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(Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
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labeled
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
For those of you who prefer vintage over new diamonds, you are, in most cases, simply guaranteeing that you have a blood diamond.

Add me to the moissanite train. I was a jeweler for years, working almost exclusively with moissanite, and would recommend it whole-heartedly even now that I don't have a dog in the fight. I've worked with stones up to an 8ct equivalent (about a 13mm stone), and can tell you that the color in the larger stones is NOT an issue. The stuff is awesome.
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Cat45
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
Canadian Diamonds are extremely "blood free" from what I've seen in several documentaries done on the subject. Am I taking their word for it--not entirely--but the film makers are well respected in Canada. The effects these huge mines are having on the North are both positive and negative depending upon your point of view. There are not many career opportunities for the people living there who want more than a traditional way of life. The mines, at least publicly, take great pains to keep caribou migration routes open. The mines are open pit and will be "put back the way they were" when they stop producing. By all appearances the mines have given the people of the north opportunities they didn't have before. Those little polar bear diamonds cost way more too but are supposedly of a higher quality--it always comes down to the dollars--can you stand a little blood on your diamond if it means you can get it cheaper? Will you take a half caret over a two caret? People love their bling enough to overlook how it was mined--it's easy to allow yourself forget when it's not happening in your back yard.
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labeled
06/26/09

@Cat45: More love for Canadian diamonds... Canadian Diamonds = "Ice Road Truckers"!

(More proof, also, that I will watch anything Discover or TLC wraps into a reality show.)
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confusedforahotsecond is a sodemombeech!
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
I have one word for you - diamonique.
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pantsless economist...access RESTORED
06/26/09

@confusedforahotsecond is a sodemombeech!: QVC FTW!!!!!
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Skellatrix
06/26/09

@confusedforahotsecond is a sodemombeech!: Say "I love you" with Diamonique!
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
I wish people like Ian Smilie could have had more of an impact on the effectiveness of the Kimberely Process, but like pantsless economist said it is a self-policing document and as such hasn't been effective.

Conflict diamonds are nothing to mess around with, and I have been well aware of this since high school, when I read this article [www.nytimes.com]

After reading that, I decided to never wear a mined diamond until there was an absolute guarantee that it was conflict free, and everything I've read since has just cemented that vow.
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pantsless economist...access RESTORED
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
the issue with the kimberly process is its largely self-regulating and difficult to ensure that the diamonds arent tainted. it's gotta be frustrating for someone like Ian Smillie.
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morninggloria
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
Interestingly enough, I just had a verbal altercation with a coworker yesterday that ended with me telling him that his wife's engagement ring contained a dead African kid.

My relationship with this coworker is acrimonious.
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
06/26/09

@morninggloria: Upon hearing of people's engagements, I have asked friends if they had asked the proper questions to ensure that they weren't wearing blood diamonds.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
06/26/09

@dianersb was bit by a zombie: You sound like a gem of a friend.

Sorry, couldn't resist.
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morninggloria
06/26/09

@dianersb was bit by a zombie: It's so hard not to be a self-righteous prick about diamonds.

I'm just jealous because I'm really not iced out at all. When I throw up my arm, no one thinks it's started snowing.
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CurtCole
06/26/09

@morninggloria: In the words of the popular musical, Chicago, "he had it comin'."
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
06/26/09

@Grim Reaper of the Forest: Meh. Luckily my friends know me, and know how I feel about this.

Luckily, I also wait until after I've said congratulations and heard engagement stories. :)

@morninggloria: I like to throw up my hands and have people think that it's hailing. Which is why I wear pearls.
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pantsless economist...access RESTORED
06/26/09

@morninggloria: of course youre jealous. TEH LADIEZ, THEY LOVE THE DIAMONDS!!!1
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
06/26/09

@dianersb was bit by a zombie: I made the mistake a reading this after reading the whole "why do we mock other women's weddings" thread. Almost all my friends feel the same way about diamonds, so I'm sure you are acting appropriately in the context of your friendship (and don't need me to tell you so). But what happens if the person doesn't know where their fiance bought their diamond? For me, I feel like you should do all the educating you can beforehand, but once the ring is on the finger, the boat has sailed, or whatever. It's like the difference between giving a friend advice on what sort of haircut would flatter them before they go to the salon, and telling them they look ugly after the fact.
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elitza owns the last Enzo shirt
06/26/09

