Posted on 01/06/2007 7:44:37 PM PST by blam
Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend
By Chris Hastings, Stephanie Plentl and Beth Jones, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:29am GMT 07/01/2007
Diamonds have been synonymous with Hollywood glamour since Marilyn Monroe declared them to be a girl's best friend in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. But now a new generation of Hollywood stars is shunning the stones as a new film exposes the darker side of the international diamond trade.
Blood Diamond tells the story of forced-labour diamond mines
For the first time in the 79-year history of the Oscars, certain kinds of diamond will be absent from the annual prize-giving ceremony. Normally the awards, which will take place on February 25, are awash with sparkling stones, with some stars even choosing to wear them on their shoes.
But now many of the biggest names in Hollywood are asking agents and diamond experts to ensure they are not photographed wearing illicit diamonds.
The backlash against the stones has led to diamonds being dubbed the "new fur", as stars increasingly try to make sure that they are not wearing anything that might be regarded as unethical.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly, the stars of Blood Diamond, as well as Kayne West, the rap artist, the models Iman and Erin O'Connor – the face of Marks and Spencer – are leading the backlash. Blood Diamond, part of which was filmed in London's Hatton Garden diamond district, is set in civil war-ravaged Sierra Leone and tells the story of forced-labour diamond mining companies.
The success of the film, which has already opened in America and comes to UK cinemas at the end of the month, has led to an upsurge in demand for so-called conflict-free diamonds, which carry a certificate of confirmation that their trade is not connected with war, civil strife or human rights abuses.
Gaia Geddes, the jewellery editor at Harper's Bazaar, said: "You have the Oscars and Baftas coming up, and that's when the stars wear very big rocks. This year there will be a lot of focus on conflict-free diamonds and a lot of people will take a stand, just like they did with fur."
Connelly, 36, who plays a journalist in the movie, made a point of wearing "conflict-free" diamonds to the film's American premiere last month.
"I think what I got out of the film is a desire to be a more ethnical consumer," she said. "I did some research and there are companies like Bulgari, like Tiffany, that are striving to be clean and accountable and that provide written guarantees that their diamonds are conflict-free.
Iman pulled out of her contract as the face of De Beers
"No one is saying boycott diamonds but [buyers] can be pro-active and go to their jewellers and say, 'Can you show me a certificate? Can you give me a verifiable warranty that these diamonds are conflict-free?'"
Jane Fonda, the double Oscar-winning actress and friend of the film's producer, Paula Weinstein, has also revealed how she has made sure she only wears conflict-free diamonds.
African tribes in conflict with the diamond industry are actively targeting the world's celebrities in a bid to win them over. Last year, Bushmen in the Kalahari in dispute with De Beers wrote an open letter in Variety to DiCaprio, seeking his support.
Eileen Kelly, the manager of Abiba, a jeweller in Hatton Garden, said: "Recently we have had more and more customers come into the shop because of publicity about the film and ask where the diamonds have come from. We can say that we do not sell conflict diamonds. For the past year we have quite clearly printed on our receipts that our diamonds are conflict-free."
The campaign against the diamond trade had been building up even before the release of Blood Diamond. In 2004 Iman, who is married to the singer David Bowie, pulled out of her contract as the face of De Beers in protest at what she claimed was the company's eviction of tribespeople from their land in Botswana. In 2005, the actress Julie Christie joined a protest outside the Natural History Museum in support of the same tribesmen.
De Beers denies all the allegations levied against it in connection with diamonds. The company declined to comment last night, but a spokesman for the World Diamond Council, the representative body of the diamond industry, said: "We don't have any issue with the film. The important thing is that the movie is based in the past, in 1999, and the situation now is that the vast majority of conflict is over.
"The diamond industry contributes over $8 million (about £4.5 million) per year to local African economies, which helps to build schools, hospitals and provide employment."
"Of course, by the time you've paid off all of the loans you keep taking out, your final profit won't be as great as you hope they will be."
No, but it will be one hell of a lot greater than it would be had I squandered the money on a diamond rather than using it for a down payment on a home that tripled in value in ten years.
By the way, many people don't fully comprehend what that means. If a stock triples in value in ten years, that is good performance, but if your home triples in value, that's in a different category because you get the benefit of leverage. With a down payment of 10%, that's like getting a 30x return on your initial investment.
Again, that doesn't make me rich by any stretch. That is not the point. The point is that my wife and I are both *far* better off than if I had squandered a big chunk of money of a diamond to "prove" that I love her.
Please do to learn how wrong you are.
"Math and logic are not your forte."
I happen to be an aerospace research engineer, and I scored in the top 1% on the math section of the GRE exam, which is taken by engineering graduates to get into grad school.
You think your bluster can obscure the truth, but if you are fooling anyone it is only the fools, which seems to include yourself.
I said alex's are expensive, not beautiful, lol. The best ones are, actually, but they're in museums or Sotheby's auctions and sell for tens of thousands of dollars per carat.
