The history of man's love affair with a completely useless gem. Diamonds are almost completely useless but prized above all other gems. Historically they have attracted crimes of passion and awful cold-blooded efficiency, have bedazzled the greatest filmstars and the most opulent courts, and provided the incentive for adventure, destruction and greed on a monumental scale. No one company is more identified with diamonds than the South African-based De Beers. Until the collapse of the Iron Curtain they ...
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The history of man's love affair with a completely useless gem. Diamonds are almost completely useless but prized above all other gems. Historically they have attracted crimes of passion and awful cold-blooded efficiency, have bedazzled the greatest filmstars and the most opulent courts, and provided the incentive for adventure, destruction and greed on a monumental scale. No one company is more identified with diamonds than the South African-based De Beers. Until the collapse of the Iron Curtain they controlled the diamond market. After the collapse, they still controlled it - once they had bought up most of the diamonds emerging from the former Soviet Union. They are secretive, discreet and very, very powerful. A strike in Northern Canada could hardly seem to trouble them. Except that it prefigured a diamond rush in a territory over which they had no influence by prospectors they did not own. And the strike promised enormous riches. Here is the true story of the strike that upset the diamond kings, and with it the history of the world's most acclaimed diamonds, the process by which they are cut, fashioned, smuggled and stolen, the legends and superstitions that are attached to them, the characters who comprise the great diamond prospectors and, above all, of the shadowy hand of De Beers for whom diamonds are forever.
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Add this copy of Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair to cart. $18.69, very good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2003 by Fourth Estate.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Add this copy of Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair to cart. $29.07, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Harpercollins Pb.
Add this copy of Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair to cart. $36.12, very good condition, Sold by Reuseabook rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester, GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Fourth Estate.
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Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine.
Add this copy of Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair to cart. $36.80, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Fourth (4th) Estate Publ.
Add this copy of Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair to cart. $41.00, very good condition, Sold by Chapter 1 Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA, published 2002 by Fourth (4th) Estate Publ.
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Very Good in Very Good jacket. The dust jacket a little shelf rubbed and edge worn. The text within the book is clear. Now protected in cellophane. The binding is excellent. GK.
