DeBeers won't be happy to hear about this:

Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend, according to a new U.S. study that found three of four women would prefer a new plasma TV to a diamond necklace.

Works for me--I think that diamonds have been one of the biggest scams ever foisted on mankind. But how about an LCD?

Can't watch Oprah on a Diamond! (Me runs and ducks!)

DLP is where it's at.

Anyway, diamonds have always been a pretty serious scam. They're not really all that rare, nor are they really all that special, in my opinion. Want proof? If diamonds were truly special and rare there would be a huge and thriving used diamond market (as there is for, say, gold or even copper and iron). Yet there isn't. Because a used diamond is worth a fraction of the price of a new one it's hardly worth anyone's time to sell used diamonds. Once you buy one you're stuck with it, forever, as they say.

I guess all De Beers is getting for its money with its "three diamonds" campaign is a lot of women who think, "Mitsubishi, yeah, that's the ticket!"

I liked what one comedian said about diamonds.

"A few years ago, Debeers ran a series of ads saying 'Diamonds will take her breath away.' Now, they're running ads about 'Diamonds will leave her speechless.' Now that's truth in advertising, but it would've been better if it had said, 'Diamonds, that'll shut her up!'"

I learned early in my marriage (23 years ago) that used diamonds are nearly worthless when we tried to sell a few of my wife's old rings because money was very tight. We first had the rings appraised. The best offer we could get was only about 10% of the appriased price. That told me right away that the appraised value was completely bogus. Someone is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it.

As a co-worker of mine so succinctly noted just now, "probably because they know that they could actually get their husband/boyfriend to actually BUY a plasma TV."

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to search for those 3 women.

Just once I'd like to be in the majority of one of these things. My wife isn't diamond or TV oriented. Now those terra byte HDDs, now THAT is an electronics device of another storage factor.

'Diamonds, that'll shut her up!'

Ron "Tater Salad" White.

I rather my wife be interested in diamonds than a plasma tv. Fortunately, she did neither and insisted we buy a Sony LCD projection. Last night, she was saying we needed to buy a laptop.

As a female who was brought up with a constant lecture "you must get a diamond ring" for decades I can happily state that I _never_ wanted a diamond ring/necklace/whatever. Rubies are nice, jade more interesting, a custom knife or sword more desirable but flying lessons are best. :-)

Well, one of the roles of women in the development of society is that of having a cache of objects that were valuable and could be traded in for money (at usurious rates) when times were tight. (because someone had to be sure there was something for the kids) These might be gold or silver coins, they might be gold necklaces, or possible rare gemstones. I'd say that diamonds fall into that category.

Sure you could pawn a plasma TV, but how long do you think it will be before you get 10% or less on a particular model? I think I'd rather my woman had gold or platinum. Those don't break.

I've never cared for diamonds. In fact, the whole jewelry thing leaves me cold, though I do own some stuff -- though most of it's costume jewelry or at most semi-precious stones. I prefer the more interesting varieties that semiprecious stones come in. Diamonds are boring, unless you're into sparkly things, and I'm not. I don't like gold either. Give me silver, even if it does have to be cleaned.

Well electronics are made with a number of precious metals. So, in a way if you buy a TV you are investing in a few microns of jewelry at the same time.

Sure you could pawn a plasma TV, but how long do you think it will be before you get 10% or less on a particular model? I think I'd rather my woman had gold or platinum. Those don't break.

***********

Then buy Krugerands or American Eagles, not trinkets.