<p>Recently, the phrase “carbon under pressure makes a diamond” has come up a few times. I am not familiar with it, and wonder if anyone can explain it. </p>
<p>If my newborn is carbon, how much pressure and how many years would it take to turn him into a diamond? Once he turns into a diamond, does he need to be cut or polished? Or is it okay to remain a rough diamond? Am I going for a really big diamond, or is one carat enough, or is that a function of his birth weight and simply out of my control?</p>
<p>Thankfully, children aren’t diamonds. Love them, care for them, teach them what you believe and to think for themselves. Be proud of them every chance you get, proud for what they do, not just what you want them to do or think they have to do. Hope to hell they turn out OK.</p>
<p>I have grandchildren now, at least the second’s on the way. Maybe it’s time to be more mellow about things. Experience is a good thing most of the time.</p>
<p>Carbon plus a huge amount of pressure applied slowly and with no escape can produce a diamond, but not every time. And most of the diamonds are industrial, not gem quality. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not good enough at using that much pressure in exactly the right amount for exactly the right time to be sure of getting a good quality diamond. On the other hand, I know plenty of parents who have tried that approach and had problems with the result.</p>
<p>And why do you want a diamond? What does a diamond possess that carbon does not? Unless you want to use the diamond in industry as a cutting tool (and those things are usually metal coated in diamond dust, not actual lumps of diamond), a diamond’s main function is to sit pretty on a ring and be shown off. Is that what you want for your kid? Translucently flawless, with neither soul nor depth, whose sole objective is to be bragged about?</p>
<p>On the other hand, carbon (i.e. as graphite or just loose black powder form), powers our industries, is a cornerstone of life and used in everything from pencils to nanotubes. Diamonds may be prettier, but the world could live without them. Try living in a world without carbon.</p>
<p>The whole diamond industry is a farce peretuated by the Debeers company. I have seen where it is possible to “artifically” create a diamond that is flawless to the point where not even a trained gemologist can tell the difference. The diamond market could be flooded tomorrow and make most current stones worthless if they wanted to do it. I laugh at my buddies when they spend $2500+ on what is essentially a worthless rock for an engagement ring. My first two engagements the rings costed $500 and that should be the maximum that any prospective bachelor puts on an engagment ring.</p>
<p>I am glad to hear all the remarks. I have seen that phrase used several times also in response to children feeling a lot of pressure. what does too much pressure cause? anorexia, depression, illness, low self esteem and on and on. I agree with the one poster, I don’t know how much pressure to apply, so just using good judgement and taking the loving route is best. and yes, a very wise 17 year old indeed</p>
<p>can’t agree with you joev, if all I was worth to a man is $500 bucks, would have to say bye bye. I’m not materialistic, but I do insist that the person who is supposed to care about me and love me forever would think I was worth better. doesn’t have to be a diamond…</p>
<p>I would rather give a future wife something she could use that was practical for 3 grand than some stupid overpriced ring. (and by practical I don’t mean washer, dryer, dish washer etc LOL,; something more along the lines of a nice dress, some nice shoes)</p>