4 ms·

I like to believe that there's a lot of savvy and affluent couples out there who are buying either moissanites instead of diamonds and choosing not to tell thei

by brandur 10y ago

I like to believe that there's a lot of savvy and affluent couples out there who are buying either moissanites instead of diamonds and choosing not to tell their friends or family about it to avoid the social stigma. They then take the $5k to $20k they just saved (what's the rule of thumb, one month's gross salary?) and put it towards bootstrapping their new life. You can even post close-up pictures of the stone on Facebook and not a single person you know will ever be able to tell because, as noted by the article, the difference is indistinguishable to the human eye. As long as both members of the couple find this acceptable, it would be silly not to at this point.

enraged_camel 10y ago
I think the "rule of thumb" is three months of salary.
75j 10y ago
> I like to believe that there's a lot of savvy and affluent couples out there who are buying either moissanites instead of diamonds and choosing not to tell their friends or family about it to avoid the social stigma. This is so foreign to me. Why do people care? It's just a way to signal wealth and really not much different than a bride price (a cultural practice that American expats are quick to criticize in an Asian culture, for reference). My girlfriend / future-wife and I will get matching steel rings or something similar, like my parents have. She's not American so she was thrilled by that idea. I already told her I won't wear it most of the time because rings are annoying, and again that was no problem at all. I would run the other way if someone is resolute about buying a diamond, after everything that is known about the diamond industry. It means either that person is totally ignorant of the world around them, or doesn't care about making a positive impact with their lifestyle choices.
- bb101 10y ago
  My impression is that it's due to the same reason Americans leave large tips if they can. Without an established class system, money is the signal used to demonstrate your standing in relation to others. Incidentally, money and class are, in my experience, the most misunderstood aspect of the English class system by Americans. There is a loose correlation, but it's only very loose. It's quite common in the UK to have upper class families with hardly any money beyond inheritance, and conversely rich lower class families who might run their own businesses. Interestingly, the upper class man wouldn't feel the slightest bit inferior for neglecting to buy a diamond ring for his fiancé unless doing so was the "done thing" by previous generations of his or her family, whereas the rich lower class man would be clamouring for the biggest one he could afford. Generalizations, but so termed due to being generally true.

by brandur 10y ago

enraged_camel 10y ago

I think the "rule of thumb" is three months of salary.

75j 10y ago

> I like to believe that there's a lot of savvy and affluent couples out there who are buying either moissanites instead of diamonds and choosing not to tell their friends or family about it to avoid the social stigma. This is so foreign to me. Why do people care? It's just a way to signal wealth and really not much different than a bride price (a cultural practice that American expats are quick to criticize in an Asian culture, for reference). My girlfriend / future-wife and I will get matching steel rings or something similar, like my parents have. She's not American so she was thrilled by that idea. I already told her I won't wear it most of the time because rings are annoying, and again that was no problem at all. I would run the other way if someone is resolute about buying a diamond, after everything that is known about the diamond industry. It means either that person is totally ignorant of the world around them, or doesn't care about making a positive impact with their lifestyle choices.

bb101 10y ago
My impression is that it's due to the same reason Americans leave large tips if they can. Without an established class system, money is the signal used to demonstrate your standing in relation to others. Incidentally, money and class are, in my experience, the most misunderstood aspect of the English class system by Americans. There is a loose correlation, but it's only very loose. It's quite common in the UK to have upper class families with hardly any money beyond inheritance, and conversely rich lower class families who might run their own businesses. Interestingly, the upper class man wouldn't feel the slightest bit inferior for neglecting to buy a diamond ring for his fiancé unless doing so was the "done thing" by previous generations of his or her family, whereas the rich lower class man would be clamouring for the biggest one he could afford. Generalizations, but so termed due to being generally true.