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A comment on Synthetic diamonds are now purer, more beautiful, and cheaper than mined. Parent comment

Re:Synthetic diamonds are now purer, more beautiful, and che... by dirtdobber on Tuesday September 10, 2024 @11:54AM (#41502112)
> "My synthetic diamond is functionally identical, if not even better than your mined one" is factually true and not a justification...

Except they're not functionally identical. Natural diamonds function in society as a luxury item. Synthetic diamonds have always functioned as a utility item (used in chainsaw blades, for example). Synthetic diamonds certainly do not function as a luxury item and they're not marketed to people with money.

Look, I have no problem with synthetic diamonds in the same way that I have no problem with reprints of Salvador Dali paintings. But, the market for original Salvador Dali paintings is very different than the market for reprints even though they might appear "functionally identical."

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Re:Synthetic diamonds are now purer, more beautiful, and che... by plokiju on Tuesday September 10, 2024 @03:05PM (#41504337)
Maybe for now. But I think there's a good chance the market for diamonds goes the same way as the former status symbols that became common, like purple dye[1], or pineapples[2]

[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1c05ako/...

[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-53432877

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