Wow! Great info MGR:)


So, can someone please tell me what DH means when referring to loved ones? I'm sure it's painfully obvious. I just missed the boat;)

Darling husband.

I just read this and I feel for you! My husband is middle-eastern (Chaldean) and I am Caucasian. It was definitely a culture shock marrying into the family, even though he is as western as you can get. His aunts are pretty old-fashioned, and are very "Keep Up with the Jones". I am nervous about buying a moissanite because I can just imagine the kind of talk that will go on about it. I just had to accept that they live a completely different lifestyle than me, and have different priorities. It no longer matters to me what they think, because when it comes down to it it does affect my life and my goals.

I want to gently disagree with you, a little. I will color code my comments so that people can see what I am responding to.

While it is true that the Asha has the coating and is somewhat more durable at 9.1 on the Moh's scale of hardness than the traditional CZ's 8.5, I have found that most people can not tell the difference between it and one of my stones.

Both are incredibly well cut and I am proud to sell both of them, but we had to quit sending out two of the same size for people to compare, as they came back in the wrong paper a very high percentage of the time. (At least 25% of the time.)

Both look better than all but the best cut diamonds too! I definitely agree with your comment that it will take someone with a lot of knowledge to identify either as a CZ rather than a diamond, they both look that good.

Many people have a negative image of the diamond industry that is largely incorrect in my opinion. While I recognize that there have been abuses, particularly in war torn areas, I think we in the jewelery industry do not get proper credit for the tremendous efforts made to keep these conflict goods out of the distribution channels.

The Kimberlee accords were worked on for many years before the mainstream press came along and too credit for forcing them on the industry. Hollywood too got into the act with their sensationalized depictions in such movies as Blood Diamond to further attempt to convince people that diamonds are somehow intrinsically evil.

In fact, in those areas not torn by war, it is the diamond industry that provides jobs and thus food for native populations that would otherwise live in abject poverty.

Could it be better? Absolutely. Will it get better? Not if the world turns its back on diamonds.

So far, efforts by some, such as Martin Rapaport, to create a fair trade environment for artisanal diggers have run in to the obstacle of the public not being willing to pay more for their diamonds so that these diamonds can be purchased for more than they are currently. Most will still not pay the extra ten percent premium for the Canadian goods, as is evidenced by the recent bankruptcy of at least one Canadian mine.

Just my thoughts on a wet Monday morning. I do not mean this to be any thing more than a mild disagreement with your post. I respect your feelings about diamonds, they are, after all, your feelings. I just wanted to state mine as well.

Wink

Hi petals,

i have an ASHA ACC cushion and I think it looks very "realistic" and also very nice. Incidentally it is set in a custom setting by Jewels by Erica Grace - who does a wonderful, wonderful job. I also have a round brilliant asha and compared to the ACC (when I got it in the summer it was not rated) the round is much whiter and looks less 'real' to me than the acc. if you search my posts you can see lots of pics of it.

sorry about your family, that sounds awful! my family can be a pain too but in all sorts of different ways. :-P

Hi Wink,

I'm sorry to be responding to this thread a bit late. But I just wanted to point out a quick thing that I don't think the diamond industry is still able to address.

For me, lets say we put aside the political aspect of blood diamonds and political conflict associated w/ the trade. lets say that's all put aside and worked out.

What I still can't come to grips with is the environmental aspect. While this issue may not be important to many, it is important to me. I can't justify blowing open the side of a mountain, moving tons of soil, displacing local animals and vegetation in order for me to have some shiny rock on my hand. I can survive in life perfectly fine without that.

I don't meant to sound pretentious, but my fiance and I can afford a relatively decent 1.3 ct - 1.5 GIA grade F/G SI1+ cushion cut diamond. We had a lot of discussion about this issue and came to the conclusion that this was not something we wanted to do simply due to the environmental issues, also our view of that it was just an extravagant purchase for something that really at the end of the day is a very beautiful shiny stone. It just does not match up with our view on what's important in the world.

I can PROMISE you that I am not the only woman out there who makes the choice to not purchase a diamond simply due to environmental reasons.

Now, I know one day I'll be replacing the Asha with a real diamond... I hoping that will be either be the one that I inherit, from well made lab that is able to finally create well made colorless diamonds, or somehow look for and find a vintage stone (although this one I don't like that much either, because it will still be supporting the diamond trade) If none of the above happen I will purchase a well made lab created gem stone OR just keep putting Asha's in it. I will do what I can to not support the diamond trade. I simply cannot justify the environmental damage that's created because of it.