blood diamonds’ I think anyone who buys them is a sucker - unless second hand.

Yes, apart from industrial and manufacturing applications.