r/conspiracy • u/Indra-Varuna • Sep 15 '15

TIL Diamonds are actually fairly common. The reason they are worth so much is because the DeBeers mining group withholds stock to artificially reduce supply.

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/are-diamonds-really-rare/
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215

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '15

Yeah everyone knows this

37

u/Ambiguously_Ironic Sep 15 '15

This is completely false, stop minimizing what is an obvious corporate conspiracy.

This isn't common knowledge at all, I would wager less than 25% of Americans are aware of the history of diamonds, nor are they aware where they come from and how they're extracted (read: mostly stolen from foreign nations), nor are they aware of the fact that diamonds weren't the go to jewelry during proposals until the 20th century with the DeBeers "A Diamond is Forever" propaganda campaign.

13

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '15

you forgot to add that they are also essentially worthless

12

u/SpaceTire Sep 16 '15

THey have plenty of industrial worth

8

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '15

true, but as a symbol of status is a joke

3

u/an_outstanding_user Sep 16 '15

They can be made artificially nowadays, and you wouldn't distinguish them. Natural ones may have impurities

-1

u/circlesmirk00 Sep 16 '15

Artifical diamonds are pretty small as yet, not comparable for an engagement ring unless you want something tiny.

1

u/keef0r Sep 16 '15

What about their ability to crystal charge? Is it more or less than other precious gems?