Diamonds are not that rare nor (IMO) are they particularly interesting compared to other precious stones. Additionally, I will admit that decades of being conked over the head by DeBeers ads telling me that the “girls gotta have it”, and even dictating how much of my income to spend on it, have made the notion of buying a diamond seem less and less like a good idea in terms of how I would want to express my affection for someone. It’s especially bad now that Christmas is upon us, and the faux sentimentality of the diamond ads are cranked up to 11.
Anyway, beyond the being “handled” feeling re the ads, it seems to me that diamonds are kind of getting umm… kind of clunky and old fashioned at this point. Is it just me, and girls are still lusting in their hearts for a big honking rock, or is this feeling that diamonds are getting a bit passé as a gift or desirable treasure shared by anyone else?
I totally agree with you. I am soooo sick of all the diamond ads…as a woman I am personally offended by them. They characterize women as only caring about jewels and expensive gifts. Most of the diamond jewelry I see anyway all looks the same is actually quite ugly. I mean, think about diamond engagement rings. They all look the same! Shouldn’t something as special as a wedding ring be unique?? And it bugs me that the marketing tries to drill into guys’ heads that you have to get your woman a diamond or else you’re unworthy! She won’t love you unless you buy her a diamond. That is total bullcrap. It portrays women in an unflattering light.
I agree that they are clunky and old-fashioned. A total waste of money. I personally never want a diamond engagement ring or any other type of diamond jewelry. However, I’m of the age where a lot of my friends are getting engaged, and it’s sick how much emphasis they place on their diamonds. Like it’s some sort of status symbol. But what makes me laugh is that their diamond looks exactly the same as everyone else’s, so the whole thing strikes me as stupid. Instead of wasting $3,000 on a ring, why don’t you save that money for the wedding, the honeymoon, or a house.
Personally my favorite type of gemstone would be an opal or a moonstone, which is like an irridescent milky stone, so beautiful and each one is unique and looks different.
I LOVE diamonds. I know they aren’t rare, I know they are slightly over-priced. But they are so sparkly and pretty!!!
My husband usually gets me a piece of jewelry every year. It covers my Christmas/birthday/valentines gift. And so far it has always been some sort of diamond jewelry!
Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t big pieces. I think my engagement is about 1/4th of a karat (although I could be wrong, I didn’t buy it and don’t care to ask), and my bracelet has about 70 diamonds on it. The bracelet has one karat total. I think my necklace has half a karat of diamonds, but once again, they are each tiny little stones. I also have a pair of diamond ear-rings. I don’t know how many karats they add up to, bt it’s not a high number.
I just enjoy wearing real jewelry that matches anything I want to wear. Diamonds fit the bill.
I think diamonds and pearls are just classy.
BUT, that is just my choice. I wouldn’t ever look down on another person’s taste in jewelry or lack there-of. AND, I think there’s a new trend of having another stone on the engagement ring. That’s nice! As long as the woman likes it, then more power to her!!!
I think a “big rock” of diamonds or anything else is not only in poor taste, but also just plain ugly.
When I was a twentysomething I didn’t care about diamonds all that much, and really liked the antique sapphire engagement ring we picked out.
Opal is my birthstone and I love and own them, but they are very delicate.
I never did have diamonds until my grandma passed away and left me a diamond pin, from which I had a pair of stud earrings made. I really like them, but I don’t wear them every day.
But when I do wear them, I enjoy them: they are kinda twinkly and pretty, and they do remind me of my grandma, who was quite twinkly and pretty herself.
Girls may like 'em, but my cash isn’t going to support a cartel with questionable business practices. Especially since they’re just expensive, shiny rocks. Just buy some glitter.
The problem is, there are very few stones that can withstand the day-to-day wear and tear like a diamond; sapphires and rubies are the only stones that come close on Moh’s Scale.
Diamonds may not be for everyone, but they do have a tendency to last forever. And a woman will probably never wear anything as much as she wears her wedding/engagement ring(s).
I personally think tanzanite is an absolutely beautiful stone–lovely sparkly lavender gemstone–and I really wanted one in my engagement ring, but they’re just too soft! I also like sapphires, but they’re so blue I’m afraid I’d get tired of it. And I’ve never liked rubies at all, even though they’re my birthstone.
What does that leave?
Diamonds. Which are incredibly hard and go with everything.
But I, too, hate the DeBeers campaigns…so I’m actually thinking of moissonite. It’s very similar to a diamond, but it’s man-made and reflects the full color spectrum; the chemical compound for it was discovered in a meteor, and it’s almost as durable.
It’s not nearly as expensive, of course.
Plus it’s from outer space, which is just cool for nerds like me.
I didn’t want a diamond when I got engaged, and I still don’t after almost seven years being married. I think diamond jewelry can be pretty, but I refuse to support DeBeers and their practices.
Audrey, moissonite sounds really neat, I’ll have to look into it.
I hate those diamond commercials. They just drive me nuts, especially the “We guarantee she’ll love it” ones.
