The choice of inventory method depends on the company’s objectives. Since the diamonds are marked and coded, the company could use specific identification. This could, however, result in “earnings management” by the company because, as shown, it could carefully choose which diamonds to sell to result in the maximum or minimum income. Employing a cost flow assumption, such as Average-cost or FIFO, would reduce record-keeping costs. FIFO would result in higher income, but Average-cost would reduce income taxes.