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| The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire | 
| Author: Tom Zoellner
Publisher: Picador
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $5.75
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Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 44087
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 0312339704
Dewey Decimal Number: 553.82
EAN: 9780312339708
ASIN: 0312339704
Publication Date: June 12, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: GREAT Bargain Book Deal - like new, some may have small remainder mark - Ships out by NEXT Business Day - Over ONE MILLION Amazon orders filled - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!
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Product Description
An American Library Association Notable Book
When he proposed to his girlfriend, Tom Zoellner gave what is expected of every American man--a diamond engagement ring. But when the relationship broke apart, he was left with a used diamond that began to haunt him. His obsession carried him around the globe; from the "blood diamond" rings of Africa; to the sweltering polishing factories of India; to mines above the Arctic Circle; to illegal diggings in Brazil; to the London headquarters of De Beers, the secretive global colossus that has dominated the industry for more than a century and permanently carved the phrase "A diamond is forever" on the psyche. An adventure story in the tradition of Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, The Heartless Stone is a voyage into the cold heart of the world's most unyielding gem.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 It's EVERYONE'S Fault July 27, 2008
While there are many great aspects to this book, perhaps the most notable was the manner in which Zollner described the interconnectedness of countries all over the world in creating the problem of conflict stones. Rather than simply focusing on the warring zones, Zollner talked extensively about the roles different countries have played, and continue to play, in creating the diamond industry as the public knows it. For a book specifically focused on the conflict aspect of the diamond trade, start with "Blood Diamond" by Greg Campbell, and return to this for details of different players (most importantly, De Beers).
Taking the Gloss Off Diamonds July 25, 2008
While many of us have heard or assumed that diamonds are a hyped product, this book truly uncovers the ways that consumers and the media have been "played" by diamond merchants for more than a century. The author does an incredible job of tracking down diamonds in every corner of the world, getting access to mines, creeks, and lakes in Arctic wastelands, as well as the DeBeers wholesale office in Holland. To have even one of the experiences he details would be exciting; to do them all, and to have the nerve to ask the tough questions when he's in those places, is extraordinary. While I could do without his musings on his lost love and failed engagement, I guess those are useful framing devices for a story about how diamonds represent love to many of us around the world. I guess I'm glad my wife wanted an engagement ring with sapphires, not diamonds.
A Diamond Is Forever Tarnished July 24, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The problem of "blood diamonds" has been much-discussed lately, and here Tom Zoellner tackles not just that human rights issue but all the good, bad, and ugly details of the diamond industry. In the process, Zoellner has created a very informative and outstandingly written historical and economic study of one of the world's ugliest businesses. Here we find that the De Beers cartel continues to engage in (very) old-school monopolist and mercantilist practices - insidiously maintaining false scarcity and high prices, ruthlessly muscling out competitors, and manipulating cultural opinions about diamonds via heavy-handed advertising. For example, you may think that the Western tradition of the diamond engagement ring goes back for centuries, but actually this "tradition" was created by De Beers in a 1938 ad campaign. Modern practices aren't much better, as recent controversies over blood diamonds and child labor have been smoothed over with shallow sloganeering and insincere promises of self-regulation.
Impressively, Zoellner visited several god-forsaken locations in his investigation of all aspects of the diamond business, from Central African Republic to Arctic Canada to Siberia, and interviewed everyone from blue-blooded retail plutocrats in Europe to the lowliest exploited subsistence miner in the Third World. Zoellner also includes enlightening ruminations on why humans are willing to place so much power, wealth, and prestige in what are basically common shiny pebbles; how thin and artificial their sentimental value really is; and how entire cultures and economies have been manipulated by the powerful few who control the market for this artificially expensive luxury good. If you think a diamond is forever, ask yourself for whom it's forever. Zoellner has provided excellent food for thought, for when you next consider purchasing an overhyped pebble that you can barely afford and almost certainly don't need. [~doomsdayer520~]
Perhaps it should titled Monopoly, Marketing, & Murder April 12, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Here's a few questions you might ask your jeweler before buying a diamond ring. What's the diamond's history? Where was it mined? Was it swallowed and stolen by a mine worker? Was it taked from the bowels of a murdered mine worker? Did it finance a war? Was it grown in a machine? Was it cut by children in India? How many diamonds does De Beers hold in inventory to keep prices high?
A fascinating, well written expose of the diamond industry.
Stands out like well "a diamond in the rough" February 2, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book takes you through the entire life-cycle of a Diamond. We start from the geology and how they are created in the mantle of the earth and then pushed to the surface. Then we go to how they are extracted in the Diamond fields of Africa. A grim tale of the brutal military rule in the Central African Republic is also very interesting. Also later in the book we get an interesting chapter about the diamond fields of Canada. The Extreme conditions of both are astonishing. From there we go on a Journey to India to understand how diamonds are polished from rough stones into Gems. We also get a peek inside the De Beers Cartel showroom where many cut gems are purchased by the hundreds to thousands to jewelers.
This book does a great job of explaining why there is such an inflated artificial markup on diamonds. At the same time you almost feel as if you are getting the back story to a Bond Movie, and are just waiting for a villain to show up. The economics explained in this book are very thought provoking.
If you enjoyed the movie "Blood Diamond" this is an excellent follow up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and learned a lot along the way.
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