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Results so far:
| Man Made | 43% | 49 votes | Total: 114 votes | |
| Natural | 57% | 65 votes |
Man Made
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Add to FavoritesWith the modern techniques it is nearly impossible to tell a man made diamond from a natural diamond. This lack of physical difference means that the real difference is the one which we as humans put on it. We like the idea of a natural diamond, the thought that it sat for millions of years in the ground slowly being formed into something beautiful. The thought that instead it was a piece of coal put into pressurised lab equipment a week ago causes it to loose some of that magical quality, but there is another difference that we as humans put on these diamonds, that of human blood and suffering.
It is difficult to forget when standing in a jewelry store just how many people suffered to pull those stones from the ground. The process of mining in general is not one which is a simple or easy process. Humans are not meant to live underground for hours at a time but it is not simply that pulling these diamonds from the ground is difficult work. Humans in the parts of the world where these diamonds are typically mined are certainly used to hard work and allowing them to bring in money from around the world with diamonds should eventually help their economy.
The problem is that the people who are suffering and dying in these mines are not the owners of the mines but little more than serfs working a full days labor and hardly earning enough to feed themselves. It is common for these mines to employ children and even pregnant women who can not afford to not work.
The most problematic of these diamonds or the blood diamonds or conflict diamonds. These are diamonds which are mined in Africa and sold on the black market and used to fund wars, wars which ofter harm or are even against the same people who are mining these diamonds.
But the truth is that only a small percentage of diamonds come from these places and it is likely that even if not a single diamond was ever sold these wars would continue at least for some period of time. Africa's problems are not going to be solved with man made diamonds.
But there are other concerns such as environmental damage caused by the mining itself. It is common for the water run off of these mines to be extremely acidic causing damage to water supplies and damaging plants and animals and of course the effect on the economy which can be improved by buying diamonds which are produced in the United States rather than mined somewhere else in the world.
If there were a true difference in quality between man made diamonds and natural diamonds many if not all of these points would be unimportant. You can avoid buying blood diamonds and the effect on the economy and environment is small, but as there is no long any true advantage given to the natural diamonds in this discussion wouldn't you prefer to symbolize your love with something that you knew didn't contribute to the pain and suffering of people across the world.
Learn more about this author, Elton Gahr.
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Natural
I believe buying natural diamonds is best for numerous reasons, my favorite being that there is an unspoken romance, subtle as it may be, that comes with owning a real one.
Yes, man-made diamonds are easier, but that isn't the point.
My point is that it says a lot about the consumer as to which type stone he or she wants. People who want a quality stone that grew naturally, are buying for more than just an investment as such. They want the rarity of it, the fact that love and effort went into cutting the stone, and the fact that it is not a man made knock-off.
Yes, man-made diamonds are easier to make, etc. - everyone knows the stories that it saves miners - but the truth is, consumers will always want beauty [and quality] that occurs naturally.
I am an expert in this area, as I have owned many diamonds [rings] over the years. The sentiment and romance of a natural diamond says a lot. My first ring was my bridal set, which I wore for years: just the sight of it on my finger would remind me of the younger, tumultuous years of marriage; it symbolized all the love that was there despite that turmoil. It also said that my now-husband went out of his way to get me something so special.
It wasn't fake Cubic Zirconia or Diamonique; it was real, which said a lot on our limited budget. A man-made stone would have meant he merely wanted to impress me by getting a stone anyone could buy. A naturally occurring stone is unique in its composition, color, facets, etc. Man made versions can be anything one wants, and there is nothing special about that.
Years later, on our 25th wedding anniversary, my husband bought me a very special ring to commemorate all our years together. It was even more special because we bought it while on shore in the Cayman Islands - a stop along the route of our cruise. I wear it on my finger to this day. Its very existence makes me feel special; reminds me of all I've been through over the years, and that it's much more than a man-made stone.
To my way of thinking, naturally occurring diamonds say a lot. There is romance, quality, and care there that doesn't exist in a man-made stone. Taking a piece of carbon, putting it in a case for making diamonds, and then pressuring the carbon till it turns into a raw diamond, is a lazy man's knock off.
Ask any woman who has a natural diamond in her ring, and there will be sentiment behind it, no matter how small the stone. The engagement or wedding ring says the guy cared, even if the budget was extremely tight. Women who don't seek perfection in life don't care about its size, but about the thoughts behind it when given, and if it's big and gaudy, that says something as well.
There are men who want to impress with a huge rock they think will please a bride or wife. What isn't realized is that there is more to a stone than mere size. Who wants a fake ring? Yes, technically it's real - but anything that imitates naturally occurring beauty is a knock off, in my mind. I'm sure there are women who don't care one way or another, but there is no symbolism of love, romance, quality, or thoughtfulness to associate with such stones. They are what they are: easy, lazy, and not rare at all.
Real, naturally occurring diamonds are so special to me, I only wear one, and that is on my wedding hand. For earrings, tennis bracelets, or necklaces for a romantic night on the town, I have cubic zirconia. I have no need to seem flashy.
So those are my reasons for liking real stones. The thoughtfulness of my groom, and later, my husband, of going to the trouble, matters. The selection of a stone that wasn't gaudy, that fit our budget and kept us out of debt in those early years, mattered. The romance and symbolism of love, made it very special to me.
It was the time taken, the quality and cutting of the stone, and what it said about my husband, that meant so much. Anyone can "order" up a man-made diamond, but a perfectly flawless stone made in a pressure chamber just isn't me: others are welcome to them. I don't need to flaunt a rock at friends to impress them, and get oooh's and aaah's. My husband saving up for the real thing still means everything to me.
I realize that in today's world where people want everything instantly, there are those that like diamonds that are created at whim, but there is no real symbolism of love or romance; the longevity of Mother Nature's work and awesome creation isn't there.
Wanting a stone that was naturally made is hard to explain, but ask a woman who's been married a while, and she will know what I mean. The feeling behind the ring, earrings or necklace - the depth of a husband's caring - means a lot. I've been married thirty-two years, and it still touches my heart that hubby bought me a diamond for our 25th wedding anniversary; it was a sweet gesture from a man who doesn't say a lot that is romantic. Buying a man-made stone never occurred to him, and I'm glad.
A natural stone speaks of a rarity and love , just as my husband does, when caught off guard. It's one of the things that makes my marriage work, even after all these years. Every time I look at my hand, there's his unspoken "I love you" looking back at me. What more could I ask for? Not a darn thing.
Learn more about this author, Lisa Beach.
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