In the Catoca diamond mine in Angola, a worker named Enano do Nascimento uncovered a rare pink diamond. It was the largest pink diamond yet discovered. He was given a bonus of 1,000 Angolan kwanza (about $6). That night he celebrated with his family and his children ate well for a month.
The mining conglomerate auctioned the pink diamond, ‘The Angolan Star,’ at Sotheby’s in London. Several collectors, governments and companies bid, but the CEO of a Silicon Valley tech company won.He paid $30 million.
He renamed the pink diamond ‘The American Star’. It sat in his office in Santa Clara for six months.
Then the diamond was shipped to China. At a factory, it was broken down and used to make 5000 limited edition mobile phones with ultra strong pink shaded screens. They sold at $10,000 each and sold out within one day.
Three months later all the limited edition mobile phones were recalled after reports of explosions while charging. An investigation revealed substandard cheap internal wiring was the cause. All the handsets were destroyed.
Flash fiction story run by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Write a story based on the prompt photo (above). Many thanks to Priceless Joy for hosting the challenge. Learn more HERE.
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, click HERE.
Enano and his family ate well for a month!
Seems he benefitted the most, after all… 😉
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Lovely twist in this short story. A lesson to all. It’s always great when the underdog is the winner.
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Thanks Hugh
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Hahahaha I don’t even know what to say, they should have let the diamond be.
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Exactly, the folly of the modern consumerist world 🙂 thanks for reading.
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Wow! Great story! That is what happens when greed consumes people and as one person said, Enano benefited the most with the measly $6 bonus because he and his family ate well for a whole month!
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Diamonds are not forever. Great write.
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Not if they are treated like this anyway! Thanks.
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amazing that you could get all that information in! love a story thats so detailed. I am thinking when the diamond got switched for a fake that caused the explosions?
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Ah, hadn’t thought of that! Very devious. I was thinking more along the lines of the cost of the outside look wasn’t matched by cutting costs on cheap parts inside – but your idea is a good one 🙂
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Agreed that products from a certain country in Asia have higher stats for being defective that put lives at risk, your story gives a lot of food for thought. so it could go many different ways. i also thought of sabotage at one point, a good story makes me think all sorts. Nice job!
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What a really good story full of twists and turns 🙂
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Thanks Angie 🙂
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Enjoyed reading about the eventful journey of the diamond as it spread both joy and destruction in it’s wake.
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Many thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed 🙂
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Iain, another great short. The twist is perfect and it is also a very true one . You got everything in here from the poor worker to the money that changed hands to really how we don’t appreciate or value anything.
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Thanks Shehanne, glad you got all that from it, difficult to make all those points in so few words, but I think it worked.
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Lol! This story did not go the way I expected it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There’s a subtle warning of greed and consumerism hiding between the lines, I think. Really fascinating take on the photo!
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Thanks Jade, glad you liked and thanks for the interesting prompt.
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My pleasure Iain! Thanks for giving it such a great story 🙂
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I like the layers to this tale.
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Many thanks.
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Very creative Ian. Interesting, the guy who found the diamond only gets $6.00. A lot to him, but he should have got much more. But a corrupt world I guess and the guy who bought it paying $30 million probably didn’t blink. Also, interesting him breaking the jewel down into cell phones. In the end I’m kind of glad, this guys cheapness caught up to him. Hopefully, the phones had warranties.
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Thanks, glad you enjoyed and got the message from it I was trying to convey – taking something of beauty from the world and destroy in it for personal gain. It never ends well.
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uh oh. a sad twist (that is based on something recent, right? :))
I think the purpose of the diamond is to let Enano have a better life, even for just a while. 😉
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I think all the big companies have had problems like this at some point and yes one quite recently. Thanks for reading.
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yes, and my heart breaks for them. i can’t imagine how many head rolled after that.
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So it’s ‘ Amen’ to a $30 million pink diamond. As Yarnspinner says, above, ‘Diamonds are not for ever’. Great story, Iain, with an excellent twist at the end.
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Thanks Millie
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The journey of The American Star is very interesting…loved how you wove it!
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Many thanks 🙂
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Wow! I love how you wrote such a detailed story within the word limit! … I also like how you got the typical trait of humans who try to take short cuts/cheat …simply to save/make more money for themselves…. first the mining company, then the tech firm… A fitting end to it all. Fantastic story!
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Thank you, pleased you got so much from it, and your kind comments mean a lot!
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What a cool idea to tell a diamond’s story from birth to death. What a life! I’m glad it could bring Enano and his family some happiness at least. Brilliantly(!) written 🙂
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Thanks Sonny.
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Great story.
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Thanks Sally.
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Of all the short stories I’ve read for this week’s FFfAW, this one is by far my favorite. Most original, most noteworthy, great twist and an awesome lesson. Nice job!
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You’re too kind, but I like it! Many thanks 🙂
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Considering the most recent recall, this is a timely piece. And also, the selfishly small payment the miner received…this speaks to how little people are paid for giving us 1st world countries what we want.
Well that’s my take on your take and I liked your take.
Ellespeth
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That about sums up my take! Thanks Ellespeth
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Wonderfully written. You’ve covered so much ground in this story! What a believable portrayal of the folly of consumerism.
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Many thanks, that was my intention, so glad you took that from my writing.
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A wonderful story, Iain. I hope the tech company and its CEO lost a lot of money dealing with the aftermath! A great depiction of modern society – when making money and owning the latest gadgets takes precedence over conserving the beauties of the natural world.
By the way, I thought I’d commented on this a few days a go, but I can’t see it in the list. I apologise if I’m repeating myself!
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Many thanks for your kind comment, I was trying to get all that into so few words, so I’m pleased you got all that from it.
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Lovely perspective. At least Enano and his family enjoyed most on the pittance that he received. I like karma 😊
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Thank you 😉
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Reblogged this on Hello Creatives and commented:
I plan to reblog your post in my blog https://hellocreativestimes.com. Since you have enabled reblogging on your post, I am assuming that you are allowing others to reblog this post. However, if you have any objection to reblogging your post, please let us know as soon as possible. Thank you.
🙂
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Thanks for the reblog.
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Thanks for your permission. 🙂
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