Down 17% in nominal terms over the last 10 years [1]. Add the 32% the dollar has lost in that period [2], and you’re looking at a 50% drop in purchasing power.<p>You’d have done much better in Treasuries [3].<p>[1] <a href="https://www.paulzimnisky.com/roughdiamondindex" rel="nofollow">https://www.paulzimnisky.com/roughdiamondindex</a><p>[2] <a href="https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/</a><p>[3] <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REAINTRATREARAT10Y" rel="nofollow">https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REAINTRATREARAT10Y</a>
Good. Diamond is a wonder material that would bring about dramatic changes if it were more widely available. Not just grit or gemstones, it’s conductive and self lubricating properties are woefully under utilized. Imagine ways, diamond coated shafts, and bearings that last billions of cycles. Not to mention its semiconductor properties.
Hot take: it's not going to stop at diamonds. Marriage is expensive. Weddings are expensive.<p>Honestly, if you compare it to the other really expensive things that happen around the same stage of life... buying a home, having children... Unless I'm from a highly religious family(also in decline), I can tell you easily which one I'd call pass on.<p><a href="https://ifstudies.org/blog/1-in-3-a-record-share-of-young-adults-will-never-marry" rel="nofollow">https://ifstudies.org/blog/1-in-3-a-record-share-of-young-ad...</a>
Related discussions over the years:<p>Diamonds Suck (2006)<p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12944464">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12944464</a><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17186457">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17186457</a><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38247300">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38247300</a><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26698511">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26698511</a>