What makes a diamond priceless? | James May's Q&A (Ep 7) | Head Squeeze

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  • @Landrew0
    @Landrew0 9 ปีที่แล้ว +326

    Surprisingly, he's still alive, after explaining the inner workings of the global diamond cartel.

    • @KingdomOfDimensions
      @KingdomOfDimensions 9 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      +Landrew0 If they killed everyone who revealed their secrets they'd just look more guilty.

    • @SonOfFurzehatt
      @SonOfFurzehatt 8 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      They're probably too busy killing off the new mining companies in South America who don't agree to the pricing strategy and are undercutting the market. #tinfoilhat

    • @harrywillisdick8660
      @harrywillisdick8660 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Don't mix the drug cartels with the Jewellery industry buddy. Its not the same

    • @WyvernApalis
      @WyvernApalis 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@harrywillisdick8660 cartels don't just mean drug cartels. Anything involving companies agreeing to keeping the price high is a cartel

    • @harrywillisdick8660
      @harrywillisdick8660 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@WyvernApalis if you read the context of my reply to you can understand that he's actually meaning the drug cartel because that's only cartel that uses terrorism blows up s***decapitate people you know stuff like that so yeah

  • @PhillipJohnsonphiljo
    @PhillipJohnsonphiljo 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I was feeling stressed out today so I listened to James May talking and everyone was all better again. Cheers

  • @ZER0--
    @ZER0-- 9 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    Diamond are NOT expensive. They are kept artificially high by De Beers because they fix the price.And It is not a cynical view it's an accurate view James.

  • @chloescat
    @chloescat 12 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    James May really is a future national treasure. He is down to earth, interesting and just like you or me. :)

  • @Fitzroyfallz
    @Fitzroyfallz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    The owner of the de'beers diamond company said himself that "diamonds are intrinsically worthless."

    • @96alpha46
      @96alpha46 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hippie Whovian I'm going to Assume you learned that from Adam ruins everything

    • @Fitzroyfallz
      @Fitzroyfallz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      96 Alpha yup! Love that show.

  • @ledzeppelin27
    @ledzeppelin27 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love listening to Mr May explaining things

  • @JaHuProductions
    @JaHuProductions 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Why doesn't this channel have more subscribers??? It deserves so much more!

  • @JH1010IsAwesome
    @JH1010IsAwesome 9 ปีที่แล้ว +229

    So diamonds have value because we think they do, so like money then.

    • @nagasako7
      @nagasako7 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      +Jack Harrison A bunch of Dutch, Belgians and Londoners have a cartel on them and artificially set the price.
      Vice showed a documentary of a curious/bored Japanese businessman going to Africa to buy Diamonds for $200 a bunch and making $200,000~ in profit back in Japan.

    • @joshuarosen6242
      @joshuarosen6242 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      +Jack Harrison Exactly so.
      It's funny how people talk about things like BitCoin scornfully saying they are only worth something because we think they are but it doesn't seem to occur to them that precisely the same is true of the cash in their pocket.

    • @rampage3337
      @rampage3337 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Joshua Rosen ummm actualy cash in your poket is worth somthing its not what it looks like. its a paper that says how mutch gold you own. all money is gold

    • @rampage3337
      @rampage3337 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Jack Harrison no money has a value becaus its more like a i owe you. and all the money in the world is actualy gold. contrys have all theyr money in gold but insted of carrying tons and tons of hevy gold you get these light thin paper money :) you know about how back in the time you whold barter for everything like i will give you 2 chickens for that turkey. that still exists but now we trade gold and silver but use paper becaus it is easyer to use

    • @joshuarosen6242
      @joshuarosen6242 9 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      swedish gaming
      That is complete nonsense. You should read up on the gold standard. No currencies are backed by gold any longer.

  • @TheZachorios
    @TheZachorios 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I always watch all of every video to the end...so it may surprise you every time I watch it all but I always do!

  • @ProjSHiNKiROU
    @ProjSHiNKiROU 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    There are some news articles about Millennials not buying diamonds due to (1) they value experience more (2) crippling student debt and (3) conflict diamonds (4) knowing about the de Beers cartel.
    Looking forward to the days when we can have cheap diamond smartphone screens and camera lenses.

