5 Reasons to Skip the Diamond Engagement Ring

[Kelpie]

Taken from Yahoo News:

 

5 Reasons to Skip the Diamond Engagement Ring

 

Wise Bread, On Wednesday 11 August 2010, 1:12 SGT

 

You're ready. You have the entire scene planned out in your head, every detail plotted and mapped until it's perfect. At the climax of this mini-drama, he will bend on one knee and present to you a beautiful diamond ring -- or, if you're the one proposing, you will watch as her expression changes from surprise to utter delight when she sees the ring. And that's when you'll know: Yes, you're getting married.

 

Or so the diamond industry would like you to believe. The sole purpose of this appealing fantasy is to drum up sales. Once you look past the mythos of the diamond engagement ring, you'll see that it's not much more than a shiny rock. Here are five good reasons to skip the diamond engagement ring.

 

1. It isn't an ancient tradition -- just marketing

For all intents and purposes, "A Diamond is Forever" and the idea of a diamond engagement ring is Sprite's "Obey Your Thirst" and Nike's "Just Do It." It is Gary Dahl's "Pet Rock." De Beers controlled supply by buying up and closing down any diamond mine discovered, and they controlled demand by making it sentimental. Although the campaign is less than 70 years old, it has made the diamond engagement ring the ultimate symbol of how much the relationship, the girl, and love itself is worth.

 

2. Diamonds are rare! Or not

It's true, diamonds are abundant. For generations, De Beers had stockpiled most of the world's diamond supply and effectively monopolized the industry. Their dominance has weakened over the last decade, but De Beers and its competitors still control the supply of diamonds entering the market. While most gems are valued based on their rarity, diamonds are different. Their scarcity is artificial -- and so is their value.

 

3. Other options look just as impressive and cost much less

Moissanite looks just like a diamond; the difference is undetectable with the naked eye. In fact, moissanite is actually more brilliant. If, for whatever reason, you're stuck on the diamond ring idea, synthetic or "cultured" diamonds are the real deal. They're made in a machine that replicates the environmental forces that make diamonds. They're real diamonds, only with less flaws. A synthetic 2-carat pink diamond costs just a few thousand dollars, and a 1-carat moissanite ring is under $1000.

 

4. You can invest in something more meaningful/useful/fun than a piece of jewelry

Many women simply enjoy having a beautiful collection -- and that's fine (if you can afford it). For most people, though, a diamond engagement ring is fun to show off for about 30 seconds. But it's special, right? Because it marks your engagement and symbolizes your love? Remember, that's De Beers's marketing campaign talking. Three-plus months' salary would be better spent on furnishing your home, an amazing trip, or your future kids' college funds!

 

5. It's hard to get around the ethical issues surrounding the diamond industry

Terrorist groups use conflict/blood diamonds to finance their activities. Rebel groups use them to fuel conflict and civil wars. In these conflict zones, children are being used as soldiers. The Kimberley Process is an agreement that was established to prevent conflict diamonds from getting into the market, but the self-policing system is far from perfect. One way to fool the Kimberley Process is to smuggle and mix conflict diamonds with legally traded ones before being certified -- and you, the buyer, would be none the wiser.

 

Regards,

[The_Bear]

You are damm right on this

[Little_prince]

most women wouldn't agree...

[Jman888]

Saw the article yesterday, you should add that in the thread on diamond ring lobang to warn those guys

[Aeromania]

Aiyah women wun understand these de la. Even if they understand, they still want it.

[Thugstercena]

Aiyah women wun understand these de la. Even if they understand, they still want it.

yeah. telling them is one thing. convincing them is another.

[1fast1]

All those (valid) facts, and the article misses the most important one.

 

Women want a diamond ring because it shows the man is willing to spend a huge chunk of money to make a financial commitment to her. There's no pleasant way to put it (they often euphemistically call it "security" or "having a future"), but women ARE attracted to men with money, especially ones willing to splurge that money on them.

[Metalbone]

Maybe only 1% of the women will understand. lol

[Sk65]

to be frank

women dun love diamonds

 

they just love to compare

 

so if their colleagues got 0.7

they must have .8 just to SHOW OFF !

 

then .9 then 1

 

diamonds is just a tool , like LV bag.

 

de beers clever lo... know this trick.

 

*not all women behaves like that la of cos....

 

[Arowana1]

the brilliant sparkle from a diamond generally gets you a YES from the gal when u propose. enuf said :)

[TandemAssassin]

Many moons ago, in some countries like the US, ladies could sue men who want to go back on a marriage proposal for specific performance (i.e. to marry them).

 

Now that this is not available, the only substantive assurance that they can obtain is an expensive proposal gift. That makes it very costly for a guy to change his mind after proposing.

 

Hence, the diamond ring, serves the purpose of binding the man to his promise of marriage.

 

I read this is a behavioural econs book. So I guess other than a diamond, some other flashy and ridiculously expensive gift will work just as well. Say, proposing with a prime district Condo solely owned by her or the keys to a BMW in her name? Fyi, the latter really did happen to someone I knew long ago.

 

 

[Watwheels]

You fools. Looking it only from the material point of view. The engagement ring symbolizes your commitment in the relationship. Dun tell me you wear your ROM cert on your shirt.

 

It's also to ward off other guys who are interested in your partner. When they see the size of the diamond they will back away.

[Wreckwrx]

You fools. Looking it only from the material point of view. The engagement ring symbolizes your commitment in the relationship. Dun tell me you wear your ROM cert on your shirt.

 

It's also to ward off other guys who are interested in your partner. When they see the size of the diamond they will back away.

 

 

Isn't that what the wedding band is suppose to do..... so that u don't hv to wear your ROM cert round your neck?

[Aaron_soh80]

No diamond no sex

[Estrangable]

no carrot, no pussy. Simple.

[Thargor]

Taken from Yahoo News:

 

5 Reasons to Skip the Diamond Engagement Ring

 

And the wife will haunt you and harp on that forever....

[Floweradvisor]

yeah you are right. but, do u think women will agree about this LOL

[SimonTan]

Its weird why only few countries got diamonds.

If there are more sources...debeers will not be able to control these blood stones.

Just imagine if diamonds was found in SIngapore......