Is it immoral to wear diamonds?

[CarrieH]

So many women are commenting about buying diamonds. I have never actually seen a woman pay for a diamond.

Ask anyone who works in a jewelry store – there are plenty of women who buy diamond jewelry. Back in the materialistic 1980’s, I had several diamond pieces, most of which I bought for myself. But as I have grown in faith and embraced a more simple lifestyle, I am no longer comfortable flaunting my diamonds, nor do I wear designer clothes/shoes/bags. I don’t like calling attention to the fact that I have more material blessings than my poorer neighbors, and I don’t wish to appear to support an industry which has such a dark side as the “blood diamond” trade. I have sold most of my diamond pieces, keeping only a ring which belonged to my grandmother, a tiny diamond cross necklace, and a couple of rings which have small diamond accents. No “bling” for this gal, thank you.

 

[Della]

You can get quality costume/crystal jewelry that’s just as sparkly and pretty as real gems. One company that sells such pieces is 5th Avenue Jewelry. I have a number of broaches/pins from their collection (bday and anniversary gifts from my dh down through the years). None cost over $40, although they do have pieces that cost more. Still, they’re a big savings over real gemstones (of which I also have some and love equally well). The cost of the piece isn’t as important to me as the quality and the look. I love a piece that is creative without being ostentatious (which, I admit, is a subjective value).

 

[puzzleannie]

I don’t think the Church has any position on this, but I declined to accept a diamond engagement ring, and DH knows I do not want diamonds as gifts. I did research on how diamonds are produced for a school project and was appalled, as most diamonds are from Africa and mined by what is virtual slave labor. We had a major jeweller as a client of a company I worked for, and I learned a lot about how the diamond industry not only has room for a lot of corruption, but there are criminals who use profits from otherwise legitimate diamond trade to fund illegal businesses including the sex trade. I just could not personally wear a diamond, it would make me very uncomfortable, just as I simply cannot wear animal fur. It is an emotional, as much as a moral, decision, and not one I push on others, just personal. I also decline to buy a lot of licensed merchandise such as Disney, because so much of it is produced in third world sweat shops. I have no interest in cubic zirconium or rhinestone or other fakes, so prefer jewelry made of obvious glass and other natural materials.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
I wonder if the US has any diamond mines?

only in Arkansas. I just saw this on the history channel today.

 

[dulcissima]

only in Arkansas. I just saw this on the history channel today.

Yes, I have an aunt who enjoys going there on vacation and doing a little diamond mining for fun.

 

[dulcissima]

You know, virtually every woman I know has a diamond ring that is at least 1 carat. I really don’t understand the appeal of diamonds or even most jewelery in general. I’m not judgmental about those that like them though because I do like to buy nice clothes. I think if I had the money to spend on a large diamond I would rather have a lifetime supply of manicures and pedicures though. I guess morally too, I could see that I wasn’t exploiting anyone since I would be right there talking to the workers, spending time in their work environment.

Totally OT, I know. Sorry.

 

[richwmiller]

what is your motivation for having diamonds?
To flaunt them
See how rich I am .
Envy me.
Vanity.
diamonds make me feel more important
I would say in all those cases yes it is immoral.
I can’t think of a valid reason to buy diamonds.
oh you want to decorate Mary’s crown for May day! possibly
but are you getting credit for the donation. Vanity again.

 

[melensdad]

what is your motivation for having diamonds?
To flaunt them
See how rich I am .
Envy me.
Vanity.
diamonds make me feel more important
I would say in all those cases yes it is immoral.
I can’t think of a valid reason to buy diamonds.
oh you want to decorate Mary’s crown for May day! possibly
but are you getting credit for the donation. Vanity again.

Seems that many of the motivational points above could be applied to virutally any consumer good. Why buy a brand name of green beans when a generic label brand doesn’t flaunt your wealth. Why buy Levi’s blue jeans when store brands are also blue. What about your car? Etc.

I bought a diamond ring for my wife for our 20th anniversary. Not to flaunt, not to feel more important, not to be vain, etc. But simply as a token of love. I could have shown that love in many other ways, but it was the way I chose. I designed the setting myself as a way of personalizing it. It tooks months to find the perfect stone, another couple to have the ring cast to my specifications. It was my way of showing some devotion, appreciation and dedication. I don’t see the sin in that. Nor do I see any sin in her wearing it.

 

[LeahInancsi]

If it is, them I’m going to hell.

I have a diamond that my great great grandfather gave to my great grandmother, a diamond my great grandmother gave to my gradmother for her college graduation and another diamond my grandfather gave to my grandmother.

I expected to be buried with those diamonds.

 

[LeahInancsi]

If it is, them I’m going to hell.

I have a diamond that my great great grandfather gave to my great grandmother, a diamond my great grandmother gave to my gradmother for her college graduation and another diamond my grandfather gave to my grandmother.

I expected to be buried with those diamonds.

BTW, all of these people were devout Catholics.

 

[CarrieH]

You know, virtually every woman I know has a diamond ring that is at least 1 carat.

You must live in an affluent area; that’s certainly not the case around here. In these parts, if a young woman is sporting anything larger than about 1/2-carat, it’s probably a family heirloom or a cubic zirconia.

I can’t think of a valid reason to buy diamonds.

