Diamonds –– Yet another overrated item

But she loses the necklace and. well, I won't tell
you what happens next, except that the kidnappers try to return the kid
and. she sold her hair to buy him a. well, let's just say that she comes

a bad end, and winds up having to do dishes and stuff. Quel horreur!

Are any of those boots made of leather? If so, it makes your objection
to fur sound kinda silly.
BP

...if you want a diamond, buy Canadian...the ethical choice. ;–)

One can wear Canadian diamonds with a clear conscience.

you know, "How else can two months' salary last forever?"

Remember "The Necklace," that story by Guy de Maupassant? Of course you do.
You read it in high school French class, just like I did. If you're young
enough, you may have read it in English in middle school, around the same
time you read "The Ransom of Red Chief."

for all you are worth.

mjoann wrote:
Make that "clueless." For some strange reason, my spell checker
exchanged my word.

Over there, when a couple
becomes engaged they exchange gold bands and place them on the *left* ring
finger. Upon marriage, the rings are switched to the *right* hand.

"workorshoot" <workorsh...@here.com> wrote in message
news:frqdnemX9esTcRTenZ2dnUVZ_tmdn...@comcast.com...

Despite all this rant, IIRC, Col DeBeers was a mid–carder, at best.

I simply cannot disassociate diamonds from their political and
environmental consequences – from the cruelty of the trade. It's the
same for me with fur. I don't wear it. I'm not a member of PETA, nor am
I a vegetarian, but there's something unappealing to me about the fur
trade too.

My "fetish" is boots. I love cowgirl boots, calf–length boots, Uggs,
just boots! It doesn't matter if I am in a short skirt or long, or
wearing jeans, I love different kinds of boots. I found a really cool
pair of women's tall Russian Army boots and they get worn a lot!

(snip)
So, kids, when the time comes for you to pop the question to your
sweetie,
don't go to De Beers.
...if you want a diamond, buy Canadian...the ethical choice. ;–) These are
no blood diamonds, no conflict involved, no slave labour and no hacked off
limbs. One can wear Canadian diamonds with a clear conscience.
I actually prefer rubies, emeralds, aqua marines and amethysts...something
with a bit of colour! ;–)

Deuteros wrote:

One of them is that De Beers commercial

Some jewelers recommend three months.
What's next – a year's sal?

(snip)
So, kids, when the time comes for you to pop the question to your
sweetie,
don't go to De Beers.
...if you want a diamond, buy Canadian...the ethical choice. ;–) These are
no blood diamonds, no conflict involved, no slave labour and no hacked off
limbs. One can wear Canadian diamonds with a clear conscience.
I actually prefer rubies, emeralds, aqua marines and amethysts...something
with a bit of colour! ;–)
Heidi