I can guarantee them I won’t. I don’t like diamonds, never will. I think they’re ugly. My jewelry needs some color to it. No gold either. Just give me silver or platinum. (white gold that looks just like silver is ok.) My engagement ring is going to be a sapphire, which is my birthstone and my favorite color, and the boy is pleased as punch about that because he doesn’t like diamonds either.
My boyfriend and I have a running commentary whenever a DeBeers or a jewelry store commercial comes on TV. We’re particulary fond of the one where the guy yells about loving his wife in St. Mark’s Square, Venice.
It goes something like this.
Me: You’re going to buy me that ugly overpriced thing they just showed, right?
Him: Nope.
Me: Guess that means you don’t love me. The commercial says if you love me, you’ll buy me that ugly overpriced piece of jewelry.
Him: That’s right, I don’t love you. The only way I could possibly show you I love you is by buying you some overpriced ugly jewelry.
Me: Overpriced ugly jewelry is the Only Way you can show me you love me! Guess you don’t love me.
Him: Guess not.
Then we both crack up.
He knows what stones I like and what stones I don’t like. Diamonds are a DEFINITE no. If it ever comes to him buying me a ring, I think we’d both end up picking it out…and I know if he ever surprises me with anything, it ain’t gonna be that ugly overpriced crappy diamond stuff from the commercial.
Sorry, DeBeers, you don’t have a monopoly on my taste.
Chrysoberyl’s another option – it’s an 8.5 on Mohs’ Scale. That’s what my wife got in her engagement ring.
Sapphires come in more colors than blue – my wife’s got a lovely yellow one in her wedding ring. Bonus: at least at the time, non-blue sapphires were cheaper than blue ones. By a lot.
Count me as another woman who couldn’t give a fig about diamonds or “real” jewelry. My favorite earrings are some $15 ones I got in an Indian import store that have malachite and tigerseye in them. My wedding set has some small diamonds in it, but the only reason I even have those is that my grandmother left them to me when she died. If my husband had several thousand dollars to spend on me, I’d much rather he get me something I could enjoy and/or use. A new mattress, new furniture, a new tile floor for the kitchen that wouldn’t look dirty immediately after cleaning. Heck, even let me spend the money in the yarn shop-- at least it will eventually become something that will keep someone warm!
The commercials are just awful, too. I see this as the real message behind them: “Hey, you! Worthless man! Get your ass in here and buy your wife or girlfriend some diamonds! If you don’t, you’ll never get any sex or affection, because all women are so shallow and materialistic that they will only give it up when they get jewelry!”
My other big peeve is the commercials that actually suggest giving someone a friggin’ CAR for a present. Followed, of course, by the husband getting tackled by his suddenly affectionate wife. Puke.
I swear, I really do think diamonds are ugly, explotative and over-priced. When I got engaged, EVERYONE asked about the ring and how big the diamond was. NO ONE asked what my fiance was like, etc. Focus, people!! When I told my sister that I had refused to let jeevmon buy me a ring–especially a diamond one–she said, “well, how do you know he was serious about the proposal?” And no, she was NOT kidding. To me, that is the whole problem with them–no one cares about anything relating to a marriage, but simply how big the ring is. And to me, that has ruined everything that I would have ever liked about a diamond.
In terms of buying diamonds in the non-engagement ring sense, I still think they are not my taste but at least no one will criticize the size, etc. And I would never buy a diamond from Africa–the only place I would get them is in Canada, but then again, I would never get one.
I make fun of those DeBeers ads every time I see them. How shallow do they think most women are? (I am not saying that women who like diamonds are shallow, just that the ads portray them as such.)
Word. I mean, a car is a HUGE purchase and probably means car payments. Shouldn’t you at least discuss it with your significant other before you buy? I’d be pissed if my (imaginary at this point) husband bought a CAR without consulting me. Of course, if you are a multi-millionaire, you can buy me all the cars you want to…
Oh, and (on topic) I lose respect for women who crave diamonds. I understand we all have different tastes and values but after reading about the children in Sierra Leone who have had their hands chopped off due to the diamond trade and the abuses by DeBeers, women (and men) who continue to support this industry are diminished in my eyes.
Diamonds are old-fashioned and passe. Every (or almost every) freaking woman gets one as an engagement ring, or as a gift for some other reason. Come on guys, can’t we come up with any other gifts that are slightly more original? It takes exactly zero mental effort to decide to get your wife/significant other a diamond ring or diamond earrings or whatever. And, unless you buy her a 20 carat rock, they ALL LOOK THE FREAKING SAME AND NO ONE CARES THAT SHE’S GOT A DIAMOND RING BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE HAS ONE TOO!!! If you’re going to spend a bunch of money on a piece of jewelry, get a stone that’s a little more rare or unique. And two months of salary, give me a break. I love it when I hear about some poor slob that bought his fiancee a $4000 ring, but then they go on their honeymoon to freaking Orlando and live in an efficiency aparment! Priorities here, people! And don’t even get me started on DeBeers…
