Those lucky enough to find themselves born in April, will know that they have a rather special birthstone, none other than the most precious stone of all; the Diamond!
The diamond is the best known stone in the whole world, and for good reason. Whilst there is no denying the pure beauty of a diamond which has led to huge popularity, it is also the clever marketing that De Beers coined with the slogan 'A diamond is forever' in 1947. Diamonds were popular before this and had seen an increase in demand from the late 1930's, but it wasn't until the famous slogan was used, that diamonds really started to take over the world. It became more than just about the stone itself, but that true love and devotion could only really exist, if it started with a diamond. Men were taught that they must buy a diamond ring worth at least two months of their salary, and women were taught to expect it. Thus, set in motion the world we live in today, in which everybody knows about diamonds, and men still somewhat believe they must buy one to prove their eternal love, and women still somewhat expect to be proposed to with one. Whist these notions have diminished in a far more modern and liberal world, they are still prevalent and will be for some time.
We could talk for a very long time on the history of diamonds, and perhaps one day, one blog shall cover it. But for now, let's talk about the stone itself in regard to its aesthetics and use within jewellery. Its most prominent feature is its transparent clarity, with the more clear and pure stone making it a whole lot more valuable. Most semi-precious stones are made all the more interesting and unique by featuring their inclusions. However, the opposite rule applies to diamonds, as those with more inclusions are valued far less. This is perhaps due to the fact that the clarity of the diamond is associated with love and purity, so the more clarity, the stronger the love. The clarity of a diamond is so important, that it can take years to train as an expert to be able to properly evaluate the stone. Size truly does not matter here, as it the diamonds needs to meet a high level on the '4 C's' (Carat, Colour, Clarity and Cut) to be valued as exceptionally high. A much smaller diamond can be valued a huge amount more than a bigger one, if it is graded much higher in accordance with the 4 C's.
It is easy to forget, that the profound diamond is still very much a simple mineral, like all other semi-precious stones. What sets it apart, however, is that the diamond is far hardier, reaching 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. For this reason, it is not just simply used within beautiful jaw dropping jewellery, but in far more practical and less beautiful situations, such as surgical instruments and as a tool for sharpening and cutting. Not just a pretty face now, are you?