  • @connorsheehan2423
    @connorsheehan2423 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    found this channel from Vsuace and enjoying James May as much as Michael

  • @daviddennetiere9217
    @daviddennetiere9217 9 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Actually, there's one more anecdotes to be added, that will put the final nail in diamod's coffin :
    If you look at the chemical reaction that balances the proportion of diamond and graphite in a given piece of carbon, you'll find that the diamond is inexorably decaying into graphite by itself (it just takes long).
    Which make the "diamond is forever" slogan, a pure and simple lie.

    • @daviddennetiere9217
      @daviddennetiere9217 9 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      +Da Ca That's a tough one, depends on the condition really, you can observe the relaxation in matters of minutes if you heat diamond above 1000°C (m.Seal, The diamond to graphite transformation ,pp 455-459). But under usual condition the process takes thousands of year, so no worry, you'll be long gone before your grand mother's ring is used to write anything on paper ;)

    • @lewisirwin5363
      @lewisirwin5363 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yep- go for ruby and sapphire any day. :)

    • @JNSNBTTN
      @JNSNBTTN 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      David Dennetiere you are a hero for actually quoting a fact in a youtube comment. If I were to hand out awards for excellent commentary, you would certainly recieve one!

    • @daviddennetiere9217
      @daviddennetiere9217 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JNSNBTTN Thanks very much ! Have a good one !

  • @TheSunlitLeaf
    @TheSunlitLeaf 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Always thought diamonds were boring and overpriced and this proves it :) Love you, Mr. May! And please keep wearing the lovely shirts--I hope it will eventually start a trend. I'm so sick of seeing men in sloppy tee shirts!

  • @JadeXIII
    @JadeXIII 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The diamond is priceless because of the sydicates that holds them to become rare and sell in high price.
    -> subscribed.

  • @JohnJaggerJack
    @JohnJaggerJack 8 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    there you go girls diamonds are effectively industrial tools adapted to look pretty and whats funny its that many of you fall for that trick, well at least you can go around showing off your "all surfaces cutting tool"

    • @janusprime5693
      @janusprime5693 8 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      If the girls you know fall for that stuff, perhaps it's time to reconsider your social milleau..

  • @Calamero4561
    @Calamero4561 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    James... You are a LEGEND!!

  • @gayleclanton3311
    @gayleclanton3311 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I could listen to you talk about ANYTHING Sir James.

    • @gayleclanton3311
      @gayleclanton3311 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I was going to say the same thing AGAIN. #YOURVOICE

  • @malakius
    @malakius 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    James May is the most knowledgeable man on Earth

  • @certaindeed
    @certaindeed 8 ปีที่แล้ว +63

    It's a marriage tax.

    • @quineloe
      @quineloe 8 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      If only that money went into funding schools and public infrastructure instead of rich people

    • @michaelrullis7501
      @michaelrullis7501 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glenn The 'Bee' omg so funny but true

  • @decajay
    @decajay 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    @Foofiekinz I agree with your points here, having a currency system is much better than having to barter, and supply and demand have a lot to do with it, but remember that stuff can be inflated as well as James said with the diamond industry.

  • @TheIancannon
    @TheIancannon 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ha, the Trading Places reference, frozen Orange Juice, was nicely snuck in there. Great movie.

  • @enverunver9636
    @enverunver9636 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I am in love with his voice.

  • @Viraqua
    @Viraqua 8 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    So, diamonds are like a long lasting Beanie Babies trend.

  • @andreperez8961
    @andreperez8961 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    This series is amazing!

  • @robertg1h2
    @robertg1h2 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    i can listen to this guy's voice all day......reminds me of how Jeremy got bored to death of his explanations!

  • @Rammstein45
    @Rammstein45 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    1:53 James, you're the best!! hahaha!!

  • @MariusMuntean
    @MariusMuntean 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    The conclusion is the best part.

  • @JesseCohen
    @JesseCohen 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mr.May, you are priceless, so say we all...Huzzah!

