Cindi Kinney and Lorenzo Bartone have been professional wedding photographers and film-makers for well over a decade. They met at a wedding and discovered that their photographic styles are a perfect compliment to each other. It was obvious to everyone that they were destined to be to be together. Married at a friend's winery in Healdsburg, California in September of 2008, they began being known as Cin + Zo, aka: 'CinZo', producing stunningly beautiful wedding photography and videography. They are now widely considered to be the finest of wedding photographers, they're easily among the most published bridal photographers in the United States, known expecially for their beautiful Sacramento Wedding Photography.
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Are Diamonds really a girls best friend?
The average cost of a diamond engagment ring is $3300, and more than 80 percent of American brides get one. Grooms don't get one - they get the bill. Of course, they could move to Scandanavia, where both sexes wear an engagement ring, typically a gold band, without a diamond.
It wasn't until the early twentieth century (when the abundance of diamonds drove the prices down) that diamond rings began their popularity. In the 1930's the ad agency N.W.Ayer convinced actresses to don diamonds in public, and to this day, expensive jewelry is draped over actresses on special occasions - but only breifly before it's returned. Writers of movies were 'encouraged' to utilize a diamond ring as the symbol for true love, as were newspaper gossip columnists. At one point, the cost of the ring was decided (two months salery) by Madison Avenue, since no one really knew what one should spend on an engagement ring. Previously, birthstones were often set in rings used for engagement (as can be seen in many older photos), and in some areas, a thimble was used, not a ring at all. Today, only 78% of engagement rings have a diamond in them.
Having worked on Madison Avenue, and worked for DeBeers Diamonds as well, I've helped create the demand. As for supply, I believe that the price of diamonds is set by managing supply. It's believed that DeBeers has, well, tons of diamonds in safekeeping, in order to not flood the market. They're released to the public in an orderly, paced fashion in order to maintain their prices.
So, what does this mean regarding engagement rings? I suppose it means that if you're into having a diamond, you should have a diamond. You should also know that there are many other stones that have worked for that purpose just as well in the past - for the fabulously rich, celebrities and royalty. The color of other stones can compliment the skin, hand shape and more, as well. Stones such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds may be chosen to honor a family tradition, to be unique or to be socially responsible. Synthetic stones are becoming much more common as well.
If you're not a diamond expert (who is?) you might ask yourself why the quality of a diamond is so important. Color and flaws probably cannot be seen by anyone without a magnifying loupe anyway, right? And if you think that it's important for the value, then you might check out Craigslist for 'used' engagement rings - by the way, there are some great bargains to be had there. Of course, the tag 'A Diamond is Forever' kind of discourages used rings...
Now, if you still think diamonds are what you want, and you've heard all about the 'blood diamond' trade, then I can think of no reason you shouldn't give one to your groom. Or even enjoy one yourself!
Got another point of view? I'll be happy to print it here, just send it on.
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