$5 diamonds grown in a lab?

[mrsimperless]

My web perusal today turned up this article of interest. A very nice read if you have the time. Talks about the future of the diamond industry as well as that of the semiconductor industry.

$5 diamonds grown in a lab (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/diamond.html)

One thing that struck me... our Navy has a diamond research arm?? I probably shouldn't be surprised.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I assume that might be connected to weapons research, IIRC diamonds are useful in certain laser applications.

[QuikSand]

Hmmm. The modern diamond market is probably the weirdest every to exist in this world. For something to come along and potentially undermine the curious grip that a worldwide near-monopoly has on this commodity could prevent a great deal of continued suffering at the hands of those who currently control the market.

However - even if it's completely rational to be indifferent between a natural and sybthetic diamond... since when has anything about the market for diamond jewelry been rational?

[SplitPersonality1]

Originally posted by QuikSand
However - even if it's completely rational to be indifferent between a natural and sybthetic diamond...

Personally, I've always been rational when it come to sybthetic gemstones. My wifbe prefers a natural ones, but I gladly pay the lower cost of the sybthetic.

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

Anyway, you are right about the stranglehold that the diamond "cartel" has on the market. This is a very interesting development. I wonder how they are going to counter?

[SunDancer]

We are talking bout DeBeers right?

Don't you have to go to London to get diamonds from them, as they will be arrested for monopoly practices if they enter the US?

[QuikSand]

I'll try to do better.