  • @MrCheeseBirthday
    @MrCheeseBirthday 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Do more cross-overs, Mr May. Your Vsauce cross over brought me here, and I love it!
    How about the minutephysics guys? Or sixtysymbols, or periodicvideos?
    I think their core audiences could share my love of this channel.

  • @kylegendreau1801
    @kylegendreau1801 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Please help me it's 1:00 am and I can't stop watching these and go to sleep!!! PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

  • @margotheman
    @margotheman 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    James May is my man! MY MAN!!!..........

  • @toolfan92
    @toolfan92 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I subscribed for James May!

  • @Bilge-f9d
    @Bilge-f9d 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    i love this guys voice!

  • @headacherack
    @headacherack 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    What I think about diamonds is the way they are cut...and they are fun to look at in the evening light.

  • @fizicalgraffitii
    @fizicalgraffitii 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    It makes you wonder what else has value simply because we all agree on it...

  • @gibbo1112
    @gibbo1112 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    the fact that we listen to your lectures by choice must freak the hell out of richard and jezza...

  • @aa1986aa
    @aa1986aa 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Regarding to the subscribe button, its not up there, its down there in the left corner =)
    And regarding to your channel, its priceless and forever!!, and basically we are all agree that it is ; )
    have a lovely time : )

  • @MetricZero
    @MetricZero 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just found your channel through Vsauce and I'm already loving it all.

  • @jeremiahsmith6689
    @jeremiahsmith6689 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    i visited U.S sythetic where they made diamond tipped drill bitts for mining. the million cubic pound press was amazing including the trailer used to haul it there

  • @dbinhussain
    @dbinhussain 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nicely done James

  • @dedasdude
    @dedasdude 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    this is true to some extent.
    the real reason a which makes one diamond valueable than the other is how it is cut and how transperant it is and how big it is.
    the way it is cut plays a very crucial role in how reflective (and hence shiny) it is. the angles of any two faces are at an particular angles to each other.

  • @gayleclanton3311
    @gayleclanton3311 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    DeBeers.....yummmmmy. I prefer that cut I've never seen before. The first diamond to really impress me...It was a small chunk of tree bark. #STUNNING. Otherwise diamonds to me are merely accents to the TRUE BEAUTY of Emeralds and Black Australian Opals. Moonstones tooooi. Star Sapphires. Pearls....My birthstone that I can NOT wear unless someone finds a way to encase them in protective glass. I always destroy them. So very delicate.

  • @JAKMAN32
    @JAKMAN32 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    James may is the man

  • @motanelustelistu
    @motanelustelistu 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    And here i thought only James is the full brain man here.Well done chap.First people to notice that ...

  • @XDcomequeso
    @XDcomequeso 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    LOL FROZEN ORANGE JUICE
    I saw THAT film last month!
    xP

  • @Mr_Sentoo
    @Mr_Sentoo 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really interesting keep up the good work mister May.

  • @PartVIII
    @PartVIII 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    i love this man

  • @LaFranceBonjour
    @LaFranceBonjour 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    We are all revolutionaries. Everyone else will eventually find this channel out.....

  • @Blackdragon5284
    @Blackdragon5284 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love these videos

  • @manictiger
    @manictiger 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    And even if I'm wrong on that last point, a slight tweak in the bonds of the carbon molecule would significantly change it's conductivity.

  • @IanSlatas
    @IanSlatas 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I knew I'd heard that somewhere and couldn't place it. Thanks.

  • @martw5291
    @martw5291 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I like James May he is really well educated

  • @Inkyminkyzizwoz
    @Inkyminkyzizwoz 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    The same goes for Penny Black stamps. They're actually quite common, but their value is kept artificially high by collectors hoarding them and releasing them very slowly

  • @K04L44
    @K04L44 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    This vid was posted was on my birthday!

  • @1enzeder
    @1enzeder 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    crikey James, that's the sort of talk that gets you followed around by sketchy looking chaps in big black cars with darkened windshields, who leave your mutilated pets on your doorstep.

  • @MrRASSBA
    @MrRASSBA 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    James, your voice is so goddamn fabulous

  • @MrRemmy99
    @MrRemmy99 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Came to you from ur spot in VSauce, looks good over here! Subscribed!