My old family jeweler, who did the family's appraisals, was also a certified gemologist.
That's good to know. There's no known treatment to enhance chrysoberyl. You made a lucky buy.
I'm amazed to hear your comment about Tiffany. Switching stones just isn't their style but employees can't always be trusted. All jewelers I know guard their integrity and reputations like their lives.
Just because YOU couldn't afford to buy your wife to be an engagement ring, a diamond one or any other stone, doesn't mean that those who can afford to buy one, as well as a home, is stupid to but both. And since diamonds are used in all types of jewelry, you really should stop complaining about engagement rings; it just makes you look silly.
I've always believed that if you can't afford something, then you shouldn't buy it with money from loans that will choke you. But alas, far too many people get sucked into the "instant gratification" thing and buy all kinds of silly things....far sillier and far less of an investment than a good piece of jewelry.
Oh, grown up and give it a rest. I don't geve a damn what you got her.
Sweetums, you protest far too much and neat your chest far too much, and wind up proving what others might just think you to be. Your braggadacchio is falling on deaf ears; anyone can claim ANYTHING, on line. :-)
I just clicked on "forum" and found this thread, still alive. Good Lord, do people really care that much one way or the other about diamonds? This is a thread on the history of material things isn't it? Or, actually, the lack thereof.
Maybe that's 'cause we live in Houston, and it's pretty darn humid here. :)
Pardon me for barging in but precious opals are my specialty. I've been cutting/selling them for 40+ years and have learned a little about them.
Just treat your opals with respect. They're more delicate than other gems and can't take hard knocks. They do have relatively high water content. If you live in a very dry area give them a soak in water occasionally to rehydrate them or, better, store them in a plastic bag with damp cotton inside. Chances are your opal won't crack anyway but it's like eating chicken soup for a cold -- it can't hurt!
Do NOT store opals in safe deposit boxes! Bank vaults are dehumidified to prevent paper from mildewing and opals need a little humidity. Opals need repolishing now and then: they're soft and the polish can wear away. The main reason for repolishing is appearance: you want all the beautiful play of color you can get. Most opals can be repolished without removing them from their settings.
Enjoy those marvels of nature!
Yes, I was shocked when my friend told me that someone at Tiffany had switched stones on her. I have NEVER ever heard of anything like that happening before or since. I suppose that they fired the person who made the switch, IF he/she was ever found and as I said, they replaced her stone with one of same quality. And since Tiffany will only repair a piece of their own jewelry, of course they knew what that piece had originally contained.
I might add that it didn't hurt that she was/is a valued customer, who has bought lots of things from Tiffany.
"Oh, grown up and give it a rest. I don't geve a damn what you got her."
Then you shouldn't have brought it up in your post #145. Since *you* brought it up, *I'll* decide when to "give it a rest."
I'll bet you and nopardons are the type of women who judge other women and the "quality" of their husbands by the size of the diamond on their fingers. Well, the joke is on you two. You fell for the diamond ruse -- hook, line, and sinker! You fell for the ultimate materialistic deception, and it should have no place at FR.
"Just because YOU couldn't afford to buy your wife to be an engagement ring, a diamond one or any other stone, doesn't mean that those who can afford to buy one, as well as a home, is stupid to but both. And since diamonds are used in all types of jewelry, you really should stop complaining about engagement rings; it just makes you look silly."
Still at it, eh. Please explain to me how you know what I can afford. Are you stalking me? Or did you pull that one straight out of your rear end?
Your type really degrades this site.
Actually, what has no place on FR, are your lurid, profanity riddled, personal attack replies.
It is you that is judging. You judge two people you have never met and put decide for us why we like diamonds. You insult those who like diamonds simply because you don't. You're intolerant of someone having something you think they shouldn't have. That should have no place on FR.
I've grown tired of your childish behavior. This conversation is at an end. I have neither the time or the desire to converse with someone who doesn't have a clue how to have a civil conversation. Don't bother to reply because you will be talking to yourself. However, your childish behavior will ensure that you must have the last word. So go ahead and talk to yourself. I however will not bother reading it. Have a nice life Junior.
And now that you've hijacked this thread ( another NO NO and absolutely against posting rules )and tried to makes it all about you, you, YOU, I suggest that you go talk with your wife. Perhaps she doesn't give you the attention that you feel that is your due and that is why you are hectoring women here; we are her stand-ins. Well, go take out your misogyny on her.
And now that you've hijacked this thread ( another NO NO and absolutely against posting rules )and tried to makes it all about you, you, YOU, I suggest that you go talk with your wife. Perhaps she doesn't give you the attention that you feel that is your due and that is why you are hectoring women here; we are her stand-ins. Well, go take out your misogyny on her.
"Actually, what has no place on FR, are your lurid, profanity riddled, personal attack replies."
Just who do you think you are fooling? Or are you actually fooling yourself? Just wondering.
Exactly so! :-)
Go tell it all to Jim! He makes the rules here; I just pointed them out to you.
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