Rebel against "engagement rings".

Diamonds are not girls best friends, but they are De Beers best friends. Well, being a geologists wife I have been informed how boring and over priced diamonds really are. It's all in the marketing (and bribing the major producers not to sell their raw merchandise), what makes those pieces of carbon so expensive.

My (very simple) engament ring has a rectangular Tourmaline in it, it is a very dark green, almost black stone, we chose it because we both liked it immediately. Not that I wear it daily though (not a jewelry person here), I just like to look at it (and put it on when visiting grandparents) ;)

I recently heard/read about how dirty the diamond industry truly is. First of all, De Beers is pretty much a GLOBAL monopoly, with the diamond market cornered. Secondly, many of these countries in Africa that are in conflict use diamonds to fund their bloody rebellions and coup attempts. "conflict diamonds" basically pay for the murder of millions. I dont know enough about the topic to really preach about it, but I do know that if I start looking for a ring for my sweetie, I will be digging DEEP into the issues--and if I find what I think I will find, she might just be getting that engagement stereo instead.

De Beers pays major diamond producers to not let diamonds to the market, because the value of diamonds would collapse immediately. It is very dirty business indeed what they are doing.

We only expect diamonds for engagement rings because DeBeers has told us to.The diamond engagement ring is a fairly new tradition that was introduced in the 1950's using a large and successful advertising campaign by DeBeers.When I found this out I realized how duped we really have been.

Been married 34 years, never felt the desire for a diamond ring...I'm just not that kind of gal. I preached to my daughters that a marriage is about commitment. A wedding is the celebration of the marriage, but the marriage must always be the main focus.

Too much emphasis is put on the wedding and the trappings thereof...there is entirely too much commercialism involved. People in this country are slaves to what other people think and feel they HAVE to go along with "traditions".

Take back what was yours to begin with...your life, your love, your marriage, and your wedding. Do what makes you happy and feels right for you.

Women have been brainwashed since childhood...it's tough to buck the system. The "Cinderella for a day" scenario sets you up for a lifetime of disappointment. Don't want that...you deserve better than a temporary fantasy...go for a really nice reality.

Sometimes, I would just like to shake people to wake them up!

Yup...the engagement stereo makes a Lot more sense. Just think how much more fun it would be to build your music library together...learn about each others taste...explore some new stuff...and share what makes you happy with the one you love.

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Originally Posted by dobolina

I recently heard/read about how dirty the diamond industry truly is. First of all, De Beers is pretty much a GLOBAL monopoly, with the diamond market cornered. Secondly, many of these countries in Africa that are in conflict use diamonds to fund their bloody rebellions and coup attempts. "conflict diamonds" basically pay for the murder of millions. I dont know enough about the topic to really preach about it, but I do know that if I start looking for a ring for my sweetie, I will be digging DEEP into the issues--and if I find what I think I will find, she might just be getting that engagement stereo instead.

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You're absuolutely right, dobolina. I'm sure everyone has heard by now, in one form or another, about the "blood diamonds" in Sierra Leone. It's atrocious out there - guerilla factions have become the henchmen/lackeys of the De Beers corporation, at the expense of human lives. It's wretched - some of the documentaries showing the youth soldiers are just heartbreaking. And not to make this into a social/political debate, but...

Well, it is a relevant issue. Humanity or vanity?

My engagement ring has a 1 caret sapphire. It wasn't very expensive, and it still makes my heart stop when I look at it. Diamonds are over rated.

I like diamonds because they sparkle. I would prefer a man made diamond over a man-mined diamond. It seems cleaner and simpler and no one has to die(though I know some folks probably did comming up with the technology) just for me to enjoy my little sparkly. I see no reason to buy anything but manufactured. It actually seems more humane to buy man-made. We can keep so many people from misery simply by buying a product that is superior in it's clarity. I do not care if my diamond cost $10 or $10,000. Have I mentioned that I just want a pretty sparkly? ;)

I insisted on a small, tension mount diamond that does not stick up above the band.
===o===

It's very simple, it's very me, and cost very little.
I'm convinced that I'd lose a diamond in a bigger ring. When my sister got engaged, her ring was big and frilly and my first thought was - "Well no more nylons for her!" . I don't wear nylons, but that kind of thing would get in the way for me.

I personally don't want a big diamond when I get engaged. I think the massive ones are ugly. I plan to care a heck of a lot more about the man than any ring he's going to buy me.
And three months salary????? That's absolutely ridiculous!!!!!