tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post8194589651519510079..comments2024-03-28T16:03:02.583-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: So much for diamondsPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-48670308536262479932016-12-29T14:01:21.635-06:002016-12-29T14:01:21.635-06:00There's really a lot of history here. Synthet...<br />There's really a lot of history here. Synthetic gems have a long history and it's quite illustrative. <br /><br />Rubies were first synthesized in the early 1800s but the Verneuil process led to the synthesis of <i>pounds</i> of high quality synthetic rubies by the early 1900s. Since the improvements in crystal growing technologies like "pulling" crystals for semiconductors, or hydrothermal growth processes for quartz, even higher quality synthetic rubies have been made. <br /><br />Has it collapsed prices? Natural, out-of-the-ground rubies are still precious stones commanding high prices, and at the other end of the scale, anyone who wants a pretty little ruby and doesn't have a lot of money can have one. Something beautiful, natural, exotic, and rare will always attract people who want something no one else can afford. <br /><br />I expect the same situation will develop for diamonds as the price of synthetics comes down. The market for high grade, natural diamonds will stay, and people with less money will be able to buy prettier stones from the labs. To the argument that diamonds aren't rare: diamonds aren't rare because carbon isn't rare, but the diamonds with the highest grades on the valuation charts <i>are</i> rare because the conditions that form them are rare. Things like "tennis bracelets" and other jewelry encrusted with small diamonds were developed as a product to find a market for the majority of natural diamonds that good color and clarity but were too small to sell as solitaires for engagement rings. They had a lot of extra product lying around in inventory, dreamed up these bracelets, asked a tennis star (Chris Evert) if she'd like to wear them and - voila. <br /><br />And let me be anal-retentive about language for a minute. Synthetic stones have identical chemical composition as the stones out of the ground. Stones like cubic zirconia are simulants. Their chemical composition is completely different from diamond, they just look like one (more or less - anyone who knows what they're doing will spot one instantly). <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-26179644926982267332016-12-28T01:59:22.506-06:002016-12-28T01:59:22.506-06:00Diamonds are, indeed, incredibly cheap, until you ...Diamonds are, indeed, incredibly cheap, until you put one on someone's finger.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-69398454908317799702016-12-27T23:45:43.291-06:002016-12-27T23:45:43.291-06:00My dear wife, practical girl that she is, picked o...My dear wife, practical girl that she is, picked out a ring she liked the looks of that was cheap cubic zirconia and cost maybe 30 bucks. My wedding band, once I got around to actually getting one, was a simple black tungsten carbide band that I think I bought for 10 dollars and it came with a bonus free one in case this one ever gets lost or something. When I've asked about getting her a "real" ring she tells me hers is fine and she'd rather have a new pistol or AR. God how I love that girl.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-17729202624778447132016-12-27T13:11:06.043-06:002016-12-27T13:11:06.043-06:00Vince bought his wife a two carat ring. It was a ...Vince bought his wife a two carat ring. It was a stunner.<br /><br />We asked him what it was insured for. His response puzzled us. "I did not insure it."<br /><br />Further questioning revealed that the stone in this ring had been cut by the world famous diamond cutters in Czechoslovakia...and least that is what Vince told Jackie when she asked him what the "CZ" stood for.<br /><br />Somehow, he missed one sticker on the box.Eaton Rapids Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09102166969915526172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-57217823426025320152016-12-27T12:48:27.210-06:002016-12-27T12:48:27.210-06:00My hat is off to the genius who turned industrial ...My hat is off to the genius who turned industrial diamonds into "Chocolate Diamonds" and now sells them for $$$. Wish I'd been that clever.<br /><br />Add me to the list of ladies who prefer colored gems and semi-precious stones to diamonds. Not that I'd turn down some of the "chocolate diamond" rings, the neo-Victorian ones, if offered. I wouldn't want to be rude. ;)<br /><br />LittleRed1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-53026331738489502182016-12-27T12:03:34.169-06:002016-12-27T12:03:34.169-06:00When I was a little girl, my father and I were goi...When I was a little girl, my father and I were going through and industrial tool catalog together, and he was showing me nifty things, and telling me what awesome stuff they could create. <br /><br />We got to the drill heads, and I said "diamond bits?"<br /><br />"Yep. When it's not in jewelry, diamonds are five bucks a pound." He nodded. "They're really good for cutting, too. Diamonds are wasted on jewelry. They're fantastic at chewing through stone, and steel, and..." <br /><br />And for the rest of my life, when the subject of diamonds come up, the first thing I think of is a warm summer day, a tool catalog, and Daddy Who Knows Everything saying "diamonds are five bucks a pound." <br /><br />This'd be why my husband won my heart with an engagement ring that consisted of a lovely silver and tourmaline concoction made by a nice artist named Caron, and two front spars for my airplane. I didn't need a diamond drill bit, but I did need thirty-two feet of tight-grained, knot-free sitka spruce. On a Wing and a Whimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00754595334684845895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-70019058823417139692016-12-27T11:51:48.815-06:002016-12-27T11:51:48.815-06:00Of course they bring good to Botswana and the othe...Of course they bring good to Botswana and the other countries that mine and export diamonds. Just ask the dictators and other folks with the huge bank accounts in neutral countries. <br /><br />My lovely wife got massive points by not being a proponent of wearing a skating rink on her finger. I spoil her with other gems when she wants more 'twinkle'.DaddyBearhttp://daddybearsden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-56836818684464081582016-12-27T09:58:40.879-06:002016-12-27T09:58:40.879-06:00Gemstones are rarely a good investment. There is s...Gemstones are rarely a good investment. There is some intrinsic value in beautiful things. Buy beautiful jewelry that you (or your spouse) enjoys. Value remaining years later is a bonus. As far as diamonds, you may walk and pick them up over in Arkansas as well (on a lucky day). http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/<br /><br />Glen in TexasGlenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826464928376433382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-7425741829508964242016-12-27T09:26:39.676-06:002016-12-27T09:26:39.676-06:00It's just another status-oriented "preser...It's just another status-oriented "preserve the tradition" syndrome if you ask me.<br /><br />"If you REALLY love me you'll get me the real thing any way you can, no matter what sacrifice you have to make. That is, if I REALLY matter to you".<br />And most people (especially the status-obsessed "trophy" bastards) oblige accordingly.<br /><br />And certain businesses and industries, naturally, always (as usual) exploit these stereotypes and customs and the dogmatic mindset that goes with them for their own greedy gains.<br />Much the same way most any other businesses and industries do.Tal Hartsfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077424958233740898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-87466410479156642282016-12-27T09:25:52.984-06:002016-12-27T09:25:52.984-06:00It seems African diamonds should be given the same...It seems African diamonds should be given the same treatment as ivory in the global markets. <br /><br />--genericAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-54513824445575965932016-12-27T08:58:44.745-06:002016-12-27T08:58:44.745-06:00As to diamonds being common:
I have heard (from p...As to diamonds being common:<br /><br />I have heard (from people that know) that the Argyle diamond mining company in Western Australia's North-West carefully selects those diamonds that go to the jewellery market with a shovel - just taking a shovel-full from the output every month.<br /><br />That region is home to "Champagne" and "Argyle Pink" diamonds, but almost all their production goes to industrial uses. Sendariushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039362709773644noreply@blogger.com