I had the joy today of doing something I don’t normally get the chance to do: sharing my particular beliefs about something in which I feel strongly about. In this case, the subject of jewelry and gems, the belief is one that is not all that common, though, certainly not unheard of. The subject came up at work when, in going to visit the women in customer service, they mentioned a jewelry catalog and asked if I wanted it, and here’s where it got fun.
I do not believe in jewelry or the use of gems or adornment for some fairly simple reasons:
- I feel it’s wasteful and completely unnecessary
- I believe it has and is still used as a status symbol to express inequality
- The processes used to extract the materials used typically utterly destroys the environment they are found in and sometimes the people who work for the mines as well
- It continues the human legacy of rich nations exploiting less well-off countries instead of helping them
- Most of it is really ugly
The evidence is pretty easy to find, but meh, I’m too tired to find it right now…
On that note I feel I should say that my wife and I do have wedding rings. Mine cost $10 and hers $15 at the local silver outlet store. I personally do not own any other jewelry that is not sentimental.
Perhaps one person won’t make a difference but I’m sure as hell not going to add to the problem.
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I’ve noticed the more expensive the jewelry, usually the uglier it is. I rarely wear any jewelry, not so much as a political or social thing, but because it just gets in my way, gets caught on something, or breaks because I’m not all that dainty or delicate.
I love looking at old jewelry, though. I even have a few nice pieces of old jewelry acquired from estate sales or antique lots. There’s a sense of history with those pieces, good or bad.
Reply to Sherri
It sounds like you’ve really thought things out, which, I have to say, is more than I’ve seen in a lot of people.
I completely understand the whole allure of older jewelry. I think there’s a real craftsmanship that is really prominent in most older pieces that you just don’t see anymore. With most jewelry now mass-produced, it has certainly lost any semblance of the art that went into creating highly detailed jewelry. One website I found a while ago for a necklace I bought for Julie still seems to have that feel, at least somewhat.
Reply to ravenber
I have to agree with you, the only “jewelry” I wear is a $10 watch, but I hardly count that. When the time comes I’ll wear a wedding band, but other than that…
Reply to DarkNemesis618 (Keith)
You tell them catty bitches how it is! However, asking humanity to wisen up and think about the decisions they make is a pretty tall order. Oh well. We can hope, right?
Reply to Julie
Well, if no one tells them the consequences of their irresponsible actions, then nothing will change.
Reply to ravenber