Has Anyone Made an Artificial Diamond Ring?

DiamondRingThing asks: "I know that diamond engagement rings are a recent fabrication, and the two months salary required to obtain one is ridiculous. Diamonds are pretty however, and evil never keeps a good hacker down. I'd like to be able to give a diamond to my girlfriend that I know was forged just for her, without any blood on it, and without giving any money to DeBeers. That's why I won't buy an artificial diamond from a jeweler, as I suspect the cartel is involved at that level. Does anybody know anyone that has made their own diamond to set in a ring? How's the cost, and the quality? Thanks in advance."

Comments

Pawn shop

[lawpoop]

Diamonds purchased from a jeweler are overpriced because you're getting it from a cartel. I recommend getting a ring from a pawn shop; the price of that diamond will be closer to an actual market value of that gem. The cost will be considerably lower than that from a jeweler, and you are getting the exact same type of rock.

Re:Pawn shop

[Planesdragon]

I'm not saying I agree with these sentiments, but if you ask the average woman in the US if she wants a "new" diamond or a larger pawn shop diamond, I'm betting "new" wins 100% of the time.

I wager if you put the two rings in front of the "average woman", she'll go for the bigger one. Especially if you get it appraised first, so she can compare the cost difference.

FWIW, though, any women worth marrying is either smart enough to see through the whole deBeers scam on her own, or trusts you enough when you say "it's a criminal organization that wants to rip you off; if you really want a diamond, how about we not pay the inflated price for one?"

Why not rethink this "man-buys-woman" routine

[lpq]

Why don't you talk it over with your fiance and find a set of matching rings that you both can afford -- then spend excess cash on a honey-moon or house downpayment.

Do you want an equal partnership or are you looking to 'buy' a wife? Might I suggest that 'buy'ing such a wife sets a poor precedent for the future of the relationship.

If one of you doesn't make as much as the other, fine: figure out a proportional payment based on your take-home and find a pair based on that sum.

Wasting so much money on a rock in this day and age when marriages are often not "forever" seems a bit dated -- and being a woman, I certainly wouldn't want the feeling of indebtedness that might come from such an unequal exchange. It would feel like a wrong power & relationship dynamic.

You also might find she likes other gemstones better than the "vanilla" standard white diamond.

I don't think artificial diamonds of superb color/clarity are quite yet ready for "prime time". Have read they have made small ones, but they are quite a bit away from larger ones and mass production.

Might also think of whether or not you want the bride's father to pay for the wedding (another tradition, taking the place of the dowry), or maybe pool resources w/your parents toward a honeymoon (or house downpayment).

At least with the money for a house downpayment -- you will both own a house together. Studies have shown a positive correlation between, both joint ownership of property and joint finances and longer marriages.

All this presumes you are a "mere", mortal man. If you are Bill Gates or
some multi-billionaire, well... nevermind. :-)

Re:Why not rethink this "man-buys-woman" routine

[stienman]

I believe that's the practical half of your brain speaking.

My wife is very frugal and practical, which made the gift of the ring that much more special and romantic.

Perhaps you are the kind of person that either doesn't enjoy wearing fine jewelry, or it makes no emotional difference to you whether what you are wearing is real or fake, valuable, or cheap.

My (very) limited experience is that there is an emotional boost for women wearing jewelry that compliments them and highlights their attractiveness. There is a distinct difference, I've observed, in how a woman acts if she knows she's wearing exceptionally valuable jewelry compared to wearing pretty and attractive jewelry that is not costly.

Furthermore, gifted expensive jewelry can actually make some women more independant. I pay 2 months salary. Assuming the item keeps up with inflation, then she can sell it for perhaps 1 to 2 months worth of living expenses should she ever find the need to do so.

And lastly, there's always the Johnny Lingo effect.

-Adam

Breach of Contract

[wonkavader]

I'm not a feminist. I like traditional roles. I like being the guy and there being a difference between the sexes, but engagement rings just piss me off.

The diamond engagement ring is a modern concept -- 1880's, thank you very much De Beers. But it sits on the chattel, economical arrangement ideas.

Engagement rings are expensive because they come from a tradition of viewing women as property, and men as providers, not partners. You're putting a down payment on her so as to keep her from marrying someone else, and to prove that you're successful. She wears it to prove to her friends that her husband is successful.

Wedding rings are great. They're generally cheap and function as symbols to two people binding to one another. Engagement rings are about materialism, conspicuous consumption, and investment in a woman as property via a down payment that you lose if you breach the contract.

If you MUST prove to her you're affluent, something's horribly wrong in your relationship. If you just want to prove it, stop for a second and think "why?" -- is it confidence issue for yourself, or are you just allowing the weight of history and our avaricious, hungry, capitalist society to put desires in your head?

If you really both want something to put on her finger to say "I am owned, even though I'm not yet married" to outsiders (and there's real comfort in that for both parties, I know), consider one of those Irish friendship rings, then she can box it away when she gets the real, mutual icon of the final attachment, instead of looking at it as so expensive she needs to wear it.

Re:You MUST be joking!

[np_bernstein]

Food for thought: How long does a diamond last? How long does a human last? How long does the average marriage last? Now considering these facts why isn't the used diamond market absolutely flooded? Where the hell did they go? OK My Mum had some from my Grannies that she gave to my sisters but come on, where are the rest?

Graveyards. They're a sentimental item and something most people would want their grandmothers/parents buried with.