The meaning behind April's birthstone: Diamond
Diamond is one of the world’s...
most sought-after and adored gemstones. A symbol of clarity and strength, those born in April are lucky enough to call this their birthstone. Diamond’s name comes from the Greek word "adamas," which means “invincible” or “unbreakable.” Cherished long before it became the April birthstone the places where diamond comes from are as fascinating as the lore that surrounds it.
Mankinds love for the April birthstone...
started in India, where diamonds were gathered from the country’s rivers and streams. Traded as early as the fourth century BCE, diamonds were coveted by royalty and the wealthy. Venice, brought Indian diamonds, along with other exotic merchandise, to medieval markets by caravan. By the 1400s, diamonds were becoming fashionable accessories for Europe’s elite. The first diamond engagement ring on record was given by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy, in 1477. Origins of the legendary 45.52 carat (ct) blue Hope diamond suggest India’s Golconda mining area and its sale to King Louis XIV of France (then known as the French Blue diamond) in 1668. India’s diamond supplies began to decline in the early 1700s, Brazil emerged as an important source. Gold miners sifted through gravels on the banks of the Jequitinhonha River in Minas Gerais. Brazil dominated the diamond market for more than 150 years. The late 1860s marked the beginning of the modern diamond market after the discovery of diamonds near Kimberley, South Africa. Entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes established De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited in 1888, and by 1900 De Beers controlled an estimated 90 percent of the world’s production of rough diamonds.
The largest diamond ever found – at 3,106 ct (621 grams) – was recovered from South Africa’s Premier mine in 1905. From it was cut the pear shaped 530 ct Cullinan I diamond, also known as the Great Star of Africa, now set in the Royal Sceptre with Cross and housed with the other Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
Diamond is now mined around the world. By the early 2000s, Most of the other African nations are now major producers of rough diamonds. Russia is now one of the top producers by both volume and value. The opening of the Argyle mine in Australia in 1983 and the discovery of several diamond deposits in northern Canada in the 1990s greatly expanded .
Diamond mining in Russia’s eastern Siberia are found in the tundra, in frigid temperatures and during short days. Jet engines and explosives are used to heat and soften the ice covering the kimberlite pipes a primary source for diamonds. In 2013, Alrosa, Russia’s main diamond mining company, estimated that there were 970 million carats still waiting to be mined.
The mines of Botswana are prolific mines have brought a boom to the economy, creating a growing middle class. The country is also a diamond hub, where approximately 40 percent of the world’s supply of rough diamonds are sorted and valued.
Diamond (10 on the Mohs hardness scale) is usually durable enough to be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner. However, if your diamond birthstone has many inclusions or has been treated, it it is best to clean it with a lint-free cloth, or use warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush or a commercial jewelry cleaning solution. Also, have your diamond birthstone jewelry periodically cleaned and its setting examined by a professional jeweler to maintain its beauty and integrity over time.