The thought of the planning, the details, the minutia to pay attention to, making sure everything is perfect down to the last piece of ribbon, the stress, it all chills my blood. And doing it because "it's traditional" chills my blood even more.
And to be a bride, to be the centre of attention simply freezes my blood. I was always a little odd that way. but having said that, I have to admit that I am somewhat obsessed with looking at wedding pictures and dresses that are sparkly and coloured, and cakes and decorations...I love going to weddings...I've just never wanted to be in one.
But almost more than all that, is the cost and the marketing ploys of The Ring. It's such a scam! Really! Well, wait, maybe "scam" is the wrong word, how about "con" or "You're being Duped."?
So many women want, or hope for, or desire a diamond ring. And so many men are sadly aware of the fact that they should spend approximately two month salary to acquire this bauble. Why? Because in the 1940's, an advertising agency on Madison Avenue came up with a marketing plan for De Beers that said so. Tradition? I think not. But kudos to the marketing team, they managed to convince men that the bigger the rock, the greater the testament to their financial success and also, the greater the love.
De Beers also marketed the idea that a "used" diamond is bad luck. Of course they did! They want each couple to buy a new ring.....it doesn't do them much good if you go out and buy an antique, or use a family heirloom.
It's competitive too. Don't tell me that you haven't seen a friends ring and silently critiqued it as too large, too small, too ugly, too zirconia. Of course you have, we all have. I hate that about me, that those thoughts sometimes appear in my mind without any warning, and I don't want them there.
And of course there is the human issues to deal with. Conflict, or more commonly; blood diamonds.De Beers claims that more than 70 countries now participate in the Kimberly Process, which, in a nutshell ensures that the diamonds exported are all conflict free, involving stringent regulations. They claim that 99.8% ofdiamonds exported from these 70 countries are conflict free.
However, the United Nations has recently released reports that as many as $23 million dollars worth of diamonds have been smuggled out from Sierra Leone in containers certified as conflict free. There's obviously far more to these stories than I know, but the point is....why do people feel the need to own diamonds at all? Oh, right, because it's tradition. From the 1940's. By a team of Madison Avenue marketers, who laughed all the way to the bank.
Experts say that if you truly feel the need to own a diamond, ask your jeweler where their diamonds come from (Canada and Australia being great choices, although there are legitimate diamond mines in Africa) and ask them to guarantee in writing that the diamond you are purchasing is not a conflict diamond. Any reputable jeweler will accommodate your request...if not, go somewhere else. If you want a diamond, don't you at least want it to represent love and happiness as opposed to hatred and death?
But first, before you buy, ask yourself this and answer super quickly the first thing that pops into your head: "Why do I want a diamond?" I will bet you that the first thing you think of is something like "Diamonds symbolize getting married/love/weddings" "He Went to Jarrod" means he loves you, "Every Kiss Begins With Kay" symbolizes true love and happiness. Phfffft. If you really want a diamond, by all means, get a diamond. Follow the pack. But I hope you break away from the pack and follow your own trail.
 |
| My Mothers ring, mine & my Grandmothers. |
 |
| My parents wedding photo & rings. |
