Valentine’s Day is near, you know that day that men (and women) are expected to show that special someone how much they love them.  Sometimes this is shown with the purchase of diamonds.

Diamonds are mentioned four times in the pages of the Bible.  (1) They adorned the priest’s garments (Exodus 28:18; 39:11).  (2) They were used for engraving (Jeremiah 17:1).  (3) They were descriptive of the wealth of the King of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:18).

However, let’s consider more recent history.   (1) Prior to the mid-nineteenth century, diamonds were rare and very expensive.  They came primarily from India.  Borneo and Brazil also eventually became major sources.  (2) Then, diamonds were discovered in South Africa in 1866.  So many were found that the value plummeted.  Cecil Rhodes of England, and his DeBeers company bought out other miners and eventually controlled the South African supply.  (3) He then convinced most countries that mined diamonds to sell exclusively to him.  In return, he would hoard the diamonds to keep prices high around the world.  DeBeers soon controlled 80% of the world’s market.  (4) Through great marketing DeBeers convinced America and the world that a diamond was “a girl’s best friend.”  Prior to this time, diamonds were for the rich and powerful.  Now they were for everyone. Demand went up and DeBeers continued to be careful with how many diamonds they released on the market.  (5) Large diamonds were especially valued.  However, Russia began to mine large supplies of small diamonds.   DeBeers fulfilling its contract with Russia bought these up as promised.  Then they marketed the idea of an ‘eternity ring’ a ring with lots of small diamonds on it.  (These basic facts are set forth in John Stossel’s book Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity, p. 150-153).  John Stossel writes, “Diamonds only mean love, and cost more than gold, because one brilliant company convinced people that diamonds were special” (ibid, p. 150).  The truth is they are greatly overpriced.  If DeBeers ever released its entire hoard at once on the market, diamonds would be worth little. It is brilliant business management, and marketing.

If you want to give her diamonds, do so.  I am sure it will be appreciated.  They are beautiful.

However, we should all strive to give our mates something even far more valuable.  Let us give them the love and respect that the Bible teaches (Proverbs 31:10-31; Song of Solomon; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc.).