Weddingbee boards

An interesting read! http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

Have you ever tried to sell a diamond?

The diamond invention—the creation of the idea that diamonds are rare and valuable, and are essential signs of esteem—is a relatively recent development in the history of the diamond trade. Until the late nineteenth century, diamonds were found only in a few riverbeds in India and in the jungles of Brazil, and the entire world production of gem diamonds amounted to a few pounds a year. In 1870, however, huge diamond mines were discovered near the Orange River, in South Africa, where diamonds were soon being scooped out by the ton. Suddenly, the market was deluged with diamonds. The British financiers who had organized the South African mines quickly realized that their investment was endangered; diamonds had little intrinsic value—and their price depended almost entirely on their scarcity. The financiers feared that when new mines were developed in South Africa, diamonds would become at best only semiprecious gems. The major investors in the diamond mines realized that they had no alternative but to merge their interests into a single entity that would be powerful enough to control production and perpetuate the illusion of scarcity of diamonds. The instrument they created, in 1888, was called De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., incorporated in South Africa. As De Beers took control of all aspects of the world diamond trade, it assumed many forms. In London, it operated under the innocuous name of the Diamond Trading Company. In Israel, it was known as "The Syndicate." In Europe, it was called the "C.S.O." -- initials referring to the Central Selling Organization, which was an arm of the Diamond Trading Company. And in black Africa, it disguised its South African origins under subsidiaries with names like Diamond Development Corporation and Mining Services, Inc. At its height -- for most of this century -- it not only either directly owned or controlled all the diamond mines in southern Africa but also owned diamond trading companies in England, Portugal, Israel, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland.

More here: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

I'd read that article a couple of years ago and it helped cement my decision not to get a diamond engagment ring.  In addition to the blood diamond issue, I hate feeling manipulated. Of course, some could argue that the institution of marriage and the mere concept of the engagement ring, regardless of the stone used, is really a result of social manipulation, but mine's just so pretty!  =)

Are you planning on wearing a white wedding dress?  Do you own an ipod?  Do you wear makeup?  By your definition, these are all the result of "social manipulation". Any tradition or norm you observe will come from external sources.  That isn't inherently bad (or good), it is completely subject to your values and the circumstances surrounding your choice.  (I'm not wearing a white wedding dress, I love my ipod and engagement ring because those decisions are in line with my values).

If you don't value a diamond enough to pay what they cost, by all means don't pay it.  But don't think that you're avoiding "social manipulation".  

Miss Banana - I was trying to acknowledge the point you make in my last comment.  I apologize if that wasn't clear.