@dianersb was bit by a zombie: One of my best friends just got married, and her husband spent several months researching stones to make sure her engagement ring was humane. It cost him quite a bit more (the stone was much smaller for the same price) but completely worth it for both of them.
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taranwanderer
06/26/09

@elitza owns the last Enzo shirt: Good for your friend! My best friend has a Canadian diamond because she and her fiance also wanted to make sure it wasn't conflict...That said, I sometimes wonder how humane Canadian diamond mines are.

@dianersb was bit by a zombie: I need to take a page out of your book and be more vocal about my views on this to my newer friends.
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debo matar la zombi goldberry83
06/26/09

@Grim Reaper of the Forest: I guess if I were being proposed to, I'd want to be in on choosing the ring - that way I could ensure that I was comfortable with its ethics. And I think that if I were in a relationship serious enough for that to be an option, I'd have already discussed my feelings about diamonds with the dude (i.e., actually he'd know I don't like them, and he'd get me a nice piece of jade).
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
06/26/09

@debo matar la zombi goldberry83: But some guys like to surprise their fiancees (which I never remember how to spell). I'm also thinking of the perspective of not myself, but of a friend, who might not have such strong views on diamonds, and just saying that the time to educate is beforehand, rather than afterwards.
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
06/26/09

@Grim Reaper of the Forest: I get your point. And I fully agree with you. The friends I have asked this of have been my very close friends. They (and their significant others) have known me for years, so they were all expecting this question to pop up, so it hasn't really been an issue.

I should have clarified that I wouldn't ask this of casual friends or of those whom wouldn't necessarily know my viewpoints on this particular subject.

I'm also not going "hey congratulations, is the ring conflict free". It's more of an if it conflict diamonds comes up, I'll ask sort of thing.
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
06/26/09

@elitza owns the last Enzo shirt: That is awesome. Truly awesome.
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mipsy6
06/26/09

@taranwanderer: All mining is kinda bad--bad working conditions, bad for the land, etc. Best solution is recycled ring--or no ring at all.
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la.donna.pietra
06/26/09

@mipsy6: Not necessarily. There's a lot of low-scale semi-precious gemstone mining here in America that is both humane and environmental. For instance, garnet mining in Idaho. The person who pulled it out of the ground is usually the same person who sold it to the jewelry store (or wholesaler).
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sympathyforthebasementcat
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
Those diamonds look like rock candy. Instead of mining diamonds, let's start mining at the big rock candy mountain. Everyone would be happier, safer, and sugarier.

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save jinger
06/26/09

@sympathyforthebasementcat: That would be sweet!

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stonebiscuit rolled a 1 on initiative
06/26/09

@sympathyforthebasementcat: And we'd never have to change our socks.
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portia_sue
06/26/09

@stonebiscuit is a ΓΔΙ: I like the little springs of alcohol that go bubbling cross the rocks, myself.
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Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
I really can't understand why, with the prolifiration of more affordable, prettier man made diamonds, anyone still buys actual diamonds. Why risk it? Thousands die and for what? They are pretty?
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agentsee
06/26/09

@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: I asked for my jewelry to either be vintage or manmade diamonds because of the terrible conditions and history. My engagement ring is unbelievably gorgeous, flawless, and manmade. No one can tell the difference and I know if was humanely made, not torturously mined.
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I'm Chuck Bass
06/26/09

@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: It's amazing how many people I've heard say something like, yeah, I know about the whole blood diamond thing but ooooh sparkly I just want one! I don't understand it.