Not My Best Friend
A Contribution to the Survey of Overrated Items
by Mama Redcloud
Diamonds. The hardest substance on earth, a thing of rare beauty, a symbol
of love, and a girl's best friend. How can such a thing be over–rated?
Diamonds can be very useful, for drill bits, burglar tools, or writing
poems on the windows in case you are imprisoned in the Tower of London.
They are also used in targeting devices for smart bombs and cruise
missiles. But these are all rather specialized uses. Many of us could go
through life without encountering any of them.
The form in which most of us are likely to encounter diamonds is in the
engagement ring. Now, this happens to be a hot button of mine. Those who
know me know that, like Pavlov's dogs, I can be counted on to respond
predictably to certain stimuli. One of them is that De Beers commercial,
you know, "How else can two months' salary last forever?" At this point I
invariably begin to sputter, "Two months' salary? That's real money!
What's
he gonna do, take out a loan?"
The tradition, if you want to call it that, of the diamond engagement ring
was originated in the 1920s by an advertising agency hired by, you guessed
it, De Beers. De Beers, incidentally, is not a company that sells
diamonds.
It is THE company that has a monopoly on virtually all of the diamonds in
the world. Buying a diamond from De Beers is like buying oil from OPEC. De
Beers is the descendant of the company formed by Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes
Scholarship (q.v.) guy. His career started with deceit and trickery, and
went on to dictatorship, by way of exploitation, racism, and imperialism.
It's not just in romantic fiction that the history of diamonds is a
history
of blood. And if you think that is all safely in the past, go to your
favorite Web browser and type "conflict diamonds." Be warned, though –
don't do it if you don't like looking at pictures of people whose hands
have been chopped off with machetes.
Anyway, De Beers had a problem. The cachet of diamonds was based on the
fact that they were very rare. But in the late 19th century, enormous
diamond deposits were discovered in southern Africa. How to keep up the
price of something that was no longer all that rare? The traditional
czars,
emperors and so on could buy up only a small fraction of the supply.
Enter the ad agency. They had the brilliant (get it?) idea of creating a
demand for diamonds outside the traditional diamond–owning classes by
convincing impressionable young people that a diamond ring was an
essential
part of the courtship ritual. So pure, so beautiful, so indestructible – a
perfect symbol for your love. (And you thought you thought of that all by
yourself. Now don't you feel like a chump?)
For something so chaste and respectable, diamonds seem to keep a lot of
bad
company. There's Diamond Lil, the original "come up and see me some time"
gal, from the play of the same name by Mae West. (Her re–creation of the
character on film helped bring in the Motion Picture Production Code.)
There's Diamond Jim Brady, railroad tycoon and famous eater. In addition
to
vast quantities of consumables, this looney spent his dough on such
durable
goods as a dozen gold–plated bicycles. And let's not forget Legs Diamond,
racketeer and patron of the Hotsy Totsy Club.
The beauty of diamonds is, in the immortal words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, a
meretricious beauty–– flashy, vulgar, valued for being valued rather than
for any intrinsic worth–– the essence of over–rated.
Remember "The Necklace," that story by Guy de Maupassant? Of course you
do.
You read it in high school French class, just like I did. If you're young
enough, you may have read it in English in middle school, around the same
time you read "The Ransom of Red Chief."
Anyway, you remember the story. An annoying, whiny woman gets invited to a
posh affair and feels that she simply cannot go without some diamonds, so
she borrows a necklace from a rich friend. At the big shindig "She danced
madly, ecstatically, drunk with pleasure, with no thought for anything, in
the triumph of her beauty, in the pride of her success, in a cloud of
happiness made up of this universal homage and admiration, of the desires
she had aroused, of the completeness of a victory so dear to her feminine
heart." (Really, Guy!) But she loses the necklace and. well, I won't tell
you what happens next, except that the kidnappers try to return the kid
and. she sold her hair to buy him a. well, let's just say that she comes
to
a bad end, and winds up having to do dishes and stuff. Quel horreur!
If you want to "glitter and be gay"–– and who doesn't, from time to time––
go for sequins, rhinestones, mylar, mirrors, Christmas tree lights, or
even
de Maupassant's "paste." (I don't think of paste as particularly sparkly,
except for glitter glue, but maybe he wasn't thinking of the kind we used
to eat in elementary school.) Something happy and sparkly and untouched by
evil. Forget Cecil Rhodes, forget De Beers, forget the gangsters and the
gold–diggers and the machetes. Don't become an incitement to crime, or a
party to it. Save the two month's salary for something you really want,
like food and shelter, or a really cool vacation. Who cares whether your
sparklers are "real"? Make your own reality, and get out there and glitter
for all you are worth.
I am embarrassed to admit, after this prolonged rant, that I actually own
some, not to put too fine a point upon it, diamonds. When my grandmother
died, she left me a ring containing some small You Know What. (She once
tried to give me her diamond engagement ring, but I had to decline. I love
you, Grandma, but not that way.) I don't hold Grandma's diamonds against
her. Jewels and furs were her generation's 401(k) plan. When she had
money,
she bought over–rated items, knowing she could always sell or pawn them
when times got hard. If she had just put the money aside, in the mattress
or in the bank, it would be too easy to get it out and spend it. And in
those days before FDIC, the money might have been safer in the jewelry
box,
or in the hock shop, than in the bank.
So, kids, when the time comes for you to pop the question to your sweetie,
don't go to De Beers. Come to me, Mama "Legs" Redcloud, and we can do some
business. No questions asked, but you will have to do the dishes.