  • @Gulpcoz
    @Gulpcoz 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    If you hower yourmouse over the lower tv you'll see a link to the bloopers/outtakes!

  • @schmittelt
    @schmittelt 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    ....because we all agree that it is....same thing could be said about a lot of stuff that normally goes unquestioned. But....what can you do?

  • @BarendNieuwoudtZA
    @BarendNieuwoudtZA 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I live in South Africa and I went to that gigantic hole in Kimberly where they mined Diamonds.

  • @morphineisgod
    @morphineisgod 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    That has value regardless and always will, at least to me.

  • @Assassinhood360
    @Assassinhood360 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks dude

  • @MrShorty404
    @MrShorty404 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    That's so true if we all agree that an apple is priceless it will be worth as much as a diamond!

  • @Davo_1991
    @Davo_1991 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    James is so funny and cute by himself hahahaha :3

  • @goswami
    @goswami 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    There are probably many more uncounted diamonds going around also. My uncle had a diamond mine in Africa but went out of business when the workers would find a diamond and just run away.

  • @gamerboy2048
    @gamerboy2048 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    the video was very impressive.

  • @SP-pn7xx
    @SP-pn7xx 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Still haven't heard one thing about colour, cut, clarity or carat weight in this video or the comments...

    • @Xavoau
      @Xavoau 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Simon Pagano There's one more C to make the 5 C's of diamond valuing :P
      (Certification).
      But you're right, it's the 5 C's that affect the price of the diamond you find, although advertising is what controls the price overall.
      Australian 'Champagne' Diamonds spring to mind. A dirty yellow colour, they were considered pretty piss poor due to colour and cut. But get all the jewellers on board saying it's a rare type of champagne colour and suddenly you have some profit!
      You can also take impurities out of diamonds using lasers, and fill the holes with an epoxy of the same refractive index. You can also change the colour of diamonds with radiation and pressure. So that's why the certification is a really quite important part of the process (and also to try and stop the illegal blood diamond trade).
      Interestingly, the majority of diamonds in Australia are consumed by roadworks, as the majority that come out of our ground are very dirty black/brown industrial diamonds.

    • @ProfessorTenebrae
      @ProfessorTenebrae 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      +dit bot (ditbot) Very very true, however the price of a diamond is still mainly affected by the monopoly that companies have on them. using the diamond value system or not.

  • @JiminyClarkson
    @JiminyClarkson 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow captain slow is on youtube...okie subscribed!

  • @royalzak2670
    @royalzak2670 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    damn, they had me fooled for so long!

  • @jeremiahsmith6689
    @jeremiahsmith6689 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    my main interests in diamonds are lasers and tool cutting & sharpening

  • @asdmla8777
    @asdmla8777 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a mac and what u r saying is true but it's some of the programs are only available for macs

  • @omariv6529
    @omariv6529 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Subscibed !!

  • @SpiritBear12
    @SpiritBear12 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a question. Where does Mr. May get his printed shirts?

  • @anialator1000000
    @anialator1000000 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    as i have heard and read from numerous sources, diamonds are hard, but not tough, a hammer could easily shatter the average diamond. (hardness is the ability of an object to scratch something else, toughness is its ability to absorb an impact, completely different.)

  • @4drive185
    @4drive185 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Drill-Bit diamond tools are awesome

  • @hybrid212
    @hybrid212 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    absolutelly agree

  • @Crosshill
    @Crosshill 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I already have what i need of pencils, altho i seem to misplace the H ones quite a bit. But it's not a diamond, ya know? But i would much rather own something of nanotube, and admire the strength of such thin material over a shiny pebble

  • @greatspacegibbon
    @greatspacegibbon 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Money only has value because we agree it does. It's not worth anything of itself, just what we can exchange it for.

  • @Mautorres97
    @Mautorres97 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    We also, all agree that money is valuable, thats why it is valuable.

  • @pdavid24
    @pdavid24 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Everything. The biggest example is the stock market. Everything on there is given value because we say so.

