The April birthstone is diamond, a gem made almost entirely of a single element and known for being the hardest of them all. For anyone with an April birthday, or anyone marking a milestone, it is a stone with a long and well-documented story. In this guide from Wanderlust Jewelry we look at where diamonds come from, what people have believed about them, and how to look after a diamond so it keeps its sparkle.
April birthstone: diamond at a glance
- What it is: carbon, about 99.95 percent of it, which makes diamond the only gem made of a single element.
- Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale, the top of the scale.
- Colours: most often colourless, but trace elements can give diamonds colours such as yellow (from nitrogen) and blue (from boron).
- Anniversaries: the traditional gem for the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.
Where the name comes from
The word diamond comes from the Greek adamas, meaning invincible or unbreakable. It is a fitting name: diamond is so hard that, as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) puts it, you can only scratch it with another diamond.
Hardness is not the same as toughness, though. A sharp knock in the wrong direction can still chip or split a diamond, which is why jewellers often protect pointed corners with prongs.
How diamonds form
Diamond forms deep inside the earth, in high-temperature and high-pressure conditions that exist only within a specific depth range of about 160 kilometres (100 miles). Its carbon atoms are bonded in essentially the same way in every direction, and that tight, even crystal structure is what gives diamond its hardness. Graphite, the soft material in a pencil, is also pure carbon; the difference lies entirely in how the atoms are arranged.
From ancient India to Kimberley
Diamond has a long history. According to GIA, diamonds were gathered from India's rivers and streams and traded as early as the fourth century BCE, and by the 1400s they had become fashionable among Europe's elite.
The story then moved around the world:
- Brazil became an important source in the early 1700s and dominated the diamond market for more than 150 years.
- South Africa changed everything when diamonds were found near Kimberley in the late 1860s, the start of the modern diamond market.
- Russia opened its first major mine in 1960 and is now a top producer.
- Australia followed with the Argyle mine in 1983, and Canada with deposits found in the 1990s.
- Botswana is now a major producer, and GIA notes that roughly 40 percent of the world's rough diamonds are sorted and valued there.
For South Africans, the April birthstone carries a little extra meaning: the Kimberley finds are part of our own history.
Diamond meaning and beliefs
Diamond has gathered many associations over the centuries. Traditionally it is linked with clarity, resilience and lasting love, and the diamond engagement ring has become a near-universal symbol of love and marriage. Many people wear a diamond as a reminder of strength, and in folklore it has been called a boon for longevity, strength, beauty and happiness.
Older beliefs went further. A second-century poet claimed diamond warded off the evil eye, and in earlier times it was thought to protect against poison and plague.
These are traditional beliefs, not proven effects, and are no substitute for medical advice.
Choosing a diamond: the 4Cs
If you are choosing a diamond, GIA's 4Cs are the common language of quality:
- Colour: for most diamonds, this is really about the absence of colour.
- Clarity: based on the size, position, visibility and number of inclusions and blemishes.
- Cut: how the diamond interacts with light, including the proportions and arrangement of its facets.
- Carat weight: the weight, not the size; one metric carat is 200 milligrams.
It is also worth knowing that some diamonds in the market are colour-treated, using coatings, irradiation and heating, or high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) treatment. A gem laboratory can tell whether a colour is natural.
If you love the look of diamond but want a different budget, moissanite is a lab-created alternative. It is made of silicon carbide, sits at 9.25 on the Mohs scale, and according to the International Gem Society typically shows more fire (flashes of colour) than diamond. You can browse our moissanite jewellery to compare.
How to care for a diamond
Diamond is tough on scratches, but it still needs a little care:
- At home, clean it with a soft lint-free cloth, a jewellery cleaning solution, or warm water with a mild detergent and a soft toothbrush.
- Avoid abrasive powdered cleaners.
- Leave ultrasonic and steam cleaning to a jeweller, who will first check that the stones are secure. Heavily included or treated diamonds are best cleaned gently by hand.
- Have the setting checked by a professional from time to time.
Our jewellery care guide has more tips for everyday wear.
Shop the April birthstone
At Wanderlust Jewelry South Africa our founders hand-pick pieces from artisans in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Hong Kong, as well as pieces made here in South Africa. If you would like to see a piece properly before you buy, you can schedule a video call with one of our consultants to see the exact piece (WhatsApp 068 613 6350).
Explore our April birthstone collection, or read about every month on our birthstones page.