Page 3 | diamonds are so pointless

combinationpadlock · 2024-07-20T11:50:19+00:00

why are they valued so highly? Because they look nice? Other things look nice without the price tag, and without the massive industrial scale mining, and human cost of lives spent in mines. 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?

ElleintheWoods · 20/07/2024 15:47

It's a bit like gold (well gold is a little different to be fair as it's used in the banking system), or certain art, they aren't inherently valuable, it's just agreed by society that they have value. They have value within industrial applications, but that's not what most people would think of them as.

Personally I think your POV is becoming quite widespread, I don't know anyone who would want to go anywhere near diamonds, mostly due to ethical implications.

WhereIsMyLight · 20/07/2024 15:49

I’ve never really liked the clear diamonds and always been attracted to other coloured stones. My engagement ring is tanzanite but it does have small, clear diamonds on the band and I think they do enhance the tanzanite. Some of the coloured diamonds are gorgeous, the chocolate and yellow ones in particular.

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 15:52

ASeriesOfTubes · 20/07/2024 15:44

So... the more expensive the ring your man puts on your finger, the more you'd be prepared to do for him? Where do you draw the line? 🤔

Wind-up. Has to be.

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No.

Some women do all that and more for a ring pop after 15 years of 'dating'. The ring is his investment and promise to be me that he is going to take care of me and only give me the best of things.

zeibesaffron · 20/07/2024 15:53

Lab grown are not for me - I am going be be unpopular but I have diamond rings some inherited from my lovely grandma’s and my wonderful mum. My 50th birthday present was a beautiful 1920’s art deco diamond ring. Not particularly expensive but I love it, wear it, and think about its history and who may of worn it.

You can say this argument about many mined precious or semi precious stones!

DancingNotDrowning · 20/07/2024 15:56

I love mine but they’re all (apart from one necklace) antique, either purchased from auction houses/specialist jewellers or inherited.

theres not much in life that has intrinsic value, like, art, cars and property value of diamonds is more than the sum of its parts, collectively we have assigned a value based on rarity. That’s not to say there isn’t some clever marketing But de beers haven’t operated a monopoly in 20+ years.

coxesorangepippin · 20/07/2024 15:57

Totally agree

Utter waste of time, money, effort, lives

gleefulstar · 20/07/2024 15:58

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 20/07/2024 13:03

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.

I have a beautiful diamond ring that belonged to my grandma.

I could sell it and go on a very expensive holiday or I can keep it and enjoy owning it and wearing it and one day pass it on to my DD.

We're all different I guess, but a posh holiday wouldn't even compare in my eyes.

Sunnyandsilly · 20/07/2024 15:59

Lab grown is just a marketing term. It’s a fake diamond.

FinalCeleryScheme · 20/07/2024 16:08

Sunnyandsilly · 20/07/2024 15:59

Lab grown is just a marketing term. It’s a fake diamond.

I don’t get this. If you can make a diamond in the lab it’s every bit a real diamond as one hacked out of the ground.

It’s like saying that water made in the lab is fake water.

Sunnyandsilly · 20/07/2024 16:10

FinalCeleryScheme · 20/07/2024 16:08

I don’t get this. If you can make a diamond in the lab it’s every bit a real diamond as one hacked out of the ground.

It’s like saying that water made in the lab is fake water.

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Don’t be silly, ones in the ground are a natural grown substance over millions of years, not man made in a factory.

PickAChew · 20/07/2024 16:11

I was with you on the first paragraph but from your second paragraph, it's clear that your agenda has nothing to do with diamonds.

SiobhanSharpe · 20/07/2024 16:17

I inherited my late DM’s diamond solitaire ring (1.7 cwt) and absolutely love it. I wear it almost every day and always think of her when I do.

I think she’d be pleased.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 20/07/2024 16:17

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 15:02

Engagement ring maths.

