Diamond is the April Birthstone and the stone of 60th anniversaries. The gem is a very precious gem used in jewellery and industry. It comes in a variety of colours and is classified according to the 4 Cs; Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat.
History
“Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.” – Pliny, 1st Century AD
Diamonds were first found in India, 4th Century BC. The rivers and streams yielded the valuable and rare gems. They were initially reserved for the wealthy elite in India. They were used as accessories, in religious icons and as engraving tools. Later, the town of Golkonda became an important centre for diamonds, to the point that it became a byword for rich mines. The town’s fort stored the famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds.
Along with valuable spices and fabrics, they were traded via the Silk Road. Debuting in Venice’s medieval luxury markets, they became fashionable in the West in the 1400s.
Symbolism
In India, diamonds were used for religious statues and were said to symbolise fire or the sun. This makes it a very appropriate birthstone for the month heralding Spring. It is also the symbol of a sixty year anniversary. The birth flower for April is the Daisy; which is said to symbolise love, and purity.
The stone’s name is derived from the Greek word adamas, which translates to “unconquerable.” or “unbreakable”. Diamonds came to symbolise reconciliation among the Italians. The French believed that a diamond wore on the left hand would attract good fortune. These beliefs, combined with Roman betrothal rings, and the ‘handfasting’ (tying the betrothed’s hands together) tradition of the Celts, became the wedding and engagement rings we know today.