Birthstone Color: White, Clear
April's birthstone is remarkably simple in composition,
yet stunning in its unique ability to reflect and
refract light into vivid flashes of brilliant color.
The ancient Hindus called the Diamond "Vajra," meaning
lightening, both because of the sparks of light thrown
off by this gem as well as its invincible strength.
The Diamond is harder than any other substance on
earth.
Diamonds have been revered throughout
history. Used to embellish such items as crowns,
swords and emblems as well as jewelry, they've even
been part of national holidays. Queen
Victoria declared the celebration of her 50th year
of reign a "Diamond Jubilee." Diamonds have
also been credited for having certain medicinal properties.
During the middle ages, these gemstones were thought
to heal illness, but only if the ailing person took
the Diamond into bed to warm it up first!
Formed deep within the earth where there
is intense heat and pressure, Diamonds are simply
crystallized carbon. Volcanic activity of centuries
ago brought these gemstones to the earth's surface,
where they are found either within volcanic rock formations
or washed out into rivers. India is thought
to be the first river-bed source of Diamond mining,
but today these gemstones are found primarily in Australia,
the Soviet Union, and Africa.
No more notable it its uncut state than
a plain pebble upon the beach, the true beauty of
the Diamond was not revealed until the 16th century,
when gemstone cutting and polishing techniques were
perfected. Prior to this time, it was considered
taboo to modify the original state of a Diamond.
Today, the value and appeal of this stone depends
largely upon how skillfully it is cut and faceted.
A gift of a Diamond is symbolic of everlasting
love. There is no more convincing a promise
of an enduring relationship than the brilliant gemstone
that has endured in people's hearts throughout the
ages.
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