A few years ago the movie Blood Diamonds opened my eyes to what are more commonly known as conflict diamonds because they are mined in mainly West African countries in very subpar conditions and controlled by militants to fund their war efforts. They typically enslave the local people in the area, including, women and children, and force them to mine diamonds that are then sold to various countries including London and the United States. Our African brothers and sisters are being killed for “precious” diamonds, you know, that bling-bling which has become a staple symbol of love and wealth. Kind of ironic how Africans are being killed which is a HATEful crime – just so we can offer diamonds to those we LOVE.
Now, they say there are places like Botswana where they actually hire miners and the diamonds are not conflict originated.
So my question to you is: Are diamonds the only stone that is a symbol of love?
Single Ladies
Real talk!!!!! Would you be heart broken if your fiancé didn’t buy you a diamond?
Is there another stone you find just as or even more beautiful?
Single Guys
Are diamonds the only ring to show a woman you love her?
Do you feel you must buy your fiancé a diamond? If so will you look in buying conflict-free diamonds or will you look into purchasing an alternative stone?
Married Women
How would you feel if the ring you wear every day was possibly a conflict diamond? Would you have been upset if your husband didn’t buy a diamond?
Married Men
Is it important to you that your wife wears a diamond? If you could do it over, would you buy a different stone for her?
7 comments:
Get a Bar,people!
Me having a diamond means nothing more to me than having a college degree: most of us only have one because everyone else says its necessary!! I challenge ALL people to find the origin of ALL their beliefs and practices before subjecting yourself to common folly.
There are so many other "precious" stones out there(as my God in the heaven and the earth created all things precious in his sight)that i would be remissed if i didnt highlight them on my size 5 ring finger! I personally DO NOT want a diamond and dont care for my man to stress to find on that's conflict free! Baby, get me an ameythest(my birthstone(purple) which heightens my intuitiveness and brings peace;purple is also a color of royalty)...heck, get creative with an onyx set in platinum! That metal never looses its value or tarnishes!!
I have never been one to follow tradition for traditions sake and I am not starting with my wedding ring, something that is supposed to be a symbol of my undying love for my man(how ironic, huh shell, that its a symbol of undying love yet, in most cases someone had to die to get it to sit on my finger...)and a representation of new life. The life of people is far more important to me than wearing something people deem as prestigious...
Holla!!
Okay I have to be real since I posed the subject; I always wanted a diamond on my wedding ring finger...but that was when it was all I knew. Now I don't care for it to be a diamond and if it is...I INSIST they are conflict free.
What's important to me is that my husband-to-be actually puts some thought into the design of the ring. A symbol of our love should be creatively designed...from the HEART.
I am very drawn to Rose Quartz so what better stone is there to include. I say include, because I don't think I want it to just be one stone. Maybe a cute cluster of stones ( : I don't know, really, there are an abundant of possibilities. I have a book called "The Book of Stones" and it has every stone in it imaginable - along with the stones hardness, geographical locations, and physical and spiritual properties. The pictures of them show me that the Earth really has some wonderous treasures for us to adore.
No one should have to die for the LOVE of Diamonds. LOVE IS GOD AND GOD IS LOVE...my hubby will be a symbol of God's love and the ring will just be one of the many extentions of love we will share.
ok real talk. I find it difficult for most ladies to handle getting anything but a diamond on their wedding finger. It's definitely an issue of what is socially acceptable, and what's considered valuable according to the NYSE. I also think that if a man expresses the idea of getting something beside a diamond, he's considered cheap, thus not expressing the amount of love that the woman thinks a diamond represents. I, on the other hand really have an appreciation for the other stones in the precious gem world, and would love to see this diamond thing open up to more possibilities. I want to see couple make up their own minds, and create their own special thing together.... making it symbolic of their own love, while using other stones. I have many friend that have already done this... and it's impressive.
I agree with the other ladies, that diamonds are what is the trend, what has always been given. I have to admit, when i sometimes check out rings when passing jewelry store counters, I stop and admire all the shiny diamonds, but I really dont get the cuts and settings, except i am not a fan of gold.
I like diamonds, they are sparkly and pretty, but I love more exotic stones too like opals - fire opals, black opals and I love my garnet birthstone.
The more I think about it, the ring will mean the most when it is special. I'd love for my future husband to have a ring created for me that reminds him of me; that is a symbol of our bond and the uniqueness that is me and him and us.
Rings...and diamonds...I don't even wear jewelry much. But for wifey...she has a diamond. It's nice. I wouldn't suggest spending 10-15K on a ring. Just a symbol that will come off when he or she decides to bend over someone else anyway.
Spend your money on a smarter investment. Go to Reno, Vegas, Atlantic City...get married for 5-8K. Spend ya money on a house, car, and ways to make more money.
Get a good nice ring between $3-5K...and keep it pushing. The symbol of love is the feelings you share and your actions. Not what you have on your finger. If your finger is what determines how you feel...the middle finger is more powerful than we think.
Jewelry can get lost...you can get robbed..shit happens. Get a tattoo of a ring on your finger..how about that..LOL.
Speaking as a single woman, I've never been into wearing a lot of Jewelry and the jewelry I do wear I've always prefered that they didn't have stones so I wouldn't have to worry about them falling out or what not. So taking that into consideration I doubt that mindset will change just because I get engaged or married. I don't think diamonds are a girls best friend but instead what the media & mainstream have focused on the most. There are many other stones, actions, and ways that can replace diamonds as a symbol of love. If my future husband presents me with a diamond ring, I will be overjoyed by what the ring represents as a symbol of the love he has for me but not necessarily the ring itself. I may be just as happy if he chooses another way to approach a marriage proposal. Quartz and many other stones that symbolize love would suffice just as well.
I think that most people can be self absorbed and the thought of a diamond being a conflict diamond may not even cross their mind so each case would depend solely on the individuals involved.
I will be happy just knowing that I have found the love of my life to share my thoughts, emotions, & world with!!!
Diamonds I don't wear never was into them. I wear gold and CZ's. I don't wear diamonds because of the fact they are blood diamonds and from the research I have done and the documentaries I have seen about diamonds I am so cool on them. When I do get married my husband and I would be so into each other that a ring doesn't reflect have much we love each other. If we was to go the ring route it would be tattoo rings. Because that is really forever, lol
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