A lot of men act like a woman asking for a nice ring makes her some kind of gold digger, but let's look at who is really looking to benefit from this transaction. Even if a man got you a £10,000. Over the course of a year that would mean your ring was only worth £27 a day. And in exchange for £27 symbol of love most men are looking to secure a fulltime maid, cook, cleaner, secretary, nanny, surrogant, sex worker, chauffeur, cheerleader, and so much more. If he actually had to pay people to do all the work he's going to expect his wife to do in exchange for this one time ring transaction, it would equate to hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.

So he's already getting a bargain, even if he only spends 10 grand on the ring, but if he tries to palm you off with some cheap dust ring what's really happening is this ring worth £200 is really worth a one pound. If he saves a pound every day for a year, he can afford this ring and secure the services of some person who doesn't know their worth.

Talk about gold digging, right? This man is looking to recieve hundreds of thousands per year in free services for the low low price of £1 a day. And that's just over the first year. Over the course of a marriage, you are worth less than a penny a day.

Men like to say that the price of the ring doesn't determine the marriage. I disagree. People invest in what they care about. When you see a big old rock on a woman's hand, it is never a hand with snagged cuticles and fucked up nails. Because the woman who's hand it is on is being well taken care of. It is never on the hand of a woman who has had to scrub and wash and be busted down because she has someone who is taking care of her, who wanted to elevate her and treat her well. Give her the best.

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How old-fashioned and patronising! I don't need to be taken care of and elevated, thanks. If dh were the kind of man who was looking for a 'a fulltime maid, cook, cleaner, secretary, nanny, surrogant, sex worker, chauffeur, cheerleader, and so much more',I would have given the engagement ring right back!

AylesBuck · 20/07/2024 16:18

Well if you think about it…. most of what we own is pointless.

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 16:22

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 20/07/2024 16:17

How old-fashioned and patronising! I don't need to be taken care of and elevated, thanks. If dh were the kind of man who was looking for a 'a fulltime maid, cook, cleaner, secretary, nanny, surrogant, sex worker, chauffeur, cheerleader, and so much more',I would have given the engagement ring right back!

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Okay, you settle for that struggle love. Couldn't be me, I wanted a nice, comfortable life that wasn't filled with stress and worries about how the bills would be paid. I wanted a husband who was in a position to give me and my children the world. But you do you.

Hateam · 20/07/2024 16:22

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 15:02

Engagement ring maths.

A lot of men act like a woman asking for a nice ring makes her some kind of gold digger, but let's look at who is really looking to benefit from this transaction. Even if a man got you a £10,000. Over the course of a year that would mean your ring was only worth £27 a day. And in exchange for £27 symbol of love most men are looking to secure a fulltime maid, cook, cleaner, secretary, nanny, surrogant, sex worker, chauffeur, cheerleader, and so much more. If he actually had to pay people to do all the work he's going to expect his wife to do in exchange for this one time ring transaction, it would equate to hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.

So he's already getting a bargain, even if he only spends 10 grand on the ring, but if he tries to palm you off with some cheap dust ring what's really happening is this ring worth £200 is really worth a one pound. If he saves a pound every day for a year, he can afford this ring and secure the services of some person who doesn't know their worth.

Talk about gold digging, right? This man is looking to recieve hundreds of thousands per year in free services for the low low price of £1 a day. And that's just over the first year. Over the course of a marriage, you are worth less than a penny a day.

Men like to say that the price of the ring doesn't determine the marriage. I disagree. People invest in what they care about. When you see a big old rock on a woman's hand, it is never a hand with snagged cuticles and fucked up nails. Because the woman who's hand it is on is being well taken care of. It is never on the hand of a woman who has had to scrub and wash and be busted down because she has someone who is taking care of her, who wanted to elevate her and treat her well. Give her the best.

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Utter bollocks.

FinalCeleryScheme · 20/07/2024 16:23

Sunnyandsilly · 20/07/2024 16:10

Don’t be silly, ones in the ground are a natural grown substance over millions of years, not man made in a factory.

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But you’d have to chemically analyse the stone to know any difference. You can’t tell by looking at them. And there’s no difference in any meaningful sense anyway. The water example is spot on.

