De Beers and The Diamond Invention

A few things to think about before plopping down far too much money on a rock.

De Beers controls the market, the source and the supply of almost all diamonds in the world.

The second rule: There shall be no haggling over price. The price for each of the 2,000 classifications of diamonds is fixed by De Beers, and determines how much money the mines in Africa and Siberia will be credited for the diamonds that they shipped to the Diamond Trading Company. De Beers can change the price at will, without any advance notice, or add a "surcharge."

Rest can be found at:

http://www.edwardjayepstein.com/diamond/prologue.htm

It's crap like this that makes me realize I am in the wrong line of work.

Well, it's a good thing I like silver and cheap imitation diamond over the real thing.

I wish more people knew about this. Every time I think about it, it upsets me.

I remember reading about this, and being disgusted, and yet not shocked. God bless low-maintenence girls who don't care about real diamonds.

What's that imitation stuff, cubic zirconium or something along those lines? I honestly cannot tell the difference, and think it all the better. If you lose it, no huge fuss, and it's easier on everyone's wallet. I know, I'm 16 and have no say, but logic rules in my little world. If it looks just as nice and can withstand some abuse, what the hell's the problem?

This needs to go more public, so that everyone's aware of the control over the (lack of) market. Maybe the situation could be changed, or at least bettered.

And, on a tangent, I think diamond engagement rings are a bit tired-out as a tradition. I've seen beautiful rings that are free of precious gems and leave much more of an impact.

Cubic zirconium is the imitation diamond, and I think it looks even better than many real diamonds in side-by-side comparisons.

Much more vibrant, from what I've seen. A lot of diamonds are foggy from being flawed (as all are) and I don't see the point in paying those disgusting prices for a flawed stone. I know, authentic and 'priceless'.

Rubbish to me. How diamonds are controlled is rather sad, really. We had a discussion in Earth Science about this before, and I was bothered that not many people (including a few teachers present) even cared.

People don't care cause their is little, if nothing that can be done. Not to mention diamonds are anything but a necessity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Videodrone

People don't care cause their is little, if nothing that can be done. Not to mention diamonds are anything but a necessity.

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You are wrong. We, as consumers have all the power in the world.

It's called boycott. Personally, I'm going to go through this life without every buying a diamond. If my future wife can't handle that, we'll have to work something out.

wow, never knew any of this.

its really fucked up.