Whats your view on conflict or blood diamonds?

Question

I mean , i've just recently learned about the conflict dimond situation. And i swear, i will never put another diamond on my finger. These people are tortured and held prisoners, for their "masters" to make money, and for people like me to buy their product. It's sick. I've never learned so much, mostly about myself, and looking a little bit deeper within myself and finding my morals and where i stand , as i did with the movie Blood Diamond. It made me cry. I guess the saying "Beauty is pain", actually is true. Our beauty, their pain.I definatly condone people who are trying to raise awareness and make a difference, even if to one person in this world. Sure as hell this world needs it. Let me know what you think.

Answer 1

I agree and I wish more people were aware of the corrupt business practices of De Beers. If people actually knew the history of their diamonds, they would probably be appalled. I told my husband I only wear cubic zirconia or factory manufactured diamonds. This made him happy since it saved him a ton for my engagement ring.

Answer 2

I completely agree with you. I don't even think diamonds are that pretty when it comes down to it. The only ones that I have ever seen that look anything like the magazines and tv ads, very few people can afford them without sacrificing other necessary living expenses or taking out a huge loan. I honestly don't believe that most people care even if they do know where they come from. It's pretty, it's traditional, it's not a "real" engagement/wedding ring without them, it shows that your fiance is an honest hard worker if he can afford one, etc. is what society has been told over and over until some people sincerely believe that they're committing a cardinal sin if they don't get (or give, depending on which gender you're talking about) one. DeBeers pretty much owns the worldwide diamond industry, not just in Africa. Unless you buy a Polar diamond which is mined in Canada, is not part of the monopoly, and does not employ children or have bloody civil wars, etc involved, you are lining Debeer's pocket, even if you don't realize it. A Polar diamond has a trademark engraved on it, (is so small you can't see it with the naked eye but the jeweler would probably gladly show it to you), so you can tell what you're getting.

Answer 3

85% of diamonds come from Debeers Single Chanel Marketing there is a long history to it but for brevity Debeers stock piles diamonds and only distributes a small portion out each year they started doing this as way back as 1929. ONLY 4% of the diamond market comes from conflict diamonds....these are generally brought in through third world countries and avoided by most. However, it is not possible for anyone to know where they come from. However, another 10% of distribution now on legal diamond mines have now become more prevelant and great for the market they are in Russia and Canada where diamonds are now being mined free of conflict and free of Debeers that is why the market is starting to change towards diamonds and many real diamonds are now gas pressurized to increase qualtity. The only diamonds I have ever been aware of are very large diamonds exceeding 4 CARAT the reason is nobody wants to handle a $500 1//4 CARAT diamond and risk their reputation and business for such a terrible thing....they are not very prevelant and only a handfull of them get out to the world. Man has died for many causes, many less than treasure of diamonds.
You may not be able to handle the truth. All books, articles and so on are all fabrications and lies. Allow me to explain I am a diamond broker. Diamonds are ROCKS, or better or less pebbles. Think of them that way and you will save thousands of dollars. Diamonds come from earth just like different kinds of stones you find in your yard. However, the diamond industry has created so much fluff around the 4'cs of diamonds that everyone reads along trying to figure out table depth, color, carat and anything they can latch onto. Then after vomiting all the diamond babble back to someone like me I have to listen to their retoric of babble because they are looking to buy ONE diamond while I have bought thousands and handled hands on examined and understand they are just rocks. Don't get caught up with all the marketing, the b.s. the lies....buy a diamond the size you want and focus on it just looking nice dont go crazy internalizing the 4c's and comparing it to this one and that one....find the size you want then simply pick a budget. Do not believe what any dealer or retailer tells you. Buy what you can afford and will make you happy but do not get into analyzing it with a polariscope a micrometer, and so on....honestly even peanut butter has carbon in it.....diamonds are made from carbon so if you really want to consider what I am saying think about this....you can put peanut butter on your finger and compare that to a diamond and the book of diamonds means nothing. Just get a nice diamond that makes you happy and dont go crazy trying to figure it all out. Find an honest person to work with. Freddydiamonds just a .com away for your questions. Most of all do not buy from a local dealer outside of a diamond import area.

Answer 4

I agree. At the end of the day, diamonds are pretty useless apart from to look good around someones neck, or for cutting stuff up. I often wander how something so useless can be worth so much money.

Also when you think about it Africa should be one of the ritchest countries on earth, because that's where a lot of the diamonds and gold comes from. Poor little kids down mine shafts probably have diamonds worth thousands of pounds/dollars in their tiny skinny hands, and yet they will get next to nothing for them.

Answer 5

I have never bought a diamond before and don't think I ever will. I have a friend that is a jeweler and he told me diamonds are the biggest rip off ever. DeBeers has totally cornered the market and keep prices artificially high. If anyone is to blame for all the pain and suffering, it is them.

Answer 6

Pat Robertson can tell you all about his blood diamond mines in Africa. Sick.

Yes, this is an r&s question considering evangelicals own some of the mines.

Answer 7

It is mans lack of understanding. Man has placed such a high value on certain items which is actually only a piece of glass. Then they don't realize what happens in the end either.

Answer 8

not really an R+S question is it?
as for my opinion on diamonds in general?
diamonds, are an item of overinflated value as the flow of them is controlled by the DeBeers familly. As such, I do not place any value in them whatsoever.

Answer 9

Buy Polar Ice Diamonds!

Not kidding, they are Canadian....mined here & cut here. Guaranteed "blood" free.

And they have more sparkle (still not kidding).

http://www.rareinnature.com/news/55

Answer 10

painful to see someone flaunt it in a consumer market...
kind of like when Nike was manufactering from sweat shops