April Birthstone: Diamond

Diamond is the world’s most popular gem: it combines dazzling brilliance with prismatic fire. Diamond has dazzled throughout history. The Romans thought diamonds must be fallen stars. The ancient Greeks called diamond "adamas," meaning invincible, theorizing that something so beautiful must be the crystallized teardrops of the gods.  Wearing diamonds is said to attract good fortune too. April babies are lucky to have this dazzling gem as their birthstone. Earth’s hardest substance, diamond embodies “forever.” Most couples around the world mark their engagement with a diamond ring. Those who are fortunate enough to wear diamonds know how versatile they are: so perfect an accent with every outfit that many never take them off.

As anyone who’s researched diamonds knows, their value varies dramatically with quality. White gems with the least amount of color and the fewest imperfections are the most rare and valuable. The bigger the diamond, the higher its carat weight and the more it costs per carat. Cut is arguably the most important value factor because the quality of a diamond's cut gives it its life and sparkle. Higher quality diamonds tend to hold value better than inexpensive gems, so most experts advise buying a better smaller stone rather than a larger lower quality version.

In addition to being the birthstone for April and the gem of the 10th and 60th anniversary, diamonds are a wardrobe essential. Diamond stud earrings are a wear-everywhere basic that can take you from the grocery store to Oscar’s red carpet.  Diamond drop earrings and hoops make every day an occasion. And most women today, married or single, wear a diamond ring on their right hand, as essential to being well-dressed as the right handbag or shoes.

With the great selection of fashionable diamond jewelry today, you don’t have to be born in April to make a little luck of your own.