Since Valentine's Day is tomorrow, television stations are running a boatload of jewelry store commercials.  I saw an ad, or maybe it was a tv news bit, proclaiming that man-made diamonds are every bit as beautiful as natural stones.

I love diamonds as much as anybody.  I admit it.  I love gemstones in almost all shapes, sizes and colors.  Don't get me started on the gleam, weight and beauty of gold.

Anyway, in one of my occasional pensive moments, I mused about the value we place on gold and jewelry.  How was it decided, way back whenever, that shiny metal and hunks of sparkly, crystallized carbon would be worth so much that people would kill to possess them?

When I really think about this, it seems kind of strange that entire economies can be guaranteed by the amount of gold stored in vaults somewhere.

Did it start because they're beautiful and we could use them to adorn ourselves?  Is it because they're rare and you have to work to pry them out of the ground that they developed such worth? 

Damned if I know how it started, but I'm a little annoyed that I didn't invest in some gold a few months ago, considering it's gone up $150 per ounce since that time.

I have no answers, which is pretty typical for me in my pensive moods.

 

 

All I know is - I want a hunk of Tourmaline and I have no idea why.

Didn't Native Americans from way back when value feathers? They used particular feathers in their head dress or in their hair. Not that this has anything to do with jewelry or gold. I just think that not all humans place a high value on gems or gold. :)