What is the April Birthstone?

The April Birthstone is a Diamond that symbolizes romance and love. They can be big or small and are one of the most sought-after and loved gemstones. The most popular use is for engagement and wedding rings. Every woman knows that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. You can never have too many!! If you were born in April you have a perfect excuse to spoil yourself with diamonds.

Did you know diamonds are the hardest gemstone? We think of diamonds as colorless but they come in a variety of colors such as yellow, brown, red, pink, orange, blue, or green. The bolder the color the more valuable the stone. A color example is the blue Hope Diamond, once owned by the kings of France is now displayed at the Smithsonian.

Diamonds were discovered near Kimberley, South Africa, in the late 1860s.The largest diamond ever found was 3,106 ct (621 grams), was mined in South Africa in 1905. The former Soviet Union opened its first major mine in 1960, and Russia is now one of the top producers of diamonds by both volume and value. Diamonds are also found in Canada, Australia the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Botswana..

Over the years diamonds were thought to protect against poison, thought to have healing powers, and are a boon for longevity, strength, beauty, and happiness.

You should clean diamonds with a lint-free cloth, or use warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush or a commercial jewelry cleaning solution. Have your diamond jewelry periodically cleaned and the settings checked by a professional jeweler.

Visit the GIA to brush up on the 4Cs of diamond quality and read the Diamond Buying Guide.