I think the evolutionary psychologists have more tact, but this reader gets to the heart of something here:

Jonah –
I know this will likely automatically put me in the misogynist category, but am I the only one who has noticed that, while women typically categorize men as cavemen they are the ones who flip out over shiny rocks set in shiny metal? It’s either some genetic throwback to primitive enchantment or women are just interested in the thought of copious amounts of money being spent on them (any doubts? Buy a woman a cubic zirconia and tell her it’s real and observe her reaction when she finds it to be untrue). I’m not saying this about all women, mind you. I happen to be married to one of the few who cares little to nothing about jewelry.