Well I guess this post should be more aptly named “my truth” about diamonds. The truth is, I don’t like them.  I never have. I have never seen what all the fuss is about. I think there are so many prettier stones out there. This is a small problem on the wedding circuit and I guard this secret pretty heavily.  I have perfect my best “awww, beautiful” in response to engagement rings, wedding rings, and other diamond encrusted jewelry. The engagement ring is always the kicker though. You have to “aww” it, and it’s not that I don’t like peoples rings or anything like that, I usually find that they are very suited to the person, but I just don’t like diamonds. Besides the history (diamonds being used for their indestructible properties, difficulty in cutting them, and use as a sign of ownership) and the current trade of them (blood diamonds and the black market trade to be specific) , the marketing strategy of these companies to boost sales have made them common. Engagement rings are not that unique overall, sure you can dress up the setting, change the size and cut of the stone, but they are sort of all the same to me.  Why you ask does an engagement ring have to be a diamond? Well it doesn’t, but its “tradition”, a newer tradition none the less (only really booming after the great depression), but a tradition all the same. Personally I have always had an issue with the fact that a woman wears a ring and a man doesn’t, but that is the nontraditional feminist side of me. There are many cultures in which both the man and the woman wear a ring and I tend to side with those, as fair is fair. So for now I play the support role to the engaged liking the diamonds, but all the while knowing that there is not a true way to know if you have a conflict free diamond or getting out of the status tradition that is implied.  Don’t get me wrong I like rings, but I like the symbol of the circle of the ring and cyclical nature of life it symbolizes, not the stone that sits on top of it.

PROMPT – So what might you ask prompted me to share this lack of love for diamonds? One of my current wedding couples just upgraded “their” (really its just hers) diamond. I tried so hard to be as over the moon as she was, and played the role well, but inside I just could not get excited about this gargantuan tumor now living on her finger. Sigh, maybe I’m missing an important girl gene or something…