The Pomegranate Jewellery Guide To Diamonds - April Birthstone

April 2023

Diamonds are without doubt one of the, if not the most highly prized gemstones in the world, loved for their dazzling beauty and for those born in April, diamonds can have special significance. Read on to find out more about diamonds, the birthstone for April...

Guide to diamonds from Pomegranate

As the birthstone for April, diamond jewellery makes a wonderful gift choice and whilst when we think of diamonds we might associate them with high expense, there are plenty of far more affordable diamond options, making them a truly versatile stone with wide appeal.

Ancient Beliefs About Diamonds

In ancient Greek mythology, diamonds were widely thought to be tears of the gods. According to mythology, diamonds were created when the gods wept tears of joy and sadness. As they fell to earth, these tears were then transformed into sparkling gemstones.

Many cultures believed that diamonds had protective powers. The ancient Romans believed that diamonds were able to ward off evil spirits and could protect the wearer from harm.

In medieval Europe, diamonds came to be associated with love and romance, much as they are now.

The famous diamond ring given by Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477 is said to have started the tradition of diamond engagement rings.

Fascinating Diamond Facts

The diamond engagement ring is a tradition cemented into the collective conciousness, largely as a result of aggressive marketing from De Beers company in the 1940s. A copywriter working for the company coined the slogan "A diamond is forever" and ever since, diamond rings have been the go-to choice for engagement rings.

According to the University of California, Berkley, all diamonds were formed at least 990,000,000 years ago. Despite being made from carbon, carbon dating isn't possible to determine the age of a diamond as this method only works on much younger carbon. Instead, alternative radioactive decay schemes must be used to date inclusions in diamonds.

Diamonds are formed deep within the earth, somewhere between 100 km and 200 km below the surface and are bought closer to the surface through volcanic eruptions.

Diamonds are made of carbon and must be pushed rapidly up through the earth. If this process isn't fast enough they can be transported into graphite.

Both diamonds and graphite are made from carbon, but diamonds are the hardest gem on the MOHS hardness scale, whilst graphite is the softest.

As well as natural diamonds, it is possible for scientists to create manmade diamonds in a laboratory. Amazingly, even the remains of a loved one can be turned into a diamond!

Diamonds are about 58 times harder than any other natural mineral, the next hardest mineral on Earth is corundum.

The only thing that can cut through a diamond, is a diamond.

Diamonds are considered to be a safe and stable investment and as natural reserves continute to deplete, their value is expected to increase over time. It's estimated that all of the diamonds on Earth will be mined within the next 200 years.

We often think of diamonds as large, clear and colourless stones, but diamonds actually come in many different colours with varying degrees of clarity. Colours include, but aren't limited to pink diamonds, grey diamonds and even yellow, orange and green diamonds.

Diamonds guide

Diamond Care Guide

Although diamonds are extremely hard, making them a robust gemstone choice, they will still benefit from special care to keep them at their best.

Clean your diamond jewellery regularly. Despite being hard, they can still get dirty which can dull their luminosity. Never use harsch chemicals. Warm, mild soapy water and a soft cloth or soft-bristled toothbrush is best.
Have your diamond jewellery inspected from time to time. This is especially important if it's items you regularly wear or those you intend to pass on as an heirloom. This can help ensure your settings are still keeping your diamond safe and secure.
When not wearing your diamond jewellery, ensure that it is stored separately from other jewellery. This will help to prevent your diamonds from damaging other pieces of jewellery. Ideally you'll want to store your diamond jewellery in a soft pouch or a jewellery box with a soft lining.