It seems that some men use the diamond engagement ring as a tool to “mark their territory,” and many women judge the merit of their sisters’ fiancés more on the carat-weight of the “rock” they offer than on the size of the man’s character. Sad, and foolish.

I have a diamond that my great great grandfather gave to my great grandmother, a diamond my great grandmother gave to my gradmother for her college graduation and another diamond my grandfather gave to my grandmother.

I expected to be buried with those diamonds.

Even though some of us are not the diamond-wearing type, wouldn’t it be a shame to send those heirlooms to the grave rather than passing them on to future generations? After all, if your great-grandmother and grandmother had been buried with those diamonds, you wouldn’t have them to cherish today. Just a thought…

Pax,
CarrieH

 

[Della]

what is your motivation for having diamonds?
To flaunt them
See how rich I am .
Envy me.
Vanity.
diamonds make me feel more important
I would say in all those cases yes it is immoral.
I can’t think of a valid reason to buy diamonds.
oh you want to decorate Mary’s crown for May day! possibly
but are you getting credit for the donation. Vanity again.

My few diamonds are hardly big enough for any sort of vanity. My engagement ring diamond is less than 1/4 carat, which was and is fine with me because I have child-sized fingers on which a bigger stone would look silly.

Most women like gemstones because they are beautiful. Period. I know I do. I love their colors and the creative settings of my pieces, most of which are crystals, not diamonds, which we cannot afford.

The sort of Puritanism you are supporting simply isn’t a part of the teachings of the Church. We may enjoy all the good things of this earth–in moderation. And that is the key word–moderation. And that according to one’s state in life. A queen is going to wear quite costly jewels, which don’t really belong to her but to the country she represents and which are passed down to the next generation. An ordinary person of limited means is not going to have a lot, if any, costly pieces.

If having gems or anything else separates us from God we shouldn’t have them. But I can assure you my meager collection of jewelry doesn’t do that for me, nor for most women I know.

 

[rpp]

It seems that some men use the diamond engagement ring as a tool to “mark their territory,”

That is true. But isn’t that better than the way that animals, dogs for instance, mark their territory? It is both more pretty and smells better. It also doesn’t leave a stain!

 

[jrabs]

I’ll tell ya, on a recent trip to Naples FL - I stopped into a jewelry store to window shop. The clerk was bored and customer-less - as I was NOT a serious customer - she let me try on a rare yellow diamond. Total package $156,000. Man was it stunning.

Now that is vanity.

My engagement ring is not.

 

[jrabs]

If it is, them I’m going to hell.

I have a diamond that my great great grandfather gave to my great grandmother, a diamond my great grandmother gave to my gradmother for her college graduation and another diamond my grandfather gave to my grandmother.

I expected to be buried with those diamonds.

Better yet - why not pass them along to someone else in the family or to the church? Seems a crying shame to bury them.

 

[jrabs]

Seems that many of the motivational points above could be applied to virtually any consumer good. Why buy a brand name of green beans when a generic label brand doesn’t flaunt your wealth. Why buy Levi’s blue jeans when store brands are also blue. What about your car? Etc.

This is an excellent point to the post that thought it is vanity driven.

 

[maggieodae]

I’ll tell ya, on a recent trip to Naples FL - I stopped into a jewelry store to window shop. The clerk was bored and customer-less - as I was NOT a serious customer - she let me try on a rare yellow diamond. Total package $156,000. Man was it stunning.

Now that is vanity.

My engagement ring is not.

But your engagement ring is Priceless Jrab.

 

[newf]

I’ll tell ya, on a recent trip to Naples FL - I stopped into a jewelry store to window shop. The clerk was bored and customer-less - as I was NOT a serious customer - she let me try on a rare yellow diamond. Total package $156,000. Man was it stunning.

Now that is vanity.

My engagement ring is not.

Why is this vanity?? What is wrong with enjoying an expensive piece of jewelry?

Maybe it’s out of your price range, but what is wrong with admiring it? And what is wrong with buying it if you can afford it?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing or even just admiring diamonds. There is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s what’s in your heart that matters, not your wallet.

 

[jrabs]

Why is this vanity?? What is wrong with enjoying an expensive piece of jewelry?

Maybe it’s out of your price range, but what is wrong with admiring it? And what is wrong with buying it if you can afford it?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing or even just admiring diamonds. There is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s what’s in your heart that matters, not your wallet.

There is nothing wrong with being rich - got super rich relatives that landed me in Naples to begin with and LOVE them to pieces. Generous and amazing hearts.
I guess I just feel that a ring costing $156,000 is excessive.

I liken it to eating. Everyone needs to eat -though some become gluttons. Where is the fine line? That becomes an individual thing. But in my head crossing over from $5000 ring to a $156,000 is my excessive mark.
And to see the ring that I am discussing, it was very much “in your face” bauble.

But with many things, the cut off is a personal one before something becomes an occasion of sin - vanity, greed, gluttony, porn, etc. Jewels are no different I would say.

 

[CarrieH]

That is true. But isn’t that better than the way that animals, dogs for instance, mark their territory? It is both more pretty and smells better. It also doesn’t leave a stain!

Considering that the standard cure for this way of marking territory is neutering/castration of the offending animal, um, yes – give the ladies their diamond rings!