Do any of you regret spending a ton of money on your wedding?

[onodera]

I think onodera is referring to the probable marketing push by DeBeers/etc. were any sort of synthetic diamonds to make a significant dent in the market. Marketing speak doesn't have to actually match reality...

Yes, they are chemically identical, but DeBeers can issue a "natural origins certificate" with their diamonds and push the marketing concept that synthetic diamonds are inferior from an emotional pov.
So HC can buy his sweetheart an exquisite diamond ring, but will be dumped if it doesn't come with a certificate that proves it's a natural diamond.

[snoopy369]

I understand, but I am questioning how effective it would be. I agree that it is probably the push they would make.

Then question how effective they would be effectively. It's fairly trivial to understand how it would be effective for some period of time; almost everything that has a 'natural' and 'synthetic' variant has a period (often quite long) where people prefer natrual, even if synthetic is superior. How many people would buy orange juice labeled "Orange Juice, including some synthetically produced flavorings that originated from orange oil and peel"? Not many, except for the fact that every OJ on the mass market today has it - they just don't advertise it, because synthetic < natural.

[DanS]

My wife and I spent a ton on our wedding and we had a great time. But by no means would we have spent our last dollar on it. Nor did we ever do long-term saving specifically for a wedding.

[Ben Kenobi]

Orange Juice, including some synthetically produced flavorings that originated from orange oil and peel

Depending on the price points, I'd buy it. That said, the point of a diamond is to buy the real thing. It has no functional purpose, so why buy synthetic? I can get more orange juice if the price is lower. I'm not going to get more engagement ring. Arguing 'she'll never know it', is also dumb. Isn't the point to buy something nice and special for someone you love?

[snoopy369]

Erm, you very much will get more engagement ring if the price is lower. You'll get a bigger one...

[Hauldren Collider]

If the price is lower you can get a much larger and higher quality gem. If the diamond is synthetic, you can also get it in exotic colors for very cheap that are incredibly rare and expensive in nature (blue, green, etc).

[Hauldren Collider]

Yes, they are chemically identical, but DeBeers can issue a "natural origins certificate" with their diamonds and push the marketing concept that synthetic diamonds are inferior from an emotional pov.
So HC can buy his sweetheart an exquisite diamond ring, but will be dumped if it doesn't come with a certificate that proves it's a natural diamond.

If she's that hung up on a couple grand effectively wasted, **** her. She's not my type.

Also if she doesn't think that synthetic diamonds are just ****ing cool because being able to grow diamonds is just ****ing cool, deal breaker

[Jon Miller]

ACtually, as someone who looked at lab diamonds, current jewelry grade lab diamonds are just as expensive as 'natural' ones.

http://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/

JM

[Jon Miller]

ACtually, as someone who looked at lab diamonds, current jewelry grade lab diamonds are just as expensive as 'natural' ones.

http://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/

JM

[regexcellent]

HC, buy the ring at a pawn shop, she'll never know.

[Hauldren Collider]

ACtually, as someone who looked at lab diamonds, current jewelry grade lab diamonds are just as expensive as 'natural' ones.

http://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/

JM

Well, I figure by the time I get engaged the price will have dropped. Also colored synthetic diamonds are a lot cheaper than colored natural diamonds (for certain colors).

[Ben Kenobi]

Erm, you very much will get more engagement ring if the price is lower. You'll get a bigger one...

What's the point of getting a bigger, fake diamond?

[Hauldren Collider]

It's not fake. It's chemically identical. It is a real diamond in every sense of the word. Its differences from natural diamonds consist solely of the nature of its flaws, and can only be detected with sophisticated and expensive chemistry equipment.

[snoopy369]

What's the point of getting a bigger, fake diamond?

It looks nicer (bigger diamond = better ability to see the cool prism effects and such), is clearer (same), makes her look like she has a richer/nicer/more important fiancé, is more effective when used to punch a guy in the face... take your pick. Women have been asking for bigger diamonds for millennia, and will continue to do so until the end of time more than likely. If it's truly identical to a from-the-earth diamond, who cares?

Also, synthetic diamonds are rather unlikely to be funding wars in the Congo...

[Ben Kenobi]

HC, buy the ring at a pawn shop, she'll never know.

I heard that Crazy Achmed is selling 'authentic' 'diamond' rings.