| When going to a shop to purchase a diamond | | | | diamonds are mined changed governments often |
| the first thing you notice is how expensive | | | | due to war and rebellions. Some are good and |
| it is. You have to wonder why it costs so | | | | some are not. They can take their part of the |
| much for a shiny rock. There are many reasons | | | | pie legally with taxes. |
| and handlers of a diamond and each one of | | | | |
| them adds their cost to the final product. | | | | Then there are smugglers, they can offer |
| The first to get paid is the miners and | | | | cheaper diamonds because they bypass the |
| mining company. In South Africa where most | | | | legal routes and don't pay the taxes and |
| diamonds come from, there is one associated | | | | tariffs legitimate companies have to. However |
| company that controls all the diamond mines. | | | | they can't offer certificates of authenticity |
| The name of this company is De Beers and they | | | | that come with diamonds going through the |
| are like the OPEC of the diamond industry. | | | | legal channels. |
| The De Beers Group was formed to control the | | | | |
| mining and sale of diamonds so the market | | | | There are man made diamonds that are now on |
| would not become flooded with an abundance of | | | | the market which are comparably better than |
| inexpensive diamonds. | | | | the diamonds that are mined. These synthetic |
| | | | diamonds are cheaper to make and sell for |
| After the stone has been taken from the mine | | | | less which can influence the selling price of |
| is has to be cleaned up. During this process | | | | real diamonds. Because of market trends and |
| it is cut and polished to look more like a | | | | the popularity of diamonds, many people are |
| diamond than a shiny rock. Then it is shipped | | | | now buying the cheaper man made ones. If |
| to diamond markets around the world. Jewelers | | | | there is enough loss of income because of |
| then buy the diamonds to sell either as loose | | | | another product it might bring down the price |
| diamonds or put them in a setting to be sold | | | | of the mined stones. |
| to a jewelry store. | | | | |
| | | | Of course the end determination of a stones |
| During the diamonds trip from the ground to | | | | value is the cut, clarity, color, and weight. |
| your finger there are many hands they have to | | | | There is also the value the individual is |
| pass through. Some of these hands never | | | | willing to place on a stone. There are many |
| actually touch the diamonds themselves. There | | | | famous stones in the world that are worth |
| are different ways to get a piece of the pie. | | | | more because of there history. One of these |
| There are corrupt government officials to be | | | | is the Hope Diamond. Its value is higher |
| paid off. Some of the countries in which | | | | because of its fame or infamy. |