Diamonds: April’s Birthstone and A Girl’s Best Friend

“A diamond allows the soul’s light to shine out.”

Ahh, the diamond. The queen of the gem kingdom. The hardest natural substance on earth. And definitely a girl’s best friend. These gems were formed before dinosaurs roamed the earth: the youngest are about 900 million years old, and the oldest are 3.2 billion years old—but they don’t show their age! (Maybe that’s why we love them so much!)

Here are some “fast facts” about the most prized gemstone in the world:

5 Fast facts about diamonds

1. The word “diamond” comes from the Greek “adamas,” which means invincible or indestructible—diamonds are the hardest natural materials in the world.
2. Ancient Greeks believed that they came from tears from the gods or splinters from falling stars. Romans believed Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds (their first connection with love).
3. The biggest diamond in the universe? From Master Jewelers, “scientists have discovered a star made of carbon that they believe is essentially a diamond of ten billion trillion carats. They named the star “Lucy” after the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
4. The largest diamond ever discovered is the Cullinan diamond, which weighed an amazing 3106 carats, or 1.33 pounds. It was cut into 6 large stones and 100 smaller ones.
5. The first recorded diamond engagement ring was given by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.

Healing properties of diamonds

• Different colors of diamonds supposedly control different chakras: crown (white), solar plexus (yellow), throat (blue), heart (pink), and base (black).
• It’s a symbol of purity, indicating commitment and fidelity, and instills trust to relationships and situations.
• It never requires recharging, and actually enhances other crystals’ power.
• It brings fearlessness and invincibility to the wearer and clears emotional and mental pain. It also stimulates creativity, inventiveness, imagination.

Caring for and cleaning your diamond jewelry

• The GIA says you can use an ultrasonic cleaner on diamond jewelry, but if it has many inclusions or has been treated, “it’s best to use a lint-free cloth, or warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush.”
• Be sure to have your diamond birthstone jewelry periodically cleaned and its setting examined by a professional jeweler to make sure the prongs are tight and the stone is protected.

How to buy a diamond

We’ve discussed the 4Cs in previous blogs—carat, color, clarity, and cut. The GIA has a great section on this and recommends that you familiarize yourself with these qualities before shopping. You can’t know these qualities just by looking at a diamond; you need to look at a grading report on the stone you’re considering. Many are choosing to having their diamonds laser-inscribed with its GIA report number, to provide verification if it’s ever lost or stolen.

After you buy your diamond, get a professional appraisal and then don’t forget to insure it! It’s an important (and expensive) purchase and must be protected. To set up an appointment, contact me at 617-304-0174 or at aimee@ambappraisal.com.

Brilliantly yours, Aimee