Y'know, I think that the whole diamond hype is nonsense, but I do understand how a stone which was formed over millennia (or more?) and discovered by a miner has more of a story to it that a stone which was grown in a lab by a technician. I've no problem with considering a natural diamond real and a lab-grown one fake, even though they are the same 'stuff.'
Sure but knowing that De Beers artificially inflates the price and that the "natural" diamond market is a major driver of bloodshed and slavery I'd hope that "natural diamonds" are eventually as frowned upon in polite society as "real fur" already is.
I feel like if we're going "good, fuck De Beers" but still going "finally I can buy a less expensive ring for my finance" we're still in a very narrow set of railroad tracks created by De Beers.
Is that story of how humans exploit others who are unfortunate enough to be born in environments with fewer resources (natural and social) such that they have to engage in activities which simply allow someone in richer areas to flaunt their wealth?
If that is the story, then it doesn’t need to be told.
Appreciating the story and quality of a product doesn't automatically imply "flaunting their wealth"... you can simply appreciate it for your own enjoyment.