Loads of diamonds are now manufactured but sold without any declaration. You may be wearing one of those.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 20/07/2024 16:26

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 16:22

Okay, you settle for that struggle love. Couldn't be me, I wanted a nice, comfortable life that wasn't filled with stress and worries about how the bills would be paid. I wanted a husband who was in a position to give me and my children the world. But you do you.

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What struggle?! Our bills are paid just fine, thanks. Nice comfortable life here.

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 16:27

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 20/07/2024 16:26

What struggle?! Our bills are paid just fine, thanks. Nice comfortable life here.

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He got you a ring-pop, didn't he?

greenwoodentablelegs · 20/07/2024 16:28

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 15:02

Engagement ring maths.

A lot of men act like a woman asking for a nice ring makes her some kind of gold digger, but let's look at who is really looking to benefit from this transaction. Even if a man got you a £10,000. Over the course of a year that would mean your ring was only worth £27 a day. And in exchange for £27 symbol of love most men are looking to secure a fulltime maid, cook, cleaner, secretary, nanny, surrogant, sex worker, chauffeur, cheerleader, and so much more. If he actually had to pay people to do all the work he's going to expect his wife to do in exchange for this one time ring transaction, it would equate to hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.

So he's already getting a bargain, even if he only spends 10 grand on the ring, but if he tries to palm you off with some cheap dust ring what's really happening is this ring worth £200 is really worth a one pound. If he saves a pound every day for a year, he can afford this ring and secure the services of some person who doesn't know their worth.

Talk about gold digging, right? This man is looking to recieve hundreds of thousands per year in free services for the low low price of £1 a day. And that's just over the first year. Over the course of a marriage, you are worth less than a penny a day.

Men like to say that the price of the ring doesn't determine the marriage. I disagree. People invest in what they care about. When you see a big old rock on a woman's hand, it is never a hand with snagged cuticles and fucked up nails. Because the woman who's hand it is on is being well taken care of. It is never on the hand of a woman who has had to scrub and wash and be busted down because she has someone who is taking care of her, who wanted to elevate her and treat her well. Give her the best.

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I love this post. I work in the city and see a LOT of very big diamonds.

Getting married was a joint decision here, without an engagement ring, but my MIL gave me a family one. How kind is that? But your logic still holds because DH does probably 60% of the all household stuff and is a great shag, so lucky me !

TapToSkip · 20/07/2024 16:29

I love diamonds. But it is all silly nonsense at the end of the day, really.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 20/07/2024 16:32

He got you a ring-pop, didn't he?

A what now? He gave me a beautiful diamond and platinum engagement ring. Nothing too flashy (not my style). Chose it himself. 21 years ago next month.

Shinyandnew1 · 20/07/2024 16:35

I love diamonds and my engagement and eternity rings are both diamonds. Both are second hard though.

anothervoice · 20/07/2024 16:36

People can find pleasure or value in many things. If you don’t want diamonds, nobody is forcing you OP.

I have diamonds and they mean a lot to me. Ones I wear everyday - my engagement ring and another ring my husband gave me which is a Boodles waterfall ring. I have some other diamond jewellery he has also given me on various occasions over the years, but I don’t wear these everyday. I still love that I have them hidden away though. I’m fascinated by the design, the cut and the brilliance of the sparkle as it catches the sunlight. The stones seem alive - like fire and ice and some jewellery really is art. Whenever I’m feeling low, I look for the sparkle on water, mostly on the Thames, but if I lived near the sea thst would be amazing. It uplifts me almost instantly and there is something about diamonds that does the same. Plus they hold so many memories and are something that will outlive me and I can pass down to my daughters.

If you think that makes me shallow, I don’t really care. What I would say is, I don’t buy expensive leather shoes or bags. These are ugly items for me - all I can see there is the dead animal. But I understand that some women get a great deal of pleasure out of their leather bags, shoes, jackets, other accessories so what can you do? Each to their own.

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 20/07/2024 16:40

Meowzabubz · 20/07/2024 14:25

I don't care about diamonds specifically, but I do think engagement rings need to be substantially expensive.

So a plastic ring from a cracker wouldn't cut it then? It's about the materialism of the now, and not the love and promise/intent/desire to be together forever?