Diamonds: The overpriced best friend
Geography 180
Mon/Wed 220-540
Diamonds: The Overpriced Best Friend “A diamond is a girls best friend,” “A diamond is forever,” “Nothing says I love you, like a diamond,” these are all statements that have been force fed into our brains since we can remember. But why? Why cant a ruby be our best friend? Why cant the man of your dreams get you an 2.5 carat Sapphire ring when he pops the question? Would you say no if it wasn’t a diamond? Due to the clever marketing team of De Beers, they have made diamonds the symbol of love and marriage since 1888(Wikipedia, 2013). In this paper I am going to discuss the diamond market and give my input on this empire. First, what is a diamond? According the the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a diamond is a native crystalline carbon that is the hardest known mineral, it is usually nearly colorless, and when transparent and free from flaws, is highly valued as a precious stone. Diamonds have been discovered in approximately 35 different countries around the world. Russia, Botswana and South Africa are the world’s biggest quality diamond producers, while Australia is the biggest industrial diamond producer. (Hard As Rocks, 2012). Africa has the most notable diamond deposits in the world, and currently 65% of the world’s diamonds are found there. (World Diamond Council, 2013). Countries that diamonds are also found in are India, South America (Brazil), China, U.S (Arkansas, Colorado, and Wyoming), and Canada. During the past few years Canadian diamond producing has increased and more people are seeing Canada as a major source for them. (Hard As Rocks, 2012). More than 100 million carats are mined each year, but only a quarter of them are considered “gem quality.” (Diamond Stud Source). Since diamonds are natural and formed in the ground not all of them come out perfect. Diamonds were formed by extreme heat and pressure in the earth’s surface. (World Diamond Council, 2013). Values have gone up for diamonds due to the genius
Mon/Wed 220-540
Diamonds: The Overpriced Best Friend “A diamond is a girls best friend,” “A diamond is forever,” “Nothing says I love you, like a diamond,” these are all statements that have been force fed into our brains since we can remember. But why? Why cant a ruby be our best friend? Why cant the man of your dreams get you an 2.5 carat Sapphire ring when he pops the question? Would you say no if it wasn’t a diamond? Due to the clever marketing team of De Beers, they have made diamonds the symbol of love and marriage since 1888(Wikipedia, 2013). In this paper I am going to discuss the diamond market and give my input on this empire. First, what is a diamond? According the the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a diamond is a native crystalline carbon that is the hardest known mineral, it is usually nearly colorless, and when transparent and free from flaws, is highly valued as a precious stone. Diamonds have been discovered in approximately 35 different countries around the world. Russia, Botswana and South Africa are the world’s biggest quality diamond producers, while Australia is the biggest industrial diamond producer. (Hard As Rocks, 2012). Africa has the most notable diamond deposits in the world, and currently 65% of the world’s diamonds are found there. (World Diamond Council, 2013). Countries that diamonds are also found in are India, South America (Brazil), China, U.S (Arkansas, Colorado, and Wyoming), and Canada. During the past few years Canadian diamond producing has increased and more people are seeing Canada as a major source for them. (Hard As Rocks, 2012). More than 100 million carats are mined each year, but only a quarter of them are considered “gem quality.” (Diamond Stud Source). Since diamonds are natural and formed in the ground not all of them come out perfect. Diamonds were formed by extreme heat and pressure in the earth’s surface. (World Diamond Council, 2013). Values have gone up for diamonds due to the genius