“Anyone who buys diamonds is a dope”
Yes, but it sure keeps the wife happy...
There are some things you do not do for practical purposes. It’s emotional and whether you like it or not, women like diamonds and what they represent. The value is really beside the point.
Shocking! seems like the guy that bought the diamond is the dope
You’re not just paying for the gemstones, you’re paying for the setting too. If you want something unique in that regard it will cost a lot more.
Men have been telling women this for years....
But I have a soft spot for emeralds and star sapphires.
Diamonds work very well as accent stones.
Simple common sense should tell anyone that diamonds are not as rare as the jewelry marketers claim. There are plenty of diamonds for sale in every mall, department stores, stores like Costco, and on TV outlets like HSN. Think of all the places in the U.S., alone, where you can buy diamonds in most countries on earth, and it’s easy to come to the realization that the cost of diamonds is indeed ridiculous. It’s all about marketing and De Beers, which operated as a worldwide monopoly until very recently.
My friend that just went through a divorce said the happy ending place is much cheaper.
Years ago my husband bought me a diamond tennis bracelet through a Gem Shopping channel on TV. It was 7 CTW of diamonds with 14k gold. They stated it was valued at $12,000 and we thought we were getting a bargain for only $2500. Once I received it, I took it to our local jewelry shop for an insurance appraisal and was told the value was $9000. Still a good deal I thought so I kept it. Problem was I rarely wore it as it was too flashy and not my style. Some years later I decided to sell it and after unsuccessful tries on Craigslist, I took it to a jewelry store that advertised it was buying diamonds and gold jewelry. I showed them the appraisal, the receipt from the sale and said I wanted the best deal they could give me.
What a shock when their best deal was $1500. I took it to another store and was offered even less. We ended up LOSING $1000 on the thing! The jeweler told me they pay $100 per carat or $10 a point for “used” diamonds (as if a used diamond meant anything!) and the 14k gold they paid was for scrap gold prices. The diamonds in the bracelet were appraised as SI2 - I1 in clarity and the color was G or H. What we schmoes pay them for these stones is usually $1000-$2000 PER carat. What they will buy them back for is 10% of the price we pay. The deal I have learned is that if you like a piece of jewelry, buy it and wear it and plan on handing it down when you’re gone because you will NEVER get back what you paid for it.
When we were first engaged, we both had just graduated college. She had a job waiting for her but I was waiting for a civil service job.
I had to tell her that I could not afford an engagement ring. She said that was fine and she would just buy one herself. She had already picked out a set several months before. She also bought a new Olds Cutlass. I was the one who selected the car as she wanted an ugly Mercury. She made a large down payment but I still wondered how she would get credit.
It turned out her Uncle owned the bank.
Diamonds have always been a poor investment, whatever their sentimental or romantic appeal might be. De Beers has always controlled the market, limiting production in order to keep the price high. At the same time synthetics have achieved new levels of excellence and cost much less.
Yeah. Tell that to Jessica. Hell of a lot more than three month’s salary...
Large plastic cigar tubes, Cohiba size, are great for carrying large amounts of uncut diamonds and do not trigger metal detectors — as a pocket full of Krugerrands would — and allow for sizable amounts of non-bank-held assets to be stored in a secure location.
As long as there are women, there will always be a demand for diamonds.
I personally like collecting Gems of the Bible, with the relevant chapters and verse displayed along with them.
http://www.preciousstonesofthebible.com/stonegallery.html
I’m a 54 year old woman. I’m of two minds about this. I spent $200 on my wedding dress, off the rack, I just can’t see spending tons of money on something you will wear only once in your life.
At the same time on our 25th anniversary, my husband gave me a beautiful diamond ring. But I never wear it because I’m afraid to lose it.
It’s just spending money on extravagances doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Although I do understand why a man would want to give a woman a diamond to woo her.
I guess if you have the money...
My wife bought her own ring.
I’m either a cheap scum or a super stud.
I pick Super Stud.
Never had one given to me, and would never buy one. Couldn’t wear a ring now, and stopped wearing earrings years ago.