What should I look for when choosing a diamond engagement ring?
Lucas_ Apr 9th, 2005 Disclaimer: This may not really be the answer you expected or wanted to hear. What should you look for when choosing an diamond ring? Make sure you buy an artificial diamond ring. First of all, diamonds have no inherent value. Their value is created artificially. There’s only one big supplier of diamonds (De Beers), and they do several things to artificially inflate the price they can ask for diamonds. They keep the supply low, they make people believe that you shouldn’t re-sell diamond rings or buy used diamond rings (so they have no resale value), and they make people believe that you need to give a diamond ring to your girlfriend when you propose to her. There’s another reason why diamonds from De Beers are a bad gift. Miners and diamond cutters who mine and cut these diamonds are treated like slaves and are often underage. The money you give to De Beers doesn’t go to these people, but to the governments and rebel forces in Africa and thus funds civil wars in Af
