DeBeers monopoly etc.
2006-08-04 05:33:09 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
What is ANY material object worth w/o the hype? Nothing.
2006-08-04 05:39:50 · answer #1 · answered by SavageLettuce 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What anything really worth when you factor out the hype surrounding it?
Diamonds are hard to find. They are the hardest of all stones. Cut or uncut, they glow with and inner fire. A fine diamond, well cut, is a very beautiful thing.
Beauty, rarity, and enduring strength are valuable qualities. Always have been, and always will be.
I don't work in the jewelry trade, and I realize that retail prices for "fine" jewelry are about five hundred times wholesale. But this doesn't mean that a fine-quality diamond has no value.
What's an IPod really worth?
2006-08-04 14:01:51 · answer #2 · answered by Austin W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being the hardest substance on earth, a superior superconductor able to withstand heat, the diamond probly has some unique properties that would make it a useful substance for a number of things.
The problem is that commerialism as jewelry by the DeBeers cartel, like others here have stated, has caused a stagnation in industrial development of the diamond.
Could you imagine a computer with a diamond processor? You wouldn't have to worry about overheating it so it probably could get speeds in the terra-hertz (THz) range quite easily.
2006-08-04 13:35:04 · answer #3 · answered by hyperhealer3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
diamonds really are quite common, infact there are enough diamonds on earth for each person to have their own cup of them. Think about it... 6 billion people on earth, 6 billion cups of diamonds.... thats a lot. Diamonds would be much much cheaper if DeBeers co. didn't have a cartel on them (the reason why no diamonds are mined in the U.S.) Recently other European companies have been started diamond businesses outside of DeBeers co., however they won't make as much money if too many diamonds flood the market, so don't expect the price of engagement rings to drop anytime soon. Though I can't accurately predict the price of diamonds if there were no restrictions on their sale, I can safely say it would be much much cheaper.
2006-08-04 18:14:54 · answer #4 · answered by Laura 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite honestly, I don't trust any of the diamonds on the market today. I have a 1 carat diamond which was purchased on the market 45 years ago which I've aquired from a relative. It has a signature carbon mark in it--a tell tale sign that it is genuin. It is beautifully cut, it practically glows. I've had it appraised by a jeweler and just for the diamond alone it was appraised at 3000 dollars. (which is not too shabby, it may be worth more, that is just what he offered for it.) Another jeweler actually tried to "switch" it and said he would traid it in for one of his diamonds (probably a cheap blood diamond or worthless manufactured peice of glass they have flooding the market now). He assumed I had no clue what I had! I said "no way!", He seemed annoyed, he really wanted my diamond for some reason.
Well, anyway, I don't trust anything that is on the market now. I don't know what any of it is really worth. I think you have to get a good knowledge about stones and diamonds, develope a good eye and judge for yourself.
But I really think they are making the fakes so good now that they are passing for real diamonds --fake carbon marks and all.
2006-08-04 17:55:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really nothing much. Diamos are actually a very comment elemnt in the extint volacno tubes of lava... very old that is... De Beers has made that into the biggest monopoly in the world and as scuh it should be noted... Diamons (rough, not pretty, etc. are actuallyu very common...so common that they are really worth 1/1000,000 of wath people pay for, we pay for the amrketing, sales, De beers monopoly, and of course the cutters salary, equipment, etc.. and the designers of cuts..
yikes
really worth nothing
MAXR
2006-08-04 12:42:22 · answer #6 · answered by STROMBOLI-KRAKATOA JR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they're worth as much as market value is. debeer is smart and developed the hype
2006-08-04 13:24:56 · answer #7 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Much less than retail that is for sure. The 'real' cost of diamonds might be best estimated by the wholesale cost of diamonds at sale/auction. This could be considered the cost of procurring diamonds (unless one is willing to locate, mine, cut, and polish raw diamonds on their own) which is much less than retail pricing.
2006-08-04 13:56:14 · answer #8 · answered by anza_1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a commodity ....
how much is OIL really worth after all the hype ??? (OPEC monopoly)
answer ..... as much as the next person is willing to pay
2006-08-04 12:41:34 · answer #9 · answered by Brian D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The value of ANYTHING is what you are willing to pay for it or the price at which you will sell it.
2006-08-04 23:51:22 · answer #10 · answered by idiot detector 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