Diamonds are a girl’s best friend

What a great marketing strategy. As if a woman can be bought by the gift of diamonds, chocolate or other perceived consumer luxury. However, there may be a grain of truth in the marketing strategy; seldom does one see a svelte, lithe and beautiful young woman hanging off the arm of a sixty something refuse collector or farm laborer, but a movie mogul or ‘A List celebrtiy’ is a completely different kettle of fish.

All that glistens is definitely gold

Well, maybe not all things that glisten are gold. Silver, platinum, rubies, diamonds and other gem stones have been coveted by man for millennia and between them they have sheen, a sparkle and luster which creates an almost hypnotic effect on all who set their eyes upon them. 

Seldom does one see a man wearing diamonds set in jewelry unless of course it is an expensive watch or timepiece. On the other hand, it is not at all unusual to see a woman wearing diamonds in one form or another. Earrings, bracelets and rings are the typical vehicles for stones to be worn as an element of their stylish apparel.

The price of security

It has long been the tradition to offer a woman a ring as a token of engagement and marriage. Over the centuries the rings have become more ornate and decorated. As the tradition filtered through from rulers, aristocracy and the rich down to the working classes, a single diamond set in a ring has emerged as the token of choice for engagement, betrothal and eventual marriage.

Thus it has been over millennia, man has placed a price on a woman and the woman has been happy enough to accept that as the price of safety, of security and relative peace in a less than uncertain world. However, in a more enlightened world women would not be treated as chattels or as belonging to a man. Fortunately, women have been able to break free from their chains over the past couple of centuries and have emerged from bondage. 

A gift of love

Ask a man today why he gives her a ring as a commitment to their relationship and all to a one would probably say it was the supreme gift of love. And so it is. Perhaps I am being cynical when I think of women being ‘owned’ by men and that an expensive diamond is one way to that ownership. But when I look around for that elusive refuse collector and his ‘trophy blonde’ and am unable to find one anywhere, my thoughts return full circle.

For as long as there are diamonds which have a luster and sparkle which beguiles, and women love to wear these lustrous stones, I guess the status quo will always remain. If the relationship founders and money is tight, those canny women amongst us can always use all their womanly guile and wits to sell diamonds NYC style in the eternal Diamond District of New York.