# Diamonds are a scam, so how do I win? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735 "2018-01-29T16:03:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/41 "2018-01-30T11:22:24Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Someone clenched very hard? That would be a big ass-diamond. Please, people. Hyphens matter, here. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/42 "2018-01-30T14:15:19Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > Those are better words, but I knew a girl in college who was presented with her fiancee’s beloved late grandmother’s engagement ring, but cried about how she didn’t want “some dead woman’s ring.” And then complained her “new” ring was so much smaller, since the guy couldn’t afford a whole karat.:dubious::rolleyes: > > There’s no pleasing some people… That’s the description of a potential marriage made in heaven, isn’t it? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/43 "2018-01-30T14:34:01Z")
As long as DeBeers controls the diamond market, diamond values will continue to be high. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/44 "2018-01-30T15:13:29Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > a big-ass diamond. > [@Ludovic](#): > > Someone clenched very hard? No, that would be a big ass-diamond. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/45 "2018-01-30T15:21:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > No, that would be a big ass-diamond. Curse you, **Jonathan Chance**! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/46 "2018-01-30T15:22:44Z")
> [@Doyle](#): > > As long as DeBeers controls the diamond market, diamond values will continue to be high. You misspelled “prices.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/47 "2018-01-30T15:32:15Z")
Diamonds do have some quite interesting physical properties, and are sometimes sought for those properties. And while most such diamonds are ugly and muddy-colored, there are some industrial processes that really do require gem-quality diamonds. I saw a colloquium once where the speaker was talking about one such application, and she brought along one of the actual diamonds they use, as a visual aid. The thing was literally the size of a golf ball. That’s what going bespoke rather than mined can get you. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Opals are the gem of choice](https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=opals&qpvt=opals&FORM=IQFRML)-such beauty and variety that diamonds cannot even dream of. Nah, they’re only, like, third on the list. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/48 "2018-01-30T15:46:39Z")
Well thanks for the advice everyone, doesn’t look like I can skirt the system. There are a handful of interesting diamonds on Ebay but the market just isn’t awash in used gems, probably because anyone can just re-certify a stone and shove it back into the retail stream. And there does seem to be a slight advantage to lab grown diamonds but I’m not sure it’s worth buying something that expensive sight unseen over the internet. I wish there were more local options for those. I’m going to look at some stones at a local dealer today. This is an upgrade to the (smallish) stone I put in my wife’s engagement ring way back when so it’s gotta be a diamond for historical reasons, unfortunately. Just needs to be bigger. ---
**Author:** ![ArtBeforeScience](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@ArtBeforeScience](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArtBeforeScience)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/49 "2018-01-30T16:00:19Z")
If I wanted someone to “get me a rock” it would be a monolith and I’d keep it in the backyard. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/50 "2018-01-30T16:15:42Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You misspelled “prices.” Value is dictated by the market. There is no intrinsic value; this is actually called the [diamond-water paradox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_value) for the obvious reason. It goes right back to Adam Smith, as modified by the post-Smith idea of marginal utility. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/51 "2018-01-30T17:16:58Z")
Step 1: Get large lump of coal Step 2: Find Superman and do him a favor… ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/52 "2018-01-30T20:39:28Z")
Cubic zirconium … then lie … ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/53 "2018-01-30T21:16:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You misspelled “prices.” Pedantic a bit? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/54 "2018-01-30T22:14:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Opals are the gem of choice](https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=opals&qpvt=opals&FORM=IQFRML)-such beauty and variety that diamonds cannot even dream of. > [@Chronos](#): > > Nah, they’re only, like, third on the list. iswydt ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/55 "2018-01-30T22:17:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You misspelled “prices.” > [@Doyle](#): > > Pedantic a bit? Feel free to check my posting history, and draw your own conclusions. yes ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/56 "2018-01-31T14:30:48Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Feel free to check my posting history, and draw your own conclusions. > > yes Maybe in my next lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/57 "2018-01-31T14:42:47Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Step 1: Get large lump of coal > Step 2: Find Superman and do him a favor… Step 1a: Make sure it’s Beautiful Clean Coal[tm], or else the diamond will end up all dirty and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/58 "2018-02-01T00:19:40Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I took the more sensible approach of finding a partner who would laugh at the idea of spending four figures on a crystal unless it could present _Dragon Ball FighterZ_ in full high-framerate high-resolution glory. Spending four figures… that’s so… quaint. 😃 My wife’s engagement ring is just under 4 carats total weight. 1.25 on the main stone and the rest are in the setting around the main stone. She also has 1.25 carat stones in each ear. Yes, I bought them for her. Not at the same time. The earrings were upon the birth of our first child. No, she did not require them but at a certain point in life a carat in an engagement ring does become assumed to some degree. It was also my 2nd marriage and in my 1st when I was very young and quite poor I could not provide a ring like this. So to some extent I was making up for times in my past when financially I could not provide what i wanted to provide. It also really helped that I have a friend who is a diamond broker. I could not have afforded these items at retail price. So although objectively it was still a lot of money, it was less than what I would have paid. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/59 "2018-02-01T00:23:52Z")
Pawn shops are great places to get diamonds for startlingly low prices. Just sayin. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735/60 "2018-02-01T09:23:21Z")
The best method to profit from diamonds is to inherit them and them sell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-are-a-scam-so-how-do-i-win/807735.md?page=4)