It turns out diamonds don't *actually* last forever

Our lives are a lie

It seems like the phrase “a diamond is forever” has been around… well, forever. These popular stones used to be rare until the late 1800s, so they were super valuable back in the day. Nowadays, they’re a lot more common that many people assume, considering their cost - here's how to choose an engagement ring, if you're wondering.

Today, diamonds are marketed as THE symbol of a lasting relationship due to the fact that they are the hardest and most durable known natural material - although many couples are now opting for gorgeous, just-as-good-if-not-better alternatives to diamond jewellery when picking engagement rings, for reasons from cost to production to uniqueness to just simple preference. We've rounded up the celebrity engagement rings we can't help but fall in love with that'll give you all the diamond envy.

And we’re sorry to be the ones to tell you this, James Bond fans, but Diamonds Are Forever is a lie.

So let’s start with good news for diamond lovers. According to Zidbits.com, diamonds do last forever in SOME form and will totally outlast all of us humans, as far as we can measure. And unless diamonds get EXTREMELY hot, they’ll stay diamonds.

Bad news time: We humans don’t have all the answers - even though sometimes we feel like we do! - which means the fate of the diamond isn’t 100% set in stone (pun intended). Everything decays and goes away in some form eventually, and diamonds are sadly no exception. What’s even more depressing? Your beautiful Tiffany sparklers will likely one day dissolve into graphite, which is the same stuff in the No. 2 pencils you used at school.

Luckily, though, none of us will be around to see our favourite diamond jewellery become school supplies - and, in fact, diamonds will likely outlast most things, not only on Earth, but in the universe.

So, in a nutshell, while they aren’t technically 'forever,' they’re pretty much forever. For some reason, though, 'Diamonds Are For A Long Time That’s Basically Forever' doesn’t have the same ring to it, so you win this time, Bond.

From the editors of HelloGiggles