What is "Earth-like"?

[mistermack]

Diamonds will be worthless before long. They will be churning them out by the millions :

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/scien ... .html?_r=0

[Svartalf]

They are already churning industrial diamonds by the million, but de Beers still has a stranglehold on gem quality natural diamonds, and ill go on gouging people.

[rainbow]

They are already churning industrial diamonds by the million, but de Beers still has a stranglehold on gem quality natural diamonds, and ill go on gouging people.

It's marketing, pure and simple. People will pay large amounts of money for something quite useless, not particularly rare, and of limited scientific interest.

That said, there is some encapsulation of the Early Earth in these diamonds, so they might tell us something.

[mistermack]

They are already churning industrial diamonds by the million, but de Beers still has a stranglehold on gem quality natural diamonds, and ill go on gouging people.

Gem quality natural diamonds are still cheaper to produce than gem quality manmade diamonds by quite a large factor.
That applies to uncoloured ones. But when it comes to the fancy colours, you're more likely to be offered a manmade one these days.

In the long run, the price of manmade diamonds will dive. This laser technique might be the start of it's dive. But it will happen.
Diamonds are a silly investment. Ok if you just want something shiny, but why not get a substitute? You need special equipment these days to tell the difference.

[JimC]

But but but...

They're a girl's best friend!

[mistermack]

But but but...

They're a girl's best friend!

The days of romance are over. Now a girl's best friend is her vibrator.

[Brian Peacock]

[Jason]

Were diamonds ever about romance? I assumed they were part of a semi-formal exchange - her time for your money. It was a way of assuring the female that she wasn't wasting her time with you. After all, even if the relationship tanked she still had the diamonds you bought her and those could be readily pawned for hard cash.

Maybe that's my inner misogynist coming out though.

[rainbow]

Were diamonds ever about romance? I assumed they were part of a semi-formal exchange - her time for your money. It was a way of assuring the female that she wasn't wasting her time with you. After all, even if the relationship tanked she still had the diamonds you bought her and those could be readily pawned for hard cash.

Maybe that's my inner misogynist coming out though.

Yes, maybe it is.

[Jason]

Did I say misogynist? I meant realist.

[pErvinalia]

I can't stop thinking of my fantastic parody - What is Perth like? - every time I see this thread. Brian probably gave it -40 out of 10. Cunt!

[Svartalf]

Perth is cold and rainy anyway, nothing to write home about.

[pErvinalia]

Not Australia's Perth. It's stinking hot and dry.

[Svartalf]

I'm talking about the Original product, in Scotland, of course.

[Hermit]

I'm talking about the Original product, in Scotland, of course.

Of course. Good one.

So, what is mirth like?