‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ Review: How Are Diamonds Made

"Nothing Lasts Forever" would be a weather report that predicted a hurricane that would blow away a house of Valentine's Day cards if it was a weather report. Instead, Jason Kohn's multifaceted documentary focuses on the subject of diamonds: Not only has modern technology been able to produce gems that are virtually indistinguishable from the real stuff, but as per Jason Kohn's research, these manufactured stones have found their way into the global supply of diamonds. Does a girl have to find a new best friend at some point in her life?

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There is one thing that provides clarity to Mr. Kohn's investigation and that is the fact that everyone in it has an agenda. The traditionalist concept is promoted by Martin Rapaport, a stalwart in the diamond trade whose Rapaport Diamond Report (The Rap Sheet) has published and standardized prices for many years. He advocates the idea that an engagement ring should reflect the love behind it and that the authenticity of the ring reflects the love behind it. He says that counterfeiters are stealing the diamond dream from the people, as he puts it. The comically caustic Aja Raden, designer, and author ("Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World") argues that if you wish to purchase a dream such as that, you will have to invest in "a lie about a lie.". Raden believes that there are myths surrounding diamonds such as their rarity, value, and even their beauty that are created by the likes of De Beers, the London-based diamond consortium. There is no way one can talk about De Beers without sounding judgmental,” she explains, sounding very judgmental in her words.

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In the official De Beers viewpoint, which includes myths and legends about both the stones and the benefits they have brought to Africa as a result of their mining, Stephen Lussier is the one who puts forward these stories, legends, and romanticized notions. Last year he stepped down from his position as the company's executive vice president for brands and consumer markets. It is likely that the company watched the movie. In Ms. Raden's camp, however, there are some awkward moments as well. One example is the person who is dismissive of the “dream” and the idea that, as Ian Fleming once said, “diamonds are forever,” as he dismisses the idea of synthetic diamonds. There is no doubt that the diamond industry, as it is currently known, has to give way to a new industry with new technologies that will allow the stones to be utilized in new ways in the future. Aside from that, he adds that romantic love is only about 150 years old, so it may come as something of a shock to William Shakespeare, but the point makes sense. There is a lot of concern among the old guard about this.

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The director of the film, Kohn, who also takes part in the interviews that accompany the film, explores the concept of intrinsic value without poking us over the head with it. What is the value of something? The answer to this question is whatever someone wants to pay, even if what they're getting is purely symbolic (and on this point Mr. Rapaport and Ms. Raden might be able to agree). It isn't the synthetics that are the problem, says Mr. Rapaport, "it's the nondisclosure of synthetics that is the problem." It may seem obvious to you, but it has to be said.

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The problem is when someone does this, they don't receive a lot of response: From a launch point on West 47th Street in New York's famous diamond district, Mr. Kohn pursues his diamond story to China, India, Botswana, and Las Vegas. As a result of the rise of synthetics, Dusan Simic, a Serbian-born gemologist, is placed at a crossroads in the book by Kohn. He made several attempts to alert the industry to the fact that man-made gems have penetrated the market for real stones, but his attempts were ignored; his new process for authenticating natural diamonds was ignored too. A review like this one should stay quiet about Mr. Simic's ultimate journey through the book "Nothing Lasts Forever," which suggests that the rocks you buy are nothing more than a piece of paper. It is as if the merchants in the diamond markets of India tiptoe around a subject that seems to be common knowledge that no one wants to touch.