I struggle sometimes to agree that diamonds are a girl's best friend, especially when you're single. Thanks to De Beers "Diamonds are forever" a symbol of romantic ideals such as love and eternal promises of commitment. Perhaps you can see then how this might not work well for a single young woman just looking to meet a fun, friendly, male counterpart.

I love my job with 1791 Diamonds, I enjoy the various challenges it presents me, I work with a great team, but I struggle to work a description of my job into an introduction that doesn't make me look like I am hunting for a husband. As if single life wasn't hard enough I now have this often occurring conversation to contend with.

"So, what do you do", he asks

"Marketing, online marketing," I answer trying to keep the description of my job broad and in familiar territory. "It's fun, great people and I get to work from home, sometimes." This is my attempt to steer the conversation away from the inevitable next question.

"What do you market?"

Drum roll please, "Diamonds," I reply.

And with that one simple truth I've lost his interest to continue this conversation. A glazed look crosses his face, he's confused because no one really expects this answer in a town that hinges on tourism. So he starts scanning for the diamonds that everyone thinks I should be wearing already, as evidence that I'm not simply lying to work my desperation for a marriage proposal into our conversation.

And in failing to discover any evidence that I'm telling the truth, in seconds he has decided that 1) this is not a good topic of conversation 2) she's probably very high maintenance 3) she's not wearing diamonds therefore run! I'm talking to a desperate psycho husband hunter. Run ,damn it, run! No you don't have to be polite, turn your back, move away, NOW!

"Designer diamonds engagement rings," I explain as he turns his back on me with a feigned excuse to bail, "and matching handmade wedding bands."

He's quickly picking up speed as he moves away but I have a voice that carries well so I shout a desperate plea across the ever increasing void between me and my future husband "Wait! Pleeeaaase come back. We would be perfect for each other...."

But just as I consider leaping from the bar stool to tackle him and explain why I lied about my real job which I've decided is "I work at the Alpine Supermarket as as a checkout girl" someone bumps my elbow, spilling my drink and I turn to glare.

"Sorry, my bad," he offers as a feigned apology for attracting my attention "I'm Jack. Are you from around here?"

"Worries Jack, but you owe me drink now... Yeah, I haven't lived in Queenstown long, but it amazing beautiful right."

"Yeah" he agrees with a smile. "So what do you do here?"

About
Renee actually is the marketing manager for online jewellery retailer, 1791 Diamonds Ltd. Specialists in New Zealand designer diamond engagement rings in gold and platinum settings. She is not however, as psycho as this tale may suggest.