Diamonds: A girl’s best friend (and April’s birthstone!)

Ice. Bling. Rocks. Diamonds have brought fire and ice to people’s lives for centuries. Are you an April baby? You’re lucky enough to have it as your birthstone. And as every bride knows, the indestructible diamond is the perfect symbol of never-ending love.

• The Hercules of gems: Diamonds are the strongest natural substance—the name comes from the Greek, “adamas,” which means unbreakable.
• Mined worldwide: China, India, South Africa, Botswana, and Russia are the largest producers right now.
• Largest: The Cullinan Diamond was the biggest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106.75 carats.

What the ancients believed about diamonds

• Ancient Egypt: they represented the sun, a symbol of power.
• Ancient India: they were believed to have been created by bolts of lightning striking rocks.
• Ancient Rome: they were tears of the gods or splinters that had broken off of falling stars.
• Medieval ages: they were miracle stones that contained healing abilities, and could cure illnesses by being placed on a part of the body.

Tips for buying diamond jewelry

In 2017, consumers spent $82 billion on diamonds. The GIA created the 4Cs, a standard grading system for diamonds—color, clarity, cut and carat weight (you can read about them here). This standard lets you compare one stone to another. (The American Gem Society also has a diamond rating system.)

– Look for sparkle and fire (and look at your diamond in different lights).

– Online doesn’t always lead to a better deal: research showed that you could actually end up paying more than going to a brick-and-mortar jeweler.

– Decide on your budget before you start shopping.

– Get the report: Look for a report from the jeweler that classifies the 4Cs of the stone you’re looking at.

– Figure out which of the 4Cs is most important to you. Do you want a large stone at the expense of clarity? Or will a smaller, more brilliant stone appeal to you?

Caring from your diamond jewelry

The GIA has this advice:

• It’s 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.
• Have your diamond professionally cleaned and its setting examined by a professional jeweler periodically.
• Get insurance! Oopsies happen, and you don’t want to lose your investment. And make sure you have an up-to-date appraisal!

What better way to end than with a quote by the Queen of Diamonds, Elizabeth Taylor? “Big girls need big diamonds.” So true.

Brilliantly yours, Aimee