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

An interesting article at wired.com

[waynegoode]

I read an interesting article a few years ago at wired.com about the state of the "artificial diamond" industry. It is a bit long and from 2003, but it is very interesting.

From the article:

De Beers executive drove directly to Claridge's, and the two men sat down in the tearoom to the strains of a piano and violin duet. De Beers refuses to comment on the meeting--or about anything for this story--but Clarke says he simply placed his diamonds on the table. "When I told him that we planned to set up a factory to mass-produce these, he turned white," the General recalls.

Warning

[malakai]

Further discussion on this topic and slashdot will feel the power and wrath of De Beers.

Prepare for 503 errors if you continue to discuss alternatives to natural diamonds.

You have been warned.

-De Beers NOC