Is it tacky?

[malta blue]

Is it tacky to purchase a diamond ring for oneself? I have been eying a ring for quite some time, and I will be coming into some cash in the near future. It is a large outlay (almost 4k) and I will be sure that the purchase does not interfere with our normal life, but damn I want that ring...

So I ask you, is it tacky to buy diamonds for oneself?:shrug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. no, why should that be tacky?

its much tackier to get someone else to give you some thing, rather then earn it and buy it yourself

[malta blue]

2. That is how I see it,

but my mom insists that it is tacky to purchase it for myself. She says MR MB should do it...but he stands firm on the diamond issue, which is why my engagement ring is a ruby. I wouldn't ask him to do it, and he has no problem with me doing it myself since the money is mine...

[Sequoia]

3. No, 'cause diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Men grow cold as girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square cut or pear shaped
These rocks don't lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl's best friend


GO FOR IT.

[malta blue]

4. Aha - I like your thinking....this is the ring

[Sequoia]

18. NOW, THAT is BEAU-U-U-U-TIFUL !

[malta blue]

20. Thank you

:hug:

It has drawn my attention like no other piece of jewelry before -and I must admit that jewelry is a big weakness - even though I wear nothing but my wedding ring and diamond earrings on a daily basis. This would be for my right hand.

[Sequoia]

23. Wait till it cathes the sun, you'll have tiny rainbows everywhere.

And if you have a daughter you can pass it on as a family heirloom. But, don't think that far ahead!

[malta blue]

24. I do have a daughter and she is already coveting it just

from the pictures.

[Sequoia]

27. I can see why.

I was never one to linger at the windows or displays of rings and such, and when I get home all my rings and stuff come off until I got back to work (except maybe for my Star Trek watch with the little Enterprise going around as the ticker). However, your ring would catch my eye. Make sure you post us a blown up photo of your hand wearing it when you get it.

[pitohui]

5. yeah it's tacky and probably fuels some v. bad people, but you know that already

i would be hesitant to buy a diamond or to have one bought for me, because the ugly facts come more and more to the fore, diamonds are a source of misery almost beyond comprehension in africa, while they are laundered to the profit of folks in amsterdam, new york, and lebanon who never have to suffer the consequences of the misery

plus with all the scandals and a certain amount of v. excellent fakes being laundered along w. real diamonds from russia, you can't be sure that you haven't been bilked

i'm surprised that the lid hasn't blown off the diamond market way before now, between the scandals w. russian fakes, the moissanite scandals (sorry, spelling) of the mid 90s, and the ongoing conflict and blood diamond scandals

so yeah diamonds are tacky, matters not who buys them

well you did ask

[malta blue]

7. I see your point, my husband agrees with your stance regarding

the diamond trade - and to a certain degree I do as well - but that is not to say that I don't still desire in another sense.

Thanks for being honest :hi:

[AlCzervik]

9. i don't think it's tacky and you can buy Canadian Diamonds at cotsco.

if i were getting a diamond i would look there first.

[malta blue]

11. There is no costco near me, but I can ask

the vendor if it is conflict free or not....

Thanks

[no name no slogan]

19. most "new" diamonds you buy nowdays in the US are "clean"

they passed some sort of law awhile back banning the importation of "conflict diamonds".

I've been doing some diamond shopping lately and this has come up...

[malta blue]

21. That is good information to have....

Thanks:hi:

I will be sure to ask if I decide to go ahead and do it!

