Diamond is the official birthstone for the month of April as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also considered to be the birthstone for Aries and accepted as the 10th and 60th wedding anniversary presents.
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| Mary of Burgundy, Maximillian of Austria and the first diamond engagement ring on record |
Composed of carbon, the
diamond is
not only the hardest precious gemstone, but also the hardest known natural substance on
earth, ranking
at number 10 on the Mohs scale. Its structure makes it 58 times harder than
anything in nature and can only be cut with another diamond. That fact, combined
with its brilliant fire and exceptional luster, has made the diamond one of the
most prized gemstones in the world. In 1870 South Africa became the highest
producer of diamonds, although Australia is currently the main source, as well
as Botswana, Brazil, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Zaire, and the US.
The name diamond was
taken from the Greek word “adamas” meaning invincible,
a sheer testament to its remarkable and superior hardness. The superlative
physical qualities of diamond are credited to the strong covalent tetrahedral
bonding between its transparent crystals. Each individual carbon atom is
connected to four other carbon atoms, all of which are very closely packed.
This formation yields a remarkably strong three-dimensional cubic structure.
Diamond's cubic crystal pattern is also completely symmetrical, which allows it
to refract light in all directions at the same velocity.
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| Colored Diamonds |
Although it is a gem of
winter, the color of ice, Diamond is a crystal of Light; its high frequency
energy is dispersed into flashing prisms of brilliant “fire” that reminds us of
the sun. It is a spiritual stone, a symbol of perfection and illumination, activating
the Crown and Etheric Chakras. It enhances inner vision and stimulates
creativity, imagination, and ingenuity, opening the mind to the “new” and
“possible.”
Diamonds are graded by
what the market calls the Four C's: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. The
quality of the cut, the color, the lack of impurities, and the size/weight, are
the standards that dictate the value for each stone.
The ancient Hindus believed
that diamonds were created by lightning bolts that struck the Earth. Greek
legends entail that diamonds are the tears of the Gods, star splinters and
crystallized lightening.
The world's most precious gem is said to
represent faith, loyalty, honesty, purity, love and innocence, and bestow on the
wearer peace and fulfilling relationships. It is believed to inspire creativity in individuals and bring its owner protection,
wealth and happiness.
As Frances
Gerety wrote for an advertising campaign for De Beers in 1947, "A Diamond is Forever"!
Happy Birthday to all of those born in April!
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