Millennials ‘Hack’ The Diamond Industry By Finding Cheaper Alternatives And It’s Brilliant
Giedrė BoredPanda staff
“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” said the iconic Marilyn Monroe, but millennials, apparently, prefer having food on the table and their taxes paid. While everyone seems to blame the Generation Y for “killing” industry after industry, when it comes to expensive gemstones, it all makes sense. Research shows that millennials tend to marry later in life than their parents and grandparents. They are also more focused on prioritizing their finances, as well as the ethical problems that come from the industry. And after all, when you look into it, are diamonds really worth it?
Sure, they are extremely hard and durable and have a high dispersion of light which gives them the characteristic “fire” that people seek, but they are also severely overpriced. And what or who is to blame for that? Marketing. Back in 1930s, De Beers started advertising diamonds as ‘a must’ for engagement rings, successfully manipulating consumer demand. While almost universally believed to be extremely rare, and therefore expensive, diamonds are actually quite common with an estimate of 26 tonnes produced annually.
It seems like millennials are just catching up and realizing that diamonds are not that special, and this Tumblr thread is a great example. So scroll down below to read what people had to say and tell us what you think.
This tweet from 2016 questioning why millennials don’t buy diamonds received a lot of attention
When people of Tumblr got together to answer the question and share advice on gemstones
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What do you think ?
Married once, engaged four Times, never a single rock of any kind. No point in making DeBeers any richer, I support local artists ans buy beutiful crafted rings of silver or white gold.
Don't know why this was downgraded. DeBeers has a murderous history. Many people were enslaved and murdered over diamonds. They are one of the reasons Africa has had so many problems. I'd take a craft ring with my birthstone over a diamond any day.
it's the thought that counts, no need for anything too fancy.
De Beers- just dreadful - the poor employees - thats South African Colonization for you
my birthstone is saphire
took a bit of struggling - but i got the wedding ring off the chain round my kneck - am going to wear all 3 ringss im memory of my mother whos brirthday it would have been tomorrow
the jewellery market is seriously iverpriced - I had 2 unwanted wedding rings (1 marriage) - and they were only worth scrap gold value
I like plain white gold rings without any stones and decorations. I have been married once and engaged twice. I am still engaged but I lost my engagement ring when I was working at one place that did not allow to use any rings because of the hygiene. Now I am planning to get a small tattoo to my ring finger.
It's weird but nice how my grandmothers engagent ring - my mothers engagement ring and my mother's wedding ring (which I wear round neck) - only fit one single of my fingers - "third finger -left hand"
You over-post.
ok - get carried away sometimes
why downvote this - its a fact
Because......they want to invest money wiser? Because....status based on a rock isn't cool? Because....horror stories?
Diamonds are boring. My engagement ring is jade.
I love Jade - had a jade ring - a signet style ring - the stone was so big and green and the 22ct Arabian gold so yellow that someone once told me it looked like it came out of a Christmas cracker - I still liked it though
wearing 2 engagement rings and a wedding on the same ring finger is NOT helpful if you are looking for love
it is really annoying actually - the only finger these rings fit on - is 3rd finger left hand - i wish i could wear them - but am single
Its a belt fastner - but cant remember if it it Inri or netsuke
i have this cabinet - of precious things - some of themjade - come carved by Chinese Masters
I have several jade pices - including a very ancient something dynasty thing
I think you should get whatever color engagement ring stone you like. My co-worker has a large, midnight-blue sapphire and it is quite lovely.
I totally want a sapphire engagement ring. They are strong and gorgeous.
i prefer Ceylon Saphires - or Blue Topaz- more intense - the darkones can look almost black and reflect no light
I have a pair of asymmetric earrings in pink, green, yellow, and orange sapphires with a couple of tourmalines and Mexican fire opals. They're gorgeous - and they are NOT the stereotypical stones.
Married once, engaged four Times, never a single rock of any kind. No point in making DeBeers any richer, I support local artists ans buy beutiful crafted rings of silver or white gold.
Don't know why this was downgraded. DeBeers has a murderous history. Many people were enslaved and murdered over diamonds. They are one of the reasons Africa has had so many problems. I'd take a craft ring with my birthstone over a diamond any day.
it's the thought that counts, no need for anything too fancy.
De Beers- just dreadful - the poor employees - thats South African Colonization for you
my birthstone is saphire
took a bit of struggling - but i got the wedding ring off the chain round my kneck - am going to wear all 3 ringss im memory of my mother whos brirthday it would have been tomorrow
the jewellery market is seriously iverpriced - I had 2 unwanted wedding rings (1 marriage) - and they were only worth scrap gold value
I like plain white gold rings without any stones and decorations. I have been married once and engaged twice. I am still engaged but I lost my engagement ring when I was working at one place that did not allow to use any rings because of the hygiene. Now I am planning to get a small tattoo to my ring finger.
It's weird but nice how my grandmothers engagent ring - my mothers engagement ring and my mother's wedding ring (which I wear round neck) - only fit one single of my fingers - "third finger -left hand"
You over-post.
ok - get carried away sometimes
why downvote this - its a fact
Because......they want to invest money wiser? Because....status based on a rock isn't cool? Because....horror stories?
Diamonds are boring. My engagement ring is jade.
I love Jade - had a jade ring - a signet style ring - the stone was so big and green and the 22ct Arabian gold so yellow that someone once told me it looked like it came out of a Christmas cracker - I still liked it though
wearing 2 engagement rings and a wedding on the same ring finger is NOT helpful if you are looking for love
it is really annoying actually - the only finger these rings fit on - is 3rd finger left hand - i wish i could wear them - but am single
Its a belt fastner - but cant remember if it it Inri or netsuke
i have this cabinet - of precious things - some of themjade - come carved by Chinese Masters
I have several jade pices - including a very ancient something dynasty thing
I think you should get whatever color engagement ring stone you like. My co-worker has a large, midnight-blue sapphire and it is quite lovely.
I totally want a sapphire engagement ring. They are strong and gorgeous.
i prefer Ceylon Saphires - or Blue Topaz- more intense - the darkones can look almost black and reflect no light
I have a pair of asymmetric earrings in pink, green, yellow, and orange sapphires with a couple of tourmalines and Mexican fire opals. They're gorgeous - and they are NOT the stereotypical stones.