Diamonds - A Girl's Best Friend

The April Birthstone

Diamond is the official US birth stone for April. However it isn't restricted to that use and many people like to buy diamonds for a special occasion or simply because they're so beautiful. It is frequently to be found in rings, especially engagement and wedding rings.

Diamond is a form of carbon - one of the various allotropes of the element.

As well as its beauty, diamond is known for its hardness. Few things can scratch diamond and it has often been used for industrial purposes. This durability is probably the source of its use as a symbol of eternal love. However diamond is not literally "forever": even a diamond can be damaged if not cared for properly.

The combination of restricted supply and high demand makes quality natural diamonds very expensive.

Simulants

Because diamond is so desirable yet so expensive, a number of "diamond simulants" have been created over the years. These are more affordable to buy than the real thing and to the untrained eye look almost the same. Diamond simulants ("look alikes") are not the same as synthesized diamonds.

Current diamond simulants include cubic zirconia (CZ) and moissanite. Technically they are not diamonds, artificial or otherwise, but how much does that matter?

Recently the trend has been to market these simulants less as artificial or synthetic diamonds and more as new gems in their own right.

Of course, natural diamond remains a wonderful luxury item - if you can afford it.

Symbolism and Lore

The name diamond comes form the Greek adamas meaning "invincible" - probably a reference to its hardness. It has generally been associated with heroic qualities such as courage and strength. It has also been thought to offer protection.

Diamond is also said to bring bad luck to those who steal it. This might just be a story put around by those who owned diamonds and wanted to deter thieves. However over the years a number of diamond thefts have ended in misfortune.

The Greeks said that diamonds were the tears of the gods, while the Romans believed them to be splinters of fallen stars. Both of those romantic images seem appropriate.

Some famous diamonds include the Hope Diamond, a deep blue stone with a reputation for bringing misfortune, the Cullinan Diamond in the British Crown Jewels and the world largest diamond the Millenium Star.

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