http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/diamond_pr.html Artificial diamonds almost a reality. (Maybe for real this time…) The diamond business is fascinating: whilst gold is both rare and (intrinsicly) valuable (i.e. to industry), diamonds are neither—their value is due entirely to their scarcity and perceived beauty, both of which are, to a great extent, controlled and manipulated by De Beers.
The story doesn’t mention it, but De Beers now has about 50% of the world diamond market; in response to the “threat” from artificial diamonds, they’re giving gem labs machines designed to distinguish artificial from natural diamonds: that is, they’re assuming people want to know what sort of diamond they have, even if a machine is the only thing that can tell one from the other. (Beauty is truth? Truty beauty?) But to some extent, people probably do: “It’s not a symbol of eternal love if it is something that was created last week,” says Jef Van Royen, a senior scientist at the Diamond High Council—and he does have a point.
Will artificial diamonds sell? As the article relates, some artificial gems have succeeded (“cultured” pearls), whilst some have failed (“synthetic” emeralds). (To increase the chances of success, artificial diamonds are being marketed as “cultured”…) 10:29
