I know a guy who has a $30,000 tone arm.
It’s a tone arm.
It cost $30,000.
2 Likes
Michael Fremer apparently has a $53k tonearm. Yes, it’s made in Sweden which automatically makes it awesome (can you tell my significant lineage happens to be from this fine Scandinavian country?)
They are pretty though.
1 Like
wow…yeah, talk about expensive drugs!..
1 Like
Still costly to him but he didn’t pay anywhere near 53K. Accommodation price discounts are substantial.
Absurd and obscene wastes of money to one person are an inconsequential trifle to another, perception depends on one’s level of income. The merely well to do among us (compared to the majority of the planet’s residents) really can’t comprehend the spending potential of the 2095 billionaires in the world this year (according to Forbes.) $150k for a platinum knife to someone at that income level is no more extravagant than $100 phono cartridge is to a middle class person. Innumerable wealthy women have spend more on jewelry baubles to wear to the occasional soiree. It’s today’s equivalent of the Fabergé eggs that were made for the Tzar’s family.
The three items you listed have little value to those who are uninterested in such things, and no intrinsic value above basic utility. Just like a knife. Or a $10,000 amplifier.
People collect expensive watches merely because they can. Others collect expensive sneakers. Still others, cars, vinyl, tin toys.
I am always amused when such discussions show up on an enthusiast site. The denizens typically argue their expensive wealthy first-world interest has value and can be justified - but the other guy’s weakness is absurd. “Your absurdity is greater than my absurdity!”
$10,000 spent on an amplifier, knife, watch - all could instead be a large charitable donation to a food shelf, arts organization, whatever. All are equally indefensible.
3 Likes
But, at a minimum, the tonearm still cost him over $20,000. And it is only a tonearm!
Why not if one has the means, Brodric has ordered a pair of these - https://www.magicoaudio.com/news/m9
Yep Elk… that’s the beauty of free speech …and like yourself ; 2ch4ever has brought up a good point with the title of this thread and has another great point here…
again my .02 as I see …
150 Grand and it doesn’t even come with a pair of scissors or tweezers?!
I’ll stick with my trusty Leatherman multi-purpose knife.
1 Like
ELK is right on. I just do not like complete losses. That knife would most likely be a near complete loss. When I am done with things they still have value if not have appreciated. That is my motive. I get that others are simply in it for the enjoyment.
Not sure about that. It does have 320 colorless F GIA grade diamonds embedded in the handle. They certainly would be worth something.
Documentaries on DeBeers shows a warehouse with racks of what looks like sams or cosco’s shelves chock full of duffelbag like bags
packed full of diamonds…
DeBeers controls the diamond markets and the ultimately prices paid for them…
Unless the diamonds are rare and collectors quality…then well…their you have it…
Much ado about various .02s
If the issue is concern about depreciation, most luxury objects depreciate rapidly - like audio equipment.
The diamond market has indeed long been artificial. It is a fascinating, and disturbing, monopoly.
1 Like
and one that probably hurts science and engineering? specifically re diamonds (and gold)
An excellent point. I did not think of this but you are correct.
1 Like
in one of Robert heinlein’s sci fi novels, gold is no longer a financial standard - so is used in all sorts of places, got me thinking years ago how much more prevalent it might be, and diamond edged cutting tools could be everywhere, now that would be a useful diamond knife instead of sticking them in the handle.
somewhere if there were ET life, they would be laughing at us silly humans 
1 Like
I think it is about time to wind down this thread. I would just like to state some factual things.
The blade is indeed very hard. However it is not stainless. That severely limits it’s practicality in today’s usage.
Many tool bits have diamond infused edges. Why not a diamond knife edge? That would surely be the hardest of all.
The knife is in fact too long to be legal in many markets. It is a large imposing knife.
As an actual knife collector I would rather sharpen a softer blade more often. Since that is a bear to sharpen.
Those are just statements of practicality regardless of price. It is far from a perfect knife regardless.
I think we should all give up beating a dead horse though.
Enough has been said on the subject in my feeling.
If anyone wishes to add more I cannot stop you but I am done here.
I honestly thought this thread would not get one reply.
1 Like
Same here
1 Like
Just like the U.S. dollar, the value of diamonds is being artificially manipulated.