[no name no slogan]

32. Here's more info from Wiki

(it even appears as if Dubya has done ONE thing right, at least):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_diamond#U.S._policy

On January 18, 2001, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13194 which prohibited the importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone into the United States in accordance with the UN resolutions.<15> President Bush on May 22, 2001 issued Executive Order 13213 which banned rough diamond importation from Liberia into the United States. Liberia had been recognized by the United Nations as acting as a pipeline for conflict diamonds from Sierra Leone.<16>

United States enacted the Clean Diamond Trade Act (CDTA) on April 25, 2003,<17> and implemented on July 29, 2003 by Executive Order 13312.<18><19> The CDTA installed the legislation to implement the KPCS in law in the United States. The implementation of this legislation was key to the success of the KPCS, as the United States is the largest consumer of diamonds. The CDTA states: 'As the consumer of a majority of the world’s supply of diamonds, the United States has an obligation to help sever the link between diamonds and conflict and press for implementation of an effective solution.<17>

:)

[AlCzervik]

25. good to know, size 6 ring finger just in case you were wondering.

:D

[malta blue]

26. LOL

:rofl:

I'll have to send you pix when I decide to sell of some of the jewels....

[no name no slogan]

34. ROFL!

:rofl:

Okay, just as long as my soon-to-be fiance doesn't find out!

[Midlodemocrat]

10. It's not tacky. Not at all.

Enjoy it!

[malta blue]

13. Thanks Midlo!

:hi:

I am really looking forward to my trip to NYC for the big purchase....

[patricia92243]

6. Why in the world would it be tacky? Buy that or anything else that you want

and can afford.

[malta blue]

8. Thanks - it is a hell of a lot of money

but I will have all my debt paid off and still plenty leftover to save for that rainy day....

[Connonym]

12. not tacky at all BUT

It's not at all tacky to buy yourself something nice but I urge you to reconsider a diamond simply because they are a scam. It's really worth only about 10% of what you pay for it. My personal opinion, you'd be better off buying a faux diamond set in a good setting. Which is probably tacky but I'm very sour on diamonds.

[malta blue]

14. I know...DeBeers holds tons of them and releases them

slowly to keep the market so expensive. Like I said above, I have a ruby engagement ring since Mr MB is against the diamond thing. But damn - it's an amazing ring....

[Connonym]

15. perhaps you can duplicate it with a CZ?

I'm bitter I guess because my engagement ring they demanded my ex's car for collateral (?!!) and I had to sell it this year and literally got less than 8% of what we originally paid. I so badly wanted to say fuck you to the jewelry dealer but I didn't have a choice :'(

[malta blue]

16. I don't know....

I think it is a trademarked design and I am pretty sure the designer will not duplicate in CZ.

I am really sorry to hear about your ring....:hug:

[Orsino]

17. You know that synthetic diamonds are on the way?

Before investing in a large gem, I'd think hard about what happens when near-perfect ones are five bucks a carat.

edit: http://www.apollodiamond.com/

[malta blue]

22. I had heard mention but never really investigated.

Thanks for the link.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

43. this is a good response.

its not tacky buying yourself jewellery but try to get a non mined diamond. they make it of very high quality these days.

[Left Is Write]

28. Of course not. Why would it be tacky?

[malta blue]

30. Something about buying diamonds for oneself...

At least that is what Malta Mom says....

[Left Is Write]

33. It sounds like Malta Mom comes from an era...

When a woman had to wait for a man to buy her diamonds, much like a woman had to wait for a man to call her, wait for a man to ask her out, and wait for a man to propose marriage to her.

Those concepts are all outdated, though I can understand why your mother would feel the way she does.

Rest assured, buying diamonds for oneself is not tacky.

[malta blue]

36. Strange thing is she has no qualms about buying

expensive jewels for herself...:shrug:

[spinbaby]

29. No

THIS is tacky:

[malta blue]

31. ...

:rofl: :rofl:

:popcorn:

[deepthought42]

48. *shudder*

very tacky... :puke:

[Evoman]

35. Diamonds are tacky.

Frankly, I find it hard to believe anyone would WILLINGLY subject themselves to such a con job. It's like paying 20,000 dollars for a 1,000 dollar junker car and KNOWING its only worth 1,000.

[malta blue]

41. Thanks for your input

:hi:

Always good to get all sides.

