Diamonds are carbon.
Diamond has a giant molecular structure. Each carbon atom is covalently bondedto four other carbon atoms. A lot of energy is needed to separate the atoms indiamond. This is because covalent bonds are strong, and diamond contains very many covalent bonds.
--http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_gateway/chemical_economics/nanochemistryrev1.shtml
But today's post isn't about dishing out about buying a lump of carbon.
I'm not talking about the marketing aspect of it as well. That's done and many of us are already sucked into it.
Today's post is about what I discussed with my wife when we decided to get her the ring.
So I asked her... "OK fine. You want a ring. That's ok. Tell me what you are buying?"
The answer might sound simple? A diamond ring... duhz??
But that's not what I mean.
I told her, "the ring itself is nothing, it's worth probably nothing."
As much as the jewelers want you to believe, we aren't buying those 5 carot rings which might have some investment value, those diamonds around 1 carot and below are worth nothing. There is minimal resale value.
"So what are you buying?"
Are you buying the ring? As in the diamond itself? The actual item?
Or are you buying what it signifies?
Does this ring signify my love for you? Is the ring so important to signify that? Does our 10 years together mean as much as the ring?
If you need proof of my love for you, I think the stuff that I have done for you and the stuff we did together for 10 years is enough proof of my love for you.
Are you buying my willingness to spend on you?
Once again, we have spent a lot together and grown our relationship throughout the years. We have gone overseas bought a car, a house, etc. Wouldn't it be better to spend the money on proper stuff which are more important and have more utility value?
Are you buying face?
Do you need it to show your friends during events? Most people only wear their full set of rings during other wedding dinners or events. That's when they flick their hair more, or adjust their glasses more frequently. So you want to buy something for the sake of a few opportunities to wear them just to show some folks? Girls compare these things. I know it happens. Are you buying the ring for this?
Is it because it's normal?
What so important about normal? Just go through the motion? Then how come all our wedding stuff are not normal? We didn't do so many other things. Why is the ring so important to be "normal"?
Haha I won't give you our conclusion (paiseh). I think we came to a good decision and conclusion for ourselves.
Today's post isn't about my answer. It's to think about your answer.
Do you know what you are buying?
The diamond itself is tangible. But more often than not, most people aren't buying the tangible aspect to it. And as irrational as it is to pay a large sum for something intangible, I recognize it. Feelings exist and we have to be aware of our subconscious and address it.
Now, maybe your partner may or may not be honest about it. Maybe it's about the face, but she is paiseh to say that to you. It's possible. Cos she may think that you would think that she is petty/frivolous to be concerned about face. So she may give another answer. Like it's to signify your love.
But that's a different issue. That's a trust issue. Does she trust you enough to give you her real opinion without her feeling that you would judge her for it?
We are very open about this, cos I've discussed with her, that we need to be very open about this. Whatever we feel, however petty it may sound, should be expressed and addressed. We need to be true to ourselves and not lie to ourselves and to our partners. Cos only when we are true to ourselves then can we find the right answer. But even with the right answer, we may not take it. (Like the case for early retirement) But yet it is important to know it so that we are aware and we are consciously taking the next best solution due to whatever reasons we think justifies it. And IF the right solution comes around, by whatever freak chance, we can take the right solution.
So I'll leave this post with the question...
What you are buying when you buy that ring?
(Note, I'm trying to post shorter more concise posts, cos I think I'm a bit lor soh when I do the longer posts. Shorter posts make me want to post more per day and share more stuff. So unless the topic warrants a long post to convey my ideas, I'll try to be more direct with my thoughts.)
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