A Moment Please

Alright, so this blog is mostly dedicated to the things in life that are fun and interesting. However, this one item in my influenster Something Blue Box needs to be addressed, as I have a very strong view point on this issue. While I appreciate the thought, it makes me sad that this trend of the diamond engagement ring continues with complete disregard for consequences.

Included in the box was a brochure with discounted diamond rings, but come on ladies, we all know this is ridiculous trend right? Apparently not. The Atlantic published an article about the history of diamond ring, the whole article can be found here, but in summation it explains that the diamond ring is basically collateral in a loan where the bride is the object on loan. When a groom to be has made an investment on a ring, he is making a promise that he will fulfill if he doesn't want to lose money. If the man doesn't follow through with the agreement, the woman leaves the deal with a shiny little something. So fine, you say, what if I like diamonds and I like the idea of being property on loan? What if I like having my worth measured by my intact virginity? Do you know where diamonds come from? I don't mean how they are formed inside the earth either. What are the politics involved in mining and selling them?

Here is an excerpt from Brilliant Earth, that discusses the origin of most diamonds:

It’s become well-known among diamond consumers that many diamonds have histories tied to violence and human suffering. But most people looking for a diamond never receive any more information than this basic word of advice: avoid buying a “blood” or “conflict” diamond.
 
That advice is well-intentioned, but it’s not always enough. The truth is, many so-called “conflict free” diamonds are not actually free from bloodshed and other serious injustices including child labor, worker exploitation, and sexual violence.
 
How is it that reputable jewelers could be misleading customers about such serious issues? Why isn’t the diamond industry being held accountable to a higher standard? The simple answer is that the industry has done a masterful job of setting the terms of the debate – and of encouraging any discussion about blood diamonds to end before it even starts.
 
But if you want a more complete answer, it’s helpful to take a deeper look at what happens in jewelry stores, at the history of the blood diamond issue, and at how the diamond industry developed a marketing strategy that misleads consumers and makes real change a challenge.

There is ample information about blood diamonds online, and the Amnesty International website has lots of information about them.

Finally, if you need a more persuasive argument against diamond engagement rings, I present to you Henry Rollins:



What about my ring? Elton gave me an antique family heirloom with a square cut amethyst; it can be seen in this post. My ring is beautiful, meaningful, and shows Elton's dedication and love without making me feel like piece of property on loan. Maybe I'm unusual, but if I knew that the bling on my hand cost someone their life, I couldn't be comfortable with myself or my jewelry choice.