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Natural pearls are extremely rare.
Gillian Watsica
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoGem quality diamonds are expensive because demand is stimulated by great marketing while supply is constrained by the limited sources of gem quality diamonds dug out of the ground, the expense of creating man-made diamonds to compete with them, and to some degree monopolistic practices by those controlling the sources of raw diamonds. The price was kept high for quite some time by the monopoly of the diamond trade by the deBeers company - who controlled 90% of the sources of rough diamonds in the 1980s. That is much less the case now when deBeers only controls ~30% of the market (as of 2013). While the market is still primarily controlled by just a few major players (including deBeers) there is more competition and - suposedly - less monopolistic practices inflating the prices.
It is also probably that higher prices as partly a result of a successful campaign by "out of the ground" diamond suppliers to have manufactured diamonds distinguished from "natural" (i.e. mined) diamonds - although Gem-quality diamonds grown in a lab can be chemically, physically and optically identical (and sometimes superior) to naturally occurring ones.
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Because of supply and demand, and also potentially due to one of the most successful marketing campaigns in history. This was largely orchestrated by the De Beers Organization, and included product placement as well as celebrity and royal associations.
Contrary to popular belief, diamonds per se are not rare: gemstone quality diamonds are rare. There are technical details of gemstone quality diamonds, which contribute to the price, such as the four Cs: Carat (weight), Clarity, Colour and Cut, etc. Industrial diamonds are relatively inexpensive.
Economically speaking, the value of anything is based on how much demand there is for that thing. If there is no demand for a diamond, then it's worthless.
A flawless, D colour diamond weighing about one carat with an ideal cut can be yours today for US$27,162, according to Blue Nile.
Lesser-quality diamonds are not so expensive. These gems display visible flaws, may be slightly yellow, weigh less than one carat, and are poorly cut. (Most diamond buyers are not educated buyers, and pay expensive prices for these lesser-quality diamonds.)
You can purchase a less-quality one-carat diamond, with a clarity rating of SI2, J colour and with a fair cut, and pay US$2,272.
Comparatively, rarer gems command more than the $1,000 per carat typical of diamonds. As a comparison the top 10 expensive gems are:
- Jeremejevite USD $2000/Carat
- Black Opal USD $2,355/Carat
- Red Beryl Emerald USD $10,000.00/Carat
- Musgravite USD $35,000/Carat
- Grandidierite USD $50,000/.5 Carat
- Painite USD $50-60,000/Carat
- Blue Garnet USD $1.5 Million/Carat
- Serendibite USD $1.8-2 Million/Carat
- Red Diamonds USD $2-2.5 Million/Carat
- Jadeite USD $3 + Million/Carat
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Are black diamonds more or less expensive than regular diamonds?
Black diamonds are more porous and from younger sedimentary rocks, so they are not as expensive as other diamonds.
Why are diamonds so expensive when they are not rare?
'Expensive' diamonds are only available in about 20% of all diamonds mined, the remainder being industrial diamonds. Of that 20%, only a few stones are large enough, clear enough, colorful enough or flawless enough to be sold as 'expensive' diamonds.
Are black diamonds expensive?
Black diamonds that are available in the market are usually low grade white diamonds that have been colored black, however, natural black diamonds can be expensive depending on the quality.
Why are diamonds so expensive when they are so plentiful?
Diamonds come from foreign countries many times, and these countries are poor and diamonds often have to be smuggled out becuase organizations control how much goes out.
What is the most expensive item in Macy's?
Diamonds diamonds and more diamonds
Why are pink diamonds so expensive?
Because they're rare. Nothing else.
Are vivid blue diamonds rarer and more expensive than vivid pink diamonds?
No. Pink diamonds are little more but they are both more expensive then colorless diamonds.
Why are diamonds so cool?
- Diamond is the hardest known material- 10 on the Mohs scale. - Diamonds are beautiful gemstones. - Diamonds are rare and expensive. - Diamonds have a great thermal conductivity. - Diamonds are generally electrical insulators. - Diamonds have a high optical dispersion.
What is so good about diamonds?
- Diamond is the hardest known material- 10 on the Mohs scale. - Diamonds are beautiful gemstones. - Diamonds are rare and expensive. - Diamonds have a great thermal conductivity. - Diamonds are generally electrical insulators. - Diamonds have a high optical dispersion.
Are champagne diamonds expensive?
Champagne diamonds are not as expensive as diamonds with less colour, when comparing both of similar cut, similar carat weight and similar clarity.
Are chocolate diamonds more expensive than regular diamonds?
No, chocolate diamonds are usually less expensive than regular -- white -- diamonds, given equal cut, clarity and carat weight.
What is the object pronoun in the thief stole the expensive diamonds?
The pronoun that would replace the subject noun 'thief' is 'he' or 'she'. Examples:He stole the expensive diamonds. OR, She stole the expensive diamonds.