Heidi Graw wrote:


"workorshoot" <workorsh...@here.com> wrote in message
news:frqdnemX9esTcRTenZ2dnUVZ_tmdn...@comcast.com...
I don't like either diamonds or gold, much preferring silver. I wear
hoop earrings – all silver and all in different sizes. My rings are all
silver too. Not much interested in precious or semi–precious stones.
Diamonds and gold are bought at a terrible human cost. I will not
participate in any form of trade I feel is abusive of labor or the
environment.
Cat

catbrie...@yahoo.com wrote:
Did you know that the concept of the engagemant ring doesnt exist in
the country where I will be marrying?? You do now!
Yet another expectation of the "male" in the west that I refuse to
submit to.
The west is a culture of grotesque material excess and spiritual
bankruptcy....The diamond is a "shining" example of this disgusting
obsession with materials procured from the suffering of many and whos
expected to buy them? Me? No way, what a waste of money.

Cows are not an endangered species. We eat them and we milk them. Do
you know anyone who eats mink or milks ermine?

On 2 Dec 2005 05:42:43 –0800, catbrie...@yahoo.com wrote:
Are any of those boots made of leather? If so, it makes your objection
to fur sound kinda silly.
BP
Mink and ermine are not endangered species. The ones that are used for
furs are raised on farms expressly for that purpose. We don't eat
them, but they would never have lived if not raised for their fur. Any
other objections?
BP

Mink and ermine are not endangered species. The ones that are
used for furs are raised on farms expressly for that purpose. We
don't eat them, but they would never have lived if not raised for
their fur.

"BP" <re...@newsgroup.please.com> wrote in message
news:3mk0p1pkfvdj7jife6eqbgshcnkpho7...@4ax.com...
And what about fur–bearing critters that are crop–eating pests? There are
places where there is a bounty on nutria––giant rats, really––and even
plenty of places where the nutria are eaten in addition to being skinned for
their pelts (and for the bounty paid on them). It seems like a win–win–win
situation, but it is still a fur.
And aren't those faux furs made from non–renewable natural resources, i.e.,
petroleum?
DevilsAdvocateFarb

Interesting to say but I have never seen it in practice. What I have
always seen is the "male" is expected to show his submissiveness and
ability to be "groomed" by surrenduring 2 months of hard work to show
he is a good and rich enough suitor.
Could u imagine if the "male" didnt spend much on the ring or said he
didnt wanna buy one?? Her girlfriends would set her straight quick and
then she would him– but not me. Glad its not me.
2 me, marriage rituals in this country are completely unacceptable far
beyond the ring.

Women being women... in general, and in most cases, want you to be
extremely frivolous with your money and buy them that ring. In fact,
they want you to be frivolous until it hurts.

Beachcomber wrote:
I must not be very womanly, because I refuse to own a diamond ring. De Beers is a
disgusting monopoly, and I have to stick with my ethics. Actually, all gemstone
mines are pretty scammy, but de Beers wins by far.
Even if de Beers was the greatest company in the world, spending even a week's
salary on an engagement ring is a waste.
mjoann

Beachcomber wrote:
I must not be very womanly, because I refuse to own a diamond ring.

De Beers is a disgusting monopoly, and I have to stick with my ethics.

