Yesterday, I came across a counter at TANGS that sells “diamond stimulants“. In another words, man made diamonds.

diamond

A 0.7 carat diamond only costs $69! Frankly, I can’t differentiate the real from the man made ones. According to the promoter, it was better than cubic zirconia (another kind of man made diamond) because it could not be easily destroyed by high temperatures.

I hopped over to a “real” diamond shop soon after to compare what I just saw. The 0.7 carat over there cost $24,000! I think they looked equally “shiny”.

A question was directed to me later the evening.

“Will you accept the proposal if the guy proposed with a fake diamond ring?”

Wow..frankly, I have never taken such a long time to answer a question in my life so far. Well, below is my VERY PERSONAL OPINION. No offence to anyone, just something that I reflected deeply on my own.

1) I think the word “FAKE” has a VERY NEGATIVE connotation. Like it or not, FAKE is always being perceived as deception, phony, pretender, cheat, manipulation and the list goes one. So my immediate answer to that question is NO. Just because how the word is placed in the context.

2) But when I think again, if the FAKE is replaced by “man made“, perhaps, I would take slightly longer to respond. The word “man made” carries a less “criminal” tone and context. Then it motivated me to think even deeper.

3) First, do I want him to spend a lump sum of money on a “ZERO VALUE” stone than something more practical? I was told by so many people that diamond has no resale value. If he could afford it, OK. But what if he can’t?

4) Does size really matter?

5) Does whatever cut/certificate matter? I know there is princess cut, and whatever-heart-arrow-poke-my-heart cut. Then the price also depends on what “certification” the diamond has…VII or don’t-know-what cert.

6) Then there is GRADE and COLOUR! Grade A – er…Z? The price also differs from grade to grade.

7) Frankly speaking, how many could tell if it is a grade A or E? Besides having a printed visual that the promoter put in your face that “clearly” shows the distinct colour of each grade. -_-

8.) Who on earth said it must be a TIFFANY RING!!?? I got that a lot from women and it started to get on my nerves! “Ohh…it is the blue box!! You’re so lucky!” (fyi: tiffany box is blue..) How could one tell whether the ring you wears is Tiffany? Unless it is printed with “monograms” all over like LV bags.

9) So why diamond deserves such a “high class” as compared to other stones?

10) WHO says proposal ring MUST HAVE DIAMOND?

I think it all comes down to INTENTION. If he wants to get a “GIGANTIC DIAMOND” but can’t afford it, thus bought a fake one..tsk tsk tsk.

But HANG ON! Isn’t it all about the marketing gimmick that made us believe that DIAMOND RING is A MUST for proposal? A stone that binds people together, the “real” and “genuine” stone that signifies “true” and “genuine” marriage?

Who gets to decide which kind of stone is more precious and valuable than others? Marketing….

My postgraduate research also deals with building perception. Designer has the power to change human’s perception, relationship and interaction with THINGS. That’s why most of us ended up buying things that we don’t need and the world keeps telling us that we NEED MORE.

That’s how we push our economy. People are told to buy/need more, hence have to earn more. To earn more, you have to work more. The vicious cycle. New shopping malls, the Singapore Integrated Resort, airport terminals that are packed with shops and campaigns to promote spending….

How do we differentiate NEED and DESIRE?

So I guess the whole diamond ring thing is just another object (just like every other possessions) that we are told that is mandatory. Ultimately, it is up to us to choose if we want to make it “compulsory”, as long as we could settle the differences (of desire and need) and accept it in our heart, and not be shaken by others. Just so when your friends or aunties came to ask you:”Eh?? HOW COME NO DIAMOND RING??!!!“, then you know what to stand for and be secure about it.

Just curious, a question to the lady, are you OK with a proposal ring without diamond? How about man made diamond?

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