I'm so anti-diamond I wouldn't even wear a faux or vintage one. This is probably stupid, but I'd be afraid of anyone thinking it's real or not vintage and taking that as my approval of diamonds in general.
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LBB
06/26/09

@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: I don't understand either, but always chalked up my lack of understanding to the fact that I have always preferred semiprecious stones to the sparkly expensive stuff.
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Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.
06/26/09

@I'm Chuck Bass: I think that shows conviction and is very cool. I'm going to make myself look stupid here but I had no idea the extent of the blood that was shed because of diamonds until I saw the movie "Blood Diamonds" with Leo and Dijmon. ( I told you I would make myself look stupid) After I realized what goes into mining diamonds I swore I would never own a real one. I can't imagine being fully aware of the monstrosities that occur and still thinking it was OK to buy them.

PS HI!!! I haven't seen you around in a while.
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Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.
06/26/09

@agentsee: That's the thing I don't get. No one I know can look at a diamond and tell if it is real, or what the clarity is. Why spend so much money on something if no one, not even the person wearing it I bet, can tell the difference?
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I'm Chuck Bass
06/26/09

@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: Hi! I'm lazy lately!

I didn't know anything about blood diamonds until reading about it on the internet, maybe a couple years ago. I wish I'd learned earlier, because it would've prevented me from getting diamonds when I was younger and stupider (I still have them but don't wear them -- what the hell do you do with that stuff?).
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la.donna.pietra
06/26/09

@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: Don't feel as though you look stupid. I had exactly the same reaction after watching Blood Diamond, particularly the bit where Leo's character goes off on Jennifer Connelly's.
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angelheadedhipster
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
Ugh... if we can't even regulate something like diamonds, I'm not seeing much hope for the regulation of things like coltan.
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save jinger
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
But Akon told me blood diamonds don't exist! And he should know, he owns a diamond mine...
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notheretomakefriends
06/26/09

@save jinger: ha! Tell me Akon, if it's not too complex, how africans are dying for the baguettes on you Rolex?

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notheretomakefriends
06/26/09

@notheretomakefriends: how *many* grr I have a serius speling problemm tday
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BabyJane
06/26/09

@save jinger: If you can't trust Akon, then who can you trust?
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save jinger
06/26/09

@BabyJane: You wouldn't think someone who simulates sex with a 15-year-old girl on stage would be so shady.
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sshacker
06/26/09

@notheretomakefriends: I don't know anything about Akon's diamond mines but not everyone diamond is a conflict diamond. In fact, I would say at this point a very small minority of diamonds are conflict diamonds as most, if not all, of the diamond producing countries are post-conflict.

Liberia's ability to sell its main natural resource- diamonds - is helping it fund its much needed development.

Why are people not concerned with coltan? What hypocrisy.
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notheretomakefriends
06/26/09

@sshacker: I am concerned about coltan. One of my best friend's family hails from the Kivu region in RDC, where the coltan conflict creates a lot of instability, and because of which they cannot return there.

as for the video, well, it was a nod to the witty Ms Dynamite
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CurtCole
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
It must takes stones to work in that job.
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greengrey
06/26/09

@CurtCole: I hear the pay just rocks.
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CurtCole
06/26/09

@greengrey (raidersofthelostSTAR): But you gotta watch yo back, you might diamond.
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save jinger
06/26/09

@CurtCole: I bet you have to eat lots of carats to work up the energy for it.
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BabyJane
06/26/09

@CurtCole: It's tough to make the cut. You need to have a lot of clarity for that type of job.
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CurtCole
06/26/09

@BabyJane: I don't know if I could luster up the courage to do it.
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save jinger
06/26/09

@CurtCole: We can only Hope that you will.
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BabyJane
06/26/09

@CurtCole: I know a person as multi-faceted as you will prevail.
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CurtCole
06/26/09

@BabyJane: Yup, just gotta get up off my ice and shine.
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stoprobbers
06/26/09

In reply to (Blood) Diamonds Are Forever
Whaaaat? You mean he was being held accountable for producing diamonds without violating basic human rights? For SHAME, international community! FOR SHAME.
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Mafalda para Presidente
06/26/09

@stoprobbers: Did you read the article? He resigned because he disagreed that the diamons were clean. Quote from the article:

"Some in the industry have questioned whether Zimbabwe's gems match the definition of conflict diamonds as they are helping to fund a government, not a rebel army, but Mr Smillie rejected this: "They are blood diamonds, they have blood all over them."
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