Karin writes: An interesting lunch conversation about this article.

Brad sighs: Now you show me this! If only I had known before. Fortunately some of the nerds have good things to rant re: Canadian diamonds. ( ( ( For those unaware, Karin is now the prowd owner of a Canadian Diamond. ) ) ) What is my response to the suggestions that diamonds are worthless and commercialized symbols of a so-called traditional romantic notion? I’m glad you asked. While I may be the first to step up to the plate and complain about the commercialization of society, BUT there is no such thing as a complete evil. Commercialization is bad, yes. Having ideas and traditions forced onto us is bad, yes. Exploiting human conditions to make money is bad, yes. However, a ring — despite being a product of many years of careful marketing — has an innate quality that other forced ideas lack. What is that quality? In my humble opinion it is the simplicity of it: chances are if you do your homework and pay attention while shopping, you will spend money on something that has a real and simple elegance to it. It will be something of quality and something of lasting beauty that needs nothing more than a finger to hang it on. A computer or television requires electricity. McDonald’s makes you fat and gives you gas. Music and poetry are fraught with copyright issues. But a diamond is dug up and cut, and that’s all it does. It sort of annoyed me at first: all that money for a stupid ring that just sits on your finger!!! But — having stewed over it for a while now — I realize that the ‘hanging there’ part is the best part about it. Imagine being trapped on a desert island with only a television and your diamond engagement ring. It’s too bad that neither will do you much good, but at least the ring will do the same thing it always did: hang there, Sparkle, and remind you of why you’re wearing it.