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submitted 2 days ago by davel@lemmy.ml to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7tGZzwe4mQ

For over a hundred years, DeBeers has dominated and controlled the global diamond trade.

But today, Chinese factories are mass-producing lab-grown diamonds, which are chemically identical to natural stones, and prices are collapsing worldwide for both man-made and natural diamonds.

DeBeers sources most of their rough diamonds from mines in Botswana, and the new government there is determined to move DeBeers' value chains to Botswana itself, thereby retaining billions of dollars in industry revenues in-country.

Anglo-American is DeBeers' parent company, and they are trying to divest their holdings. But even after writing off $4.5 billion in book value in two years, no buyers can be found.

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[-] emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works 5 points 22 hours ago
[-] wurzelgummidge@lemmy.ml 20 points 2 days ago

"Eiw, how could I ever hold my head up at the ball in a lab-grown diamond tiara?" squeaked Emily Von Foiegras-Carruthers-Reed.

Diamonds have never been anything more than a scam, but they help the rich feel superior because no one else can afford more than a gravel-sized bit on a thin gold ring.

[-] bountygiver@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The OG NFT

Not only is it also environmentally destructive, it also comes with a side of slavery.

[-] dessalines@lemmy.ml 47 points 2 days ago

Can't wait for the upcoming NYT op-eds: "China is killing the diamond mining monopolies: but at what cost???"

[-] GnuLinuxDude@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

I'm prepared for many headlines about how these diamond mines are actually providing good, if meager, livings for people who would otherwise be jobless in Botswana.

It'll be crickets about the massive exploitation, however.

[-] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 45 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Just a quick search gave me some fun ones

BONUS

[-] PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Last one sounds like way too extreme satire but knowing those ghouls priorities it's probably real.

[-] sparky@lemmy.federate.cc 17 points 2 days ago

It’s just not the same if a child slave didn’t suffer for it. Or something.

Given all the horrific history of conflict diamonds, etc, why would anyone not want a lab made stone at this point?

[-] appropriateghost@lemmy.ml 21 points 2 days ago

can someone pleaseee think of the oligarchy PLEAAAASE.

DEMOCRACY (copyrighted/trademarked) IS AT STAKE!!

[-] AlexLost@lemmy.world 36 points 2 days ago

Good. Fake "rare" gemstones are actually the most common of all gems. Take down the cartel!

[-] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 22 points 2 days ago
[-] lostoncalantha@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago

Fantastic news. Hope the diamond trade crashes.

[-] wewbull@feddit.uk 15 points 2 days ago
[-] jmankman@lemmy.myserv.one 11 points 2 days ago

I'm sure they'll be fine, after all, "diamonds are forerver", right DeBeers?

[-] TomMasz@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

Bummer, dude.

this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2025
165 points (100.0% liked)

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