  • @volikoto
    @volikoto 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Oh I'd love to see a cameo of jeremy and richard in this show! :D

  • @YeshuahisKingofKings
    @YeshuahisKingofKings 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    DeBeers controls the prices. i'm lucky, my girl wants a Tanzanite... not too pricey even for a real one, good on her ;)

  • @rockmetalbuitre
    @rockmetalbuitre 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome may =))

  • @BeeJayFL
    @BeeJayFL 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Damn, I´d love to have a "Meet and Greet" with James for some smalltalk

  • @andreadesmocedici
    @andreadesmocedici 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Bond

  • @rhvette
    @rhvette 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Funny thing about diamond product placement in the 40's and 50's: almost none of them were actually diamonds. Real diamonds played havoc with the cameras and lighting on sets, so most of the jewelry was cut glass with a lot less sparkle in person. Watch old game shows like "What's My Line?" If one of the ladies is wearing diamonds, her neck does a wonderful strobe light impersonation. Diamonds still aren't used much today, but that's more because of cost and security issues now.

  • @CrazyCandyCrush
    @CrazyCandyCrush 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wall-e throw it away. James: can you make a video about who and how a diamond is price? Thanks.

  • @jkjamjk
    @jkjamjk 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    keep it up james

  • @josephfox9221
    @josephfox9221 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    according to sportsonlist you are right it is the third but not after teeth or red granite, and how can diamond cut iron but teeth cant?

  • @vampirasss
    @vampirasss 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Lol. When he says ''gems'' he reminds me of Taric.

  • @120perfecthalf
    @120perfecthalf 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    i will worship james may if i find out he was the one who wrote the script and did know/research this stuff

  • @troyadams19
    @troyadams19 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Amsterdam and most Canadians agree.

  • @HaniiPuppy
    @HaniiPuppy 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    They do have some metal-like properties not commonly found in non-metals, like being a good conductor for electricity.
    But yeah, saying diamond is the hardest metal is like saying concordes are the fastest birds xD

  • @willblackie8572
    @willblackie8572 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yes stronger, but not harder, there is a distinct difference

  • @donskiver
    @donskiver 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This is why my girlfriend doesn't want a diamond ring for her engagement ring or wedding band. She wants a traditional gemstone such as ruby or sapphire.

    • @michaelalexander3078
      @michaelalexander3078 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Don Skiver She's a keeper!

    • @fuzzface8252
      @fuzzface8252 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ah, engagement rings. Also a Debeers plot. They came up with the idea in the middle of the Great Depression to get people to spend all their money so DeBeers could maintain their profits. And for some reason it actually caught on, and now you have to get an engagement ring.

    • @shane250
      @shane250 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Get her a Moissanite!

    • @David-ud9ju
      @David-ud9ju 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      A ruby or sapphire is no different to a diamond though. They're all shiny rocks.

  • @mercedesbenzformula1
    @mercedesbenzformula1 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    If you think about it a lot of things are like diamonds. For instance why are some pieces of art work so valuble? Interesting to see someone else shares my view point on diamonds. On top of the fact supply is high, how are they any better than say cubic zirconium or moissanite? The hardness for the jewelry application is quite irrelevant. How it looks I would think would be more important

  • @thejumperkin
    @thejumperkin 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Diamond is much harder - stronger under compression.
    It's not the best material under tension - it's easier to pull a Diamond apart than it is to crush it (it is still incredibly strong under tension, though).

  • @TheAhmeddj
    @TheAhmeddj 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I think generaly value=time+abundance, for example, a worker with no college degree get the less salary, so the value of something we can get easy will be cheap because the time consuming to make it or find it is short + almost everyone can do it. am i right?

  • @kurtilein3
    @kurtilein3 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    no, the difference is quite easy to see. if you go for sapphire, pick an awesome color and a cut that is optimized for sapphire. Diamond cuts dont work on sapphire, the angles are wrong and you get extensive light leakage.
    i would choose a laboratory produced HPHT diamond in a fancy color and highest clarity. cheaper, better for the environment, and breathtaking optics.

  • @silenteagle2126
    @silenteagle2126 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    i want his shirt it's so cool