Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond? (1982)
Wow, absolutely brilliant. I can't believe this article popped up on HN's front page tonight. I just got back from looking at engagement rings with my girlfriend.<p>I've known about this monopoly for a while, and so has she. Heck, one of the first movies we watched together when we first started dating 7 years ago was Blood Diamond. Here's the conversation we had while in the jewellery store tonight.<p>Me: "Sweety, I really don't want to buy you a diamond. I really would rather buy you something that at least has some more value associated with it, like a sapphire."<p>Her: "Well, I've always pictured a diamond ring. That's what everyone gets."<p>Me: "Well, what do you like about the diamond that the sapphire doesn't give you?"<p>Her: "I like the sparkle."<p>Me: "Ok, that's fair. What about moissanite? (Link: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moissanite" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moissanite</a>) It's supposedly even more sparkly and brilliant than diamonds."<p>Her: "What's it made of?"<p>Me: "You know how diamond is just carbon? Moissanite is silicon and carbon in the same type of crystal structure."<p>Her: "And it's natural?"<p>Me: "Well, it can occur naturally, but it's extremely rare. So the ones you buy are usually created in a lab, but are more brilliant than a diamond, but actually cost less. I can apparently get a 1.5 carat stone for $800."<p>Her: (annoyed) "I don't want something fake!"<p>Me: "Oh, so it's not about the sparkle then?"<p>I swear, De Beers has probably pulled off the greatest marketing stunt in the history of humanity. The fact that it's so ingrained in our minds, to the point where a smart, educated, and informed person like my girlfriend still wants a diamond even after knowing all the issues with them, is fascinating.<p>Honestly, as a community of people in the startup ecosystem, we could stand to learn a thing or two here.