Yup, it's been extremely effective. I got engaged at the end of last year and certain types of people seemed genuinely horrified that I didn't get a diamond ring.
Anecdotally though those tended to be older folks so I think maybe it's losing effectiveness and younger people are seeing how absurd and arbitrary the whole thing is.
Very similar story here, got a ring that we liked and laughed our asses off on the thought of spending thousands on a shiny rock.
A custom that's not really a custom that needs to die out.
Interesting doc on Netflix called Nothing Lasts Forever goes into great detail on the diamond cartel and how 'synthetic' diamonds are getting mixed in with mined ones.
There is a Adam ruins everything video about
Tell that to my girlfriend …
Show her the shit the DeBeers have done and she will hopefully abandon hopes for a diamond ring.
Fuck the DeBeers