When cubic zirconia diamonds are used in children’s jewelry, they can bring a big smile to the face of a young girl. In the mind of a child, those cubic zirconia diamonds, though fake, are as valuable as real diamonds. The child can see that synthetic diamonds appear to have just as much sparkle as real diamonds. Now, adults should not pretend to be in possession of similar childhood innocence. Adults must therefore admit to the potential damage that can come from the creation and sale of synthetic diamonds.

On Friday, November 30, 2007, the local news in Los Angeles County ran footage of a huge bust, a bust made by local law enforcement. The clips that accompanied the story on that bust showed dozens and dozens of boxes. Inside one or more of those boxes a viewer could easily picture clothing, clothing decorated with cubic zirconia diamonds.

Now the news reporters did not mention cubic zirconia diamonds. They also made no reference to cz synthetic diamonds, diamond simulants or simulated diamonds. All of those names represent a different way to describe cubic zirconia diamonds.

Why then, would a TV viewer have reason to think that any one of the boxes of confiscated items contained clothing on which synthetic diamonds had been glued? The reporters said that the confiscated items were all pirated items. They were cheap fabrications of the genuine article.

Now suppose that someone wants to make a cheap imitation of an article of brand name clothing. Suppose too that the genuine article contains real diamonds. An imitator would probably want to find a cheap source of diamonds. He or she might consider using cubic zirconia diamonds.

Suppose that someone wants to make some pirated handbags. He or she aspires to create leather accessories that resemble the accessories sold at a high price. Some of those accessories might well be decorated with diamonds. The imitator of such accessories would probably want to use synthetic diamonds.

Some have claimed that the production of pirated items is a “victimless crime.” The news report on the last day of November disputed that claim. That report offered proof that money from the sale of pirated items makes its way into the coffers of area gangs.

Gang members love to wear jewelry. They might thus decide to sell cubic zirconic jewelry. Gang members could expect to make a huge profit from the sale of such jewelry. They could use cheap materials to make that jewelry and sell it at a cost well above its true value.

When viewed in that light, one can see that the sale of pirated items actually victimizes a great many people. It hurts the company that makes the genuine article. It also has the potential to create more problems in areas where there are many gangs.

A person who knowingly purchases a pirated good helps to perpetuate the manner by which gang members can plunder a neighborhood. Each sale gives the gang members more resources for pillaging items from each and every resident in any gang-controlled area. 

One can not truly say that the pirating of goods is a victimless crime. The authorities have good reason to seek out and punish those who flood any market with pirated goods.