They arguably had the greatest marketing success in the 20th century...

Well, in the US at least. And maybe Japan? I know Europe hasn't really bought into the whole diamond engagement ring thing.

I once met someone who had worked in the sorting houses in Amsterdam and he said that it was crazy how the system worked. Value was so subjective that stones were sorted depending on where they were going, like, the US market values these characteristics so we'll send them these kinds of diamonds, Japan values this, so we'll send them these, etc.

Value was so subjective that stones were sorted depending on where they were going, like, the US market values these characteristics so we'll send them these kinds of diamonds, Japan values this, so we'll send them these, etc.

See, to me, this sounds like the sanest part of the whole hoop-de-hoodle.

See, to me, this sounds like the sanest part of the whole hoop-de-hoodle.

Yes, but people here seem to think that they are buying something with an objective value (as long as they follow the 4Cs and such).

ETA: Here being the US and not b.org

Hm, I bought a cookie to eat tonight before my class. However, I want it now. What to do?

(What would DeBeers Do?)

(now I keep seeing DeBeers as DeBarge)

What would DeBeers Do?

Convince someone else that the cookie is worth $1000, you sell it, then you use the money to start a cookie-baking sweatshop, and have all the cookies that you want.

Oops. I et it up already! I am such a bad planner.

Oops. I et it up already! I am such a bad planner.

Well that's the way the cookie crumbles.

De Beers would tell you to keep the cookie forever as both (a) an investment and (b) a sign of love, fidelity, and apparently, Victorian hopes and dreams. And then they would make it impossible to dispose of the cookie.

And then they would make it impossible to dispose of the cookie.

To be fair, who really wants to toss their cookies?

To be fair, who really wants to toss their cookies?

That's just what they want you to think.