[Evoman]

44. LOL

My point of view never much matters, for some reason, when it comes to diamond lovers. Diamond lovers REALLY love diamonds. I remember when I told my cousin about the mines in Sierra Leone (I was against diamonds before it became cool ;)) she said, and I quote,

"But I really like themmmmmmmmm"

Then she compared it to buying clothes from a sweatshop :eyeroll:

[malta blue]

45. Actually, I welcomed your response, I was not being sarcastic

at all. And yes, I am one of those diamond lovers....:rofl:

[Evoman]

46. Great, can I ask you something?

I've actually got an interest in people who like jewelry, because they are so foreign to my way of thinking. I don't see the point of jewelry at all....I like to look at Geodes and natural gems at museums and the like, but I think most jewelry is not even near as interesting in attractiveness. And many of the gems and silicates that I think are the nicest, are the least valuable (diamonds are one of the least attractive minerals in my esteem).

So what is it, personally, that attracts you to diamonds. Do you just like the look of it (i.e. would you be just as happy with the cubic zirconian), or is part of the appeal the supposed rareness? Do you think they make a person wearing them more attractive? Do you find them more attractive than other gems?

And lastly (and you do not have to answer this question...and I am not trying to implicate you or be aggressive...I am just curious, and I actually like you but...):

Supposed a person gave you a nice, big diamond for free (worth 10 000 dollars). If the same person presented you with pictures of a group of people who were raped, killed or had their arms chopped off, and told you that those people suffered DIRECTLY because of that diamond, would you accept the diamond?

[malta blue]

49. Sure....

I am attracted to jewelry for a number of reasons. I am amazed at the workmanship and talent required to modify nature and convert it into art.
For example:


I own quite a bit of jewelry, much of it not for everyday use. I was lucky to inherit some quality pieces.

I am looking for a piece that I can wear everyday - hence the diamond. I find that simple diamonds are quite neutral and can be worn on a daily basis. I suppose I would be satisfied with CZ, but I also must admit that I get a kick out of wearing the real deal. I don't believe that wearing them makes a person more attractive - it is a matter of taste. I find the ruby and the emerald to be the most attractive of stones, but nowadays, most of them are irradiated to enhance the color and this is a big turnoff to me.

Lastly - I could not in good conscience accept the diamond if it were obtained as a direct result of human suffering - which is why I am looking for a conflict free piece. The only diamond that I currently own was mined over 135 years ago and is hand cut. Unfortunately, I cannot say whether or not it is conflict free.

I hope I have answered your questions - I appreciate your interest in this. I am quite aware of the situation regarding the mining of the stone and hope that I can find one that I can purchase without regrets.

[Elidor]

37. What you should really be asking is...

Is it safe?

[malta blue]

40. please don't ever let me be in that spot....

:rofl:

[Debi]

38. No - not tacky at all.

It will be worth more than the money you spent on it b/c you did it for yourself.

For my 30th birthday my parents purchased a 30-carat Amethyst for me. They had their jeweler cut it and set it as a free-form pendant (heart-shaped). It is beautiful! And rather decedent (I mean really..how often can a girl wear a large purple heart-shaped rock around her neck??!!). AND when I received the appraisal for the stone I was amazed on how much was spent (for a NECKLACE???). But it is worth 10x 20x 100x what was paid for it. It is a one of a kind and it was made for me. :loveya:

Enjoy your purchase and don't worry about what others think. It's for you.

[malta blue]

39. 30 carat amethyst!

I have an amethyst that is 20 carats - although mine is a (are you sitting down) PINKY ring!

It is so much fun to wear - I have had people actually stop and stare at it because it is such a huge rock for such a small finger.:rofl:

[Debi]

42. Bet it's awesome!

can't imagine wearing something that size on my hand!

My 40th is coming up - hope they go with a small strand of pearls or something else...a 40 carat stone would be a better paper-weight than a necklace! :hi:

[cwydro]

47. Of course not!

go for it!

[malta blue]

50. Thanks - it may take me a while to get around to it

but I am saving the ducats....