# OOH! Sparkly diamond! I love you now! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 15, 2002, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963 "2002-12-15T22:33:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/41 "2002-12-16T02:56:15Z")
diamonds are a form of carbon crystal, and are not precious gems. They are semi-precious. Only because De Beers hoards them are they not in great supply. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/42 "2002-12-16T02:56:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jane\_says \* > **I figure I can always hock it if times get rough.** But you can’t. Because of those DeBeers commercials and all the other monopoly activites they do, they’ve artificially increased the price of new diamonds. Used diamonds are still worth the same, though, and it’s not very much. I’m glad it makes you happy, but don’t think of it as an investment of any sort. ---
**Author:** ![Azure\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Azure\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azure_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/43 "2002-12-16T03:27:01Z")
I have nothing against diamonds or people who wear them (they _are_ pretty), but I just can’t stand the commercials. Oh, and btw: this is the Pit, people! Where’s the outrage? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/44 "2002-12-16T03:49:28Z")
I don’t mind how a diamond looks, but I don’t see what’s the difference between it and a piece of paste. I wore my mom’s real diamond earring once, then I bought a pair of fake ones for $5, and I liked the fake ones better. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/45 "2002-12-16T03:50:00Z")
I like diamonds. So does Mrs. RickJay. The ads are irritating, but let me ask you; do you forswear ANYTHING that’s sold in an irritating ad? If so, just what the heck could you possibly buy? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/46 "2002-12-16T03:57:16Z")
(Cheaper to replace if you lose the damn thing, too!) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/47 "2002-12-16T03:58:07Z")
My mom loves diamonds. I like them as accent stones, but I like colored stones better. Saphires, rubies, emeralds, opals, garnets, aquamarines, amethysts, etc. BTW, aren’t rubies actually the most valuable of all gemstones? I too want an engagment ring with color. Hell, I don’t care if it comes out of a gumball machine, as long as it’s given with love. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/48 "2002-12-16T04:45:29Z")
I like diamonds, myself. But not great big ol’ honkin’ rocks that scream “Please rob me!” I’ve got a pair of small diamond earrings, and a 1/5 carat diamond engagement ring, set on a plain gold band. My wedding ring is a plain gold band, too. I like diamonds because I think they’re pretty. But…there’s better ways to say I love you, IMHO, and those commercials drive me nuts. I’m married, I have two cute but rambunctious young children, and I work outside the home. My husband is a stay-at-home-dad/musician. To me, nothing says “I love you” like “hey, I’ve got a sitter, let’s go out to a movie!” To him, nothing says “I love you” like “go ahead and sleep, I’ll get the kids’ breakfast.” The one with the new daddy showing the baby the diamond necklace is the one that gets me the worst. Yes, your wife went through much pain to bring your new baby into your life (and having given birth three times myself, I’ll admit that diamonds probably aren’t a bad way to say thanks…). But you know what I bet your wife would really like? The cash, so’s she could take an afternoon off from baby care and go out to lunch and shopping with the girlfriends she’s probably hardly ever seen since she had that baby. Oh yeah. ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/49 "2002-12-16T04:59:20Z")
OK, I’m of two minds about this issue. On the one hand, I think it’s ridiculous for anyone to imply that a diamond is necessary and sufficient to buy the love of another human being. I also have a real problem with the very industry, as linked in the OP. However, I am the owner of an heirloom diamond that has been in my family for most of this century. And if a woman I presented it to reacted the way **SpazCat** indicated _she_ would react upon receipt of such a stone, my immediate reaction would be “All righty then. See ya! Have a nice life! And don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out!” I realize that her (and others’) reaction in this thread is mostly creative license, but come on! “No, no, you just take that jewel that’s been in your family for several generations and pitch it in the nearest deep body of water. Buy me something with more color that has no real meaning for either of us! Please!” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/50 "2002-12-16T05:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nightsong \* > \*\*Heh. “If you don’t get the woman in your life a diamond [sub]perferably a big one, and several small ones[/sub], yer a SCHMUCK!” :rolleyes: Feh. Give me opals, emeralds, or something with more color to it any day. > > Have you guys noticed that the only thing on the flip side, i.e. “Get the guy in your life THIS or you’re a schmuck!” seems to be cordless razors and/or power tools of some sort? > \*\* My parents split the difference. My dad buys her rings with industrial-grade diamond settings. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/51 "2002-12-16T05:40:17Z")
My husband gave me a diamond engagement ring that he had inherited from a much loved Uncle. The ring was part of a set which was split up between my husbands brothers. I love my ring more because it symbolises the bond between myself and husband than for its monetary or other value. My SIL’s have matching rings and its just another way we can show our link as a family. When the time comes my ring will be handed onto Bubbaleechie. Personally I prefer our wedding rings which are worth much less but are matching and inscribed with _“Amor Vincit Omnia”_ - I’m told this means _“love conquers all”_. its also really pretty to watch the sun sparkle off the diamonds and make shiny patterns on the wall - good for entertaining the cats too 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/52 "2002-12-16T06:05:08Z")
