Diamonds are a problem

This morning I was reading a story about a 83 year jewel thief who apparently has been doing her thing for a long time and in various parts of the world.  Doris Payne is her name and obviously, since we know who she is, she can't be that good at her chosen line of work.

The interesting part of the story lies not with Doris but with the diamond ring in question that she lifted from one store and then tried to sell to another store.

The first store (both stores located in the Indian Wells area) wanted $22,500 for the diamond ring.

The second store said it was flawed and offered Doris $800.

Now, I don't want to mention the name of either store but one of those two stores has a major problem.

Anyone who has ever bought anything at store #1, and I suspect that being located in Indian Wells that there have been some serious purchases, has to be very concerned.

If it turns out that store #2 simply has a lying son of a bitch then everything will be ok for store #1.

BUT.....
knowing how extremely weird the entire diamond market is just makes me think that both stores are sincerely praying that no one reads the newspaper.
BUT....
This is the type of story that will resurface on the Internet and among friends at the water cooler and among family at the holiday gathering.
SO....
It would seem quite logical that unless one of the two stores admits to being a rip off artist then both stores will see a large drop in traffic.

THE BIGGER DIAMOND PICTURE is really scary.

Just stop for a sec and think about the three big rumors we've all heard over the years.

THE RUSSIANS HAVE MILLIONS OF DIAMONDS STORED UNDERGROUND

DE BEERS RUMORS OF MONOPOLIZING THE MARKET ARE NOT RUMORS CONSIDERING THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED IN 2011

THE CHINESE HAVE MORE DIAMONDS THAN BOTH RUSSIA AND THE DE BEERS

SIDE BAR FACT:
The formation of natural diamond requires very specific conditions—exposure of carbon-bearing materials to high pressure, ranging approximately between 45 and 60 kilobars (4.5 and 6 GPa), but at a comparatively low temperature range between approximately 900 and 1,300 °C (1,652 and 2,372 °F). These conditions are met in two places on Earth; in the lithospheric mantle below relatively stable continental plates, and at the site of a meteorite strike.<sup>[10]

SECOND SIDE BAR FACT:</sup>
Most natural diamonds are formed at high temperature and pressure at depths of 140 to 190 kilometers (87 to 120 mi) in the Earth's mantle. Carbon-containing minerals provide the carbon source, and the growth occurs over periods from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years (25% to 75% of the age of the Earth). Diamonds are brought close to the Earth′s surface through deep volcanic eruptions by a magma, which cools into igneous rocks known as kimberlites and lamproites.

THIRD SIDE BAR FACT:
Unless you actually know how to look a refracted light then you will never have any idea if a diamond dealer is telling you the truth.

DORIS PAYNE IS A JEWEL THIEF

THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY MIGHT BE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN DORIS PAYNE

It makes a lot more sense to find a really good artist in your local community who can design a one of a kind setting......what you put in that setting is secondary to the artwork........

Of course you could have the lovable Uncle Irv who's been a diamond merchant since Truman was in office and he's been holding the most beautiful diamonds in a safe so that he could hand down his legacy to his family.

Doris Payne doesn't have one of those and I suspect that she will be spending some time with Uncle Sam's housekeeping wing of the federal government.

One of those people, or both, from store #1 and Store #2......should be right down the hall.