April babies get to enjoy one of the most beautiful and precious stones as their birthstone: diamond. If you or a loved one was born in April, diamond jewelry makes for the perfect gift. Diamonds are timeless and their incredible quality and shine have captivated wearers for centuries. They also mark the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.

Diamonds occur in an assortment of different colors including red, yellow, green, and blue, black, pink and orange, but the most popular are the colorless diamonds. Colorless diamonds are pure, whereas the colored stones get their colors from interstitial impurities.

History and Meaning behind Diamonds

Diamonds are one of the oldest occurring gemstones, with some of them being more than 3 billion years old. In India, they were traded as early as the 4th century BC. In the middle Ages, the stone was believed to have healing properties and was used to treat a range of physical as well as mental illnesses. By the 14th century, diamonds had become coveted among the royals and other elites of Europe, with Indian caravans bringing them in. In the beginning of the 18th century, Brazil emerged as a major source of diamonds. But it was the discovery of diamonds in South Africa in the late 19th century that heralded the dawn of the modern diamond market.

Today diamonds are an universal symbol of love. The ancient Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows contained diamond, which is perhaps one of the first associations of this stone with the idea of love. It is also considered to be a symbol of emotional strength and endurance. Some also associate it with the virtue of courage.

How to Take Care of Your Diamond Jewelry

Even though diamond is one of the hardest substances known to man, it still requires some care and maintenance. So, if you have a diamond necklace or a pair of handmade diamond earrings, here’s how you should take care of them:

• Clean your jewelry regularly, especially after you wear them. Use a solution of warm water and a mild soap and soak your pieces for a few minutes. Gently wipe with a soft cloth.
• Refrain from wearing your diamond jewelry when doing household chores or indulging in activities likes swimming or working out.
• Keep your jewelry in individual pouches or a box with a velvet lining. This will prevent scratches.
• Handle your jewelry carefully and sparingly. Avoid touching them with your hands unnecessarily as that may transfer dirt and grease from your hands on to the stones.

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