Well, we can help you with the bloody part - Canada is now digging and marketing our own diamonds.See [this](http://www.siriusdiamonds.com/) site for more information on world-class diamonds from Canada. (I especially like the tiny little polar bears etched on them. :D) As for my own engagement ring, **Dread Pirate Jimbo** won the diamond in a Stampede draw, and we created the setting for it ourselves. It’s a beautiful, personal ring because of the history, but I prefer coloured stones too. It will probably be my last diamond. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/53 "2002-12-16T11:46:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*Marilyn Monroe? [I don’t think so…](http://www.eur.com/musicals/rec.cfm?RNumber=283) > When musical geeks meet movie geeks! 😃 😉 > Fenris \*\* Actually, **Fenris** , I have an album at home - honest-to-goodness vinyl album - of the Broadway cast recording of Carol Channing in _Lorelei_, which is, I believe, the same show. That’s what I was looking for when I came across the Marilyn site yesterday. Unfortunately, my connection was sluggish, so I gave up and took the easy first answer… So yeah, I’ll take that musical geek title and wear it proudly, but I am geekier than you might think! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/54 "2002-12-16T12:16:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I am Sparticus \* > \*\*diamonds are a form of carbon crystal, and are not precious gems. They are semi-precious. Only because De Beers hoards them are they not in great supply. \*\* That does not make them any less beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/55 "2002-12-16T12:17:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LindyHopper \* > \*\*However, I am the owner of an heirloom diamond that has been in my family for most of this century. \*\* Wow! A full year?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/56 "2002-12-16T12:20:14Z")
I have thought that a ruby, or perhaps emerald engagement ring would be nice. If I even get an engagment ring, that always seemed like a silly waste of money. But a blood red ruby in a silver setting for the wedding, that would be unique. That could be beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/57 "2002-12-16T12:21:54Z")
I will admit a particularity for diamonds above all other gemstones (opals and emeralds are the runner up and Ms. congeniality) but I have always found the “Diamonds are Forever” to be nearly bilious. “Isn’t two months salary” line is revolting. It is not the size of the rock it is the love and commitment behind it that matters. I think we have all run across the vaccuous females out there that refuse to get married to a guy ( usually no boyfriend at the time) unless she gets a ’ big two carat diamond’. Yes, why don’t you just put a sign on you stating you are a material girl. I like to buy my rings from antique and pawn stores, that way DeBeers is waaaay out of the picture. 🙂 **Azure Eternity** Thanks for eludicating exactly why that commerical drove me nuts whenever I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/58 "2002-12-16T12:54:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*My mom loves diamonds. I like them as accent stones, but I like colored stones better. Saphires, rubies, emeralds, opals, garnets, aquamarines, amethysts, etc. > > BTW, aren’t rubies actually the most valuable of all gemstones? > > I too want an engagment ring with color. Hell, I don’t care if it comes out of a gumball machine, as long as it’s given with love. \*\* Are you my long-lost twin? > [@](#): > > However, I am the owner of an heirloom diamond that has been in my family for most of this century. And if a woman I presented it to reacted the way SpazCat indicated she would react upon receipt of such a stone, my immediate reaction would be “All righty then. See ya! Have a nice life! And don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out!” I realize that her (and others’) reaction in this thread is mostly creative license, but come on! Heirloom rings are exempt from this. Anyway, any guy who got (emotionally) close enough to me to propose would know that I don’t like diamonds in the first place. As to the rest, please refer to the first line of my sig. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/59 "2002-12-16T12:59:58Z")
Addendum: I’ve seen a lot of reference to people’s preference to opals and emeralds in this thread. If you do get one of those stones, **be careful**. Those are not durable gemstones. All natural emeralds are flawed in some way and are easily broken. Opals, as my sister found out with her engagement ring, are also easily broken because they’re very fragile. Diamonds do win the day on durability over those stones. Although a chemistry teacher friend of mine told me that diamonds are slowly decaying into graphite, but that takes millions, if not billions, of years to complete. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963/60 "2002-12-16T15:10:44Z")
Sorry to continue a hijack, but… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by This Year’s Model \* > \*\*Thanks, **FairyChatMom**. Iggy’s is the only version I’ve heard. It has a feel of an older song, and I was pretty sure I’d be corrected almost instantly if it was done by someone else. > \*\* **TYM** , when I read your earlier post I thought you were just making a strange joke – and it did make me laugh out loud, a rarity! But now you say Iggy actually _did_ cover “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”. I MUST HAVE THIS. I mean it. Forget diamonds, anyone who wants to marry me should get down on one knee and hold up a copy of Iggy Pop singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”. I am willing to move heaven and earth to get this song, just give me a clue as to where to begin looking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooh-sparkly-diamond-i-love-you-now/142963.md?page=4)