Some have posted comments about not wanting to buy diamonds as it often supports slave and child labor, murder, corrupt governments, etc.
There is a new market for "conflict-free" or "socially aware" diamonds. The diamond industry is working to take steps to keep black market diamonds from entering the market. Right now, any diamonds that are mined and cut in
Canada are very popular because, they do not come from conflict areas. There's quite a few different companies that one can buy a "socially aware" diamond from, which includes a guarantee to be conflict free. In the northwest, they can be bought from Ben Bridge Jewelers, who sell diamonds from a conflict free Canadian company called "Ikuma".
As far as functional...
An Italian jewelry designer recently released a piece called "Love Signs". Here's the description: "The creation consists of a highly polished yellow gold disk pendant on a thin lariat, the other end of which consists of a
diamond-studded stylus. One can close the lariat with the stylus, but not before the "giver" of the product writes his or her own inscription on the pendant using the diamond as a tool."
Perhaps not ideal for an engagement, as it isn't a ring, but VOILA! A necklace and a diamond pen in one! (It's cool looking, too.) The company that designed this piece is called "Nanis" and can be contacted at:
Italian Jewelry Guild
8383 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 518
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
My opinion is similar to what many others have already posted. Something does not have to be useful in order to be beautiful. On an evolutionary note: the aspect of art and making objects which are pleasing to look at is a large part of what seperates humans from other animals. Part of the anthropological definition of an advanced society is that they create objects of beauty that have no functional use or purpose. The existence of jewelry-like objects is tesimony to how advanced a culture is. They have the brains and tool-making skill to acquire the necessities in abundance, thus allowingly their brains to stretch further and create objects of beauty, not function.
As an advanced species, we seek to create art/jewelry for beauty's sake. If it functions as a tool, that concept is lost.
Aside from that, the ring is also not useless, as it stands as a symbol of love and committment.
-Lili
Slashdot Mirror
Some have posted comments about not wanting to buy diamonds as it often supports slave and child labor, murder, corrupt governments, etc. There is a new market for "conflict-free" or "socially aware" diamonds. The diamond industry is working to take steps to keep black market diamonds from entering the market. Right now, any diamonds that are mined and cut in Canada are very popular because, they do not come from conflict areas. There's quite a few different companies that one can buy a "socially aware" diamond from, which includes a guarantee to be conflict free. In the northwest, they can be bought from Ben Bridge Jewelers, who sell diamonds from a conflict free Canadian company called "Ikuma". As far as functional... An Italian jewelry designer recently released a piece called "Love Signs". Here's the description: "The creation consists of a highly polished yellow gold disk pendant on a thin lariat, the other end of which consists of a diamond-studded stylus. One can close the lariat with the stylus, but not before the "giver" of the product writes his or her own inscription on the pendant using the diamond as a tool." Perhaps not ideal for an engagement, as it isn't a ring, but VOILA! A necklace and a diamond pen in one! (It's cool looking, too.) The company that designed this piece is called "Nanis" and can be contacted at: Italian Jewelry Guild 8383 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 518 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 My opinion is similar to what many others have already posted. Something does not have to be useful in order to be beautiful. On an evolutionary note: the aspect of art and making objects which are pleasing to look at is a large part of what seperates humans from other animals. Part of the anthropological definition of an advanced society is that they create objects of beauty that have no functional use or purpose. The existence of jewelry-like objects is tesimony to how advanced a culture is. They have the brains and tool-making skill to acquire the necessities in abundance, thus allowingly their brains to stretch further and create objects of beauty, not function. As an advanced species, we seek to create art/jewelry for beauty's sake. If it functions as a tool, that concept is lost. Aside from that, the ring is also not useless, as it stands as a symbol of love and committment. -Lili