Actually, all gemstone mines are pretty scammy, but de Beers wins by far.
Even if de Beers was the greatest company in the world, spending even a
week's salary on an engagement ring is a waste.

mjoann (xtcmusic...@netscape.com) writes:
Then, if that is true, you are not a part of the problem.
But, are you a part of the *solution* ? Do you speak to female friends
about this being a " disgusting " trait and demand ?

So, what have you found in your speaking out against such female
fripperies ?

I find that most people are
completely culls, (and think I am crazy.)

Interesting to say but I have never seen it in practice. What I have
always seen is the "male" is expected to show his submissiveness and
ability to be "groomed" by surrenduring 2 months of hard work to show
he is a good and rich enough suitor.
Could u imagine if the "male" didnt spend much on the ring or said he
didnt wanna buy one?? Her girlfriends would set her straight quick and
then she would him– but not me. Glad its not me.
2 me, marriage rituals in this country are completely unacceptable far
beyond the ring.
FRODO HAS FAILED, BUSH HAS THE RING!!!!

<sesuma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1133145645.987202.127...@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Boo–hoo–hoo. No one is forcing you to give jewelry to anyone or marry
anyone. (Why would you want to marry someone whose values are so different
from your own?)

<sesuma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1133145645.987202.127...@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Boo–hoo–hoo. No one is forcing you to give jewelry to anyone or marry
anyone. (Why would you want to marry someone whose values are so different
from your own?)

I do agree however, that silver is much better!!

My husband didn't HAVE to give me an expensive piece of jewelry to show
that he loved me; he WANTED to. If you don't want to give an expenisve
piece of jewelry to your fiancee –– don't.
Barbara

Andre Lieven wrote:
Actually, I have informed many people, both male and female about the
scam that is the diamond trade. I try to explain how de Beers inflates
the "value" of a diamond by bullying and buying out smaller mines, then
artificially controlling the supply.

I find that most people are
completely culls, (and think I am crazy.)

People honestly believe that
they "need" a diamond engagement ring and it "has" to be outrageously
expensive.

I think most people would be surprised to know how many of
their grandmothers or great–grandmothers survived just fine with an
inexpensive garnet or other semi–precious gemstone ring.

I had one woman ask if I was "queer," but most think I am ridiculously
strange and unfashionable.

I do find that men are relatively more impressed ;)

On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 11:57:00 –0600, Heidi Graw wrote
(in article <Mrmif.629906$oW2.418...@pd7tw1no>):
kinda wonder about that original post because I'd have thought the diamond
engagement ring went back a long time before the 1920's?

kinda wonder about that original post because I'd have thought the diamond
engagement ring went back a long time before the 1920's?

On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 12:05:19 –0600, Ruddell
<ruddell'Elle–Kabo...@canada.com> choked out these words:
i never saw the original post, so i googled it:

65b9048f0dd29fd8?lnk=st&q=diamonds+––+Yet+another&rnum=1#65b9048f0dd29fd8

<catbrie...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1133136125.863480.39...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Cat wrote:
I will not
participate in any form of trade I feel is abusive of labor or the
environment.

"Barbara" <mom_2_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133188774.019178.233...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Barbara wrote:
My husband didn't HAVE to give me an expensive piece of jewelry to show
that he loved me; he WANTED to.

If you don't want to give an expenisve
piece of jewelry to your fiancee –– don't.

(snip)
Do you eat chocolate?

http://www.newdream.org/consumer/chocolatemore.php
I happen to love chocolate. Yet, everytime I eat it, I'm thinking about
that child who toiled on that cacao plantation and I end up with a guilty
conscience. <sigh>
Heidi

Yes, and that's what I was commenting about. I thought/think the diamond
engagement ring goes back further than the 1920's. Maybe not, might be
something new in the grand scheme of things?

I really like diamonds. My husband had my ring redone after 25 years of
marriage and I always get compliments on the setting, five graduated
diamonds on a band that is about 1/3 inch. My secret to keeping it shiny
is the jewelry cleaner they sell at the county fairs. I have my mother's
diamond ring, a pendant made of earrings my grandmother owned and diamond
studs. Actually there are no stones that I don't like.
Audrey

Diamonds were not unheard of in the 19th century, but they certainly
weren't the expected norm. There wasn't really a rule (or advertising
campaign) that made people think they needed a diamond.
Laura Ingalls Wilder describes getting a garnet and pearl ring in the
1880's in her book "These Happy Golden Years." There is absolutely no
mention or expectation of a diamond. In fact, pearls were more acceptable.
History shows that some wealthy monarchs had diamond rings in earlier
centuries, but common people generally did not. The idea that women must
have a diamond that costs 2–3 month's salary is a newer and completely
made up phenomenon. It was started by de Beers, a company that controls
most of the world's diamond supply and has good reason to artificially
manipulate the value of diamond. (Diamonds are rare, but they are
nowhere near as rare as de Beers would have us think; there are much
rarer stones that are not as hyped or expensive as a diamond.)
Of my grandmothers, one received a garnet ring in the 1930's. I don't
know what my other grandma's original ring was, but she didn't get a
diamond until later (when de Beers had successfully tricked woman into
thinking it was the norm.)
I suspect that most of the older people in this group had grandmothers
who did not wear diamond engagement rings.

For my part is is both conviction and a matter of taste. Silver looks
better against my complexion and hair color. It also matches well with
the clothing colors I prefer.
Cat

I'm still amazed at the notion that some schmoe said a wedding ring
should equal three months pay, or something like that, and everybody
bought into it! Well, the women bought into it, and it was presented
to men in such a way that they had no choice but to shuffle their feet
and accept it, lest they be accused of not loving her enough.

Anyway, that person should be strung up by their heels.

"ahmward" <nospam.ahmw...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:89qdnSU6xYCohRLenZ2dnUVZ_sOdn...@giganews.com...
When you say that the jewelry cleaner is the secret, do you mean a
machine or a substance?
I use an inexpensive sonic cleaner with plain old amonia. My biggest
complaint about cleaning jewelry is trying to polish silver when it's
in a piece that has stones that can't be exposed to harsh de–tarnish
stuff––pearls, turquoise, opal. How is a person supposed to polish
the silver? (We have a lot of sulphur in the air here and silver
tarnishes horribly.)
cofarb

"ahmward" <nospam.ahmw...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:89qdnSU6xYCohRLenZ2dnUVZ_sOdn...@giganews.com...
When you say that the jewelry cleaner is the secret, do you mean a machine
or a substance?
I use an inexpensive sonic cleaner with plain old amonia. My biggest
complaint about cleaning jewelry is trying to polish silver when it's in a
piece that has stones that can't be exposed to harsh de–tarnish
stuff––pearls, turquoise, opal. How is a person supposed to polish the
silver? (We have a lot of sulphur in the air here and silver tarnishes
horribly.)

"cofarb" <do...@cofarb.com> wrote in message
news:uuidnYYeldamgxLenZ2dnUVZ_tOdn...@adelphia.com...
Use toothpaste (not the gel type) and a soft cloth. If you do get any
on the stones it won't harm them and the stuff dies a great job on silver.
To brighten silver even more, use Wondra flour as a buffing agent on
a soft cloth.
I've been cleaning my collection of Navaho pieces this way for years.

"jrogow" <jro...@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:dmnbbv02...@news3.newsguy.com...
Thanks!

<catbrie...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1133447581.668792.271...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

As for white gold...okay. But I wear mainly black, creams and natural
colors, and I like silver because it seems to go with everything.
Silver also seems to go better with my shade of blonde. I'm a "white"
not "gold" blonde.
Cat

Cat
I, too will not wear diamonds, on principle. I do drink coffee and eat
chocolate. Part of my congitive dissonance includes the notion that I
consider coffee and chocolate to be life–sustaining needs, whilst
believing that diamond jewelry is a luxury I do not need. In addition,
I do my best to buy free trade coffee and chocolate. My highest
recommendation is for Omanhene Chocolate Company.
I used to sometimes wear "faux" diamond jewelry until my husband told
me that is just as bad as wearing the real thing. I agreed, and the
fakes (cheap ones, at that) went into the trash!
FWIW, I will only buy a car made by American union auto–workers, and I
also do my very best to not buy things made in China, for fear of
supporting slave labor. I won't set foot in a Wal–Mart, either.
I do feel fortunate that I can afford to stand up for these principles,
as not everyone can.
NM

What would you do with diamond jewelry if you inherited it?

Not sure about the coffee but in total agreement about the chocolate,
cofarb

Cat
I, too will not wear diamonds, on principle. I do drink coffee and eat
chocolate. Part of my congitive dissonance includes the notion that I
consider coffee and chocolate to be life–sustaining needs, whilst
believing that diamond jewelry is a luxury I do not need. In addition,
I do my best to buy free trade coffee and chocolate. My highest
recommendation is for Omanhene Chocolate Company.
I used to sometimes wear "faux" diamond jewelry until my husband told
me that is just as bad as wearing the real thing. I agreed, and the
fakes (cheap ones, at that) went into the trash!

"Nanm" <morris....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133476972.742818.224...@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
What would you do with diamond jewelry if you inherited it?
Not sure about the coffee but in total agreement about the chocolate,
cofarb

"cofarb" <do...@cofarb.com> wrote in message
news:fYOdnWZVj6sXERLenZ2dnUVZ_v2dn...@adelphia.com...
We all have our reasons for the specific principles we hold but a red flag
goes up for me when I see that a topic like this one is cross posted to at
least five groups. Perhaps it really isn't about alt.fashion.

Cat, now I understand why soc.men are on your case. You're not pretty in
pink! You scare the sh*t out of these bitter boys by wearing black and
silver! ;–)

Heidi

What would you do with diamond jewelry if you inherited it?
Not sure about the coffee but in total agreement about the chocolate,
cofarb

I am designated to inherit some of my grandmother's and g.grandmother's
jewelry, most of which has diamonds in it. Of course, I will treasure
these things, and perhaps wear them on special occasions. My
grandmother was born in 1903, so they are antiques. This, of course
doesn't mean that they weren't mined by slave labor, they probably
were, as most of Africa was "officially" colonized then.
My gandmother's engagement ring is exceedingly beautiful, with a
flawless 1 ct diamond, with two small saphires on each side, and very
intricate detailing on the platinum band. The matching platinum
wedding band has this very intricate scrolling as well. My mother went
to have it resized, and after visiting several jewelers, finally found
one to agree to try to "stretch" it. It mostly worked, except it did
split, and he had to add some platinum, though you can't tell. At
least now my mother can wear it, and so can I someday.
Now, if I inherited some chocoloate...
NM
cofarb wrote:

I am a huge advocate of NOT saving things for special
occasions––especially things which cannot really be harmed or used up
by using them for their intended purpose. Life is too short! Wear and
enjoy!
cofarb


"Nanm" <morris....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133539864.918958.306...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Cat
I, too will not wear diamonds, on principle. I do drink coffee and eat
chocolate. Part of my congitive dissonance includes the notion that I
consider coffee and chocolate to be life–sustaining needs, whilst
believing that diamond jewelry is a luxury I do not need. In addition,
I do my best to buy free trade coffee and chocolate. My highest
recommendation is for Omanhene Chocolate Company.
I used to sometimes wear "faux" diamond jewelry until my husband told
me that is just as bad as wearing the real thing. I agreed, and the
fakes (cheap ones, at that) went into the trash!
FWIW, I will only buy a car made by American union auto–workers, and I
also do my very best to not buy things made in China, for fear of
supporting slave labor. I won't set foot in a Wal–Mart, either.
I do feel fortunate that I can afford to stand up for these principles,
as not everyone can.
NM