It should come as no surprise that the April birthstone is one among today’s most valuable gems. In addition to being a gem with a Mohs hardness of 10, it has also come to represent unending love throughout time. A high-quality diamond of 1 carat starts at around $8,000 on average.
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Does April have two birthstones?
The fact that there is no universal consensus on what each birthstone should be and that most sources include different stones for the same month is one of the fascinating aspects about birthstones! Different cultures have created unique birthstone calendars, which have frequently been updated and modified over time. The benefit of this for modern consumers is the ability to select from a variety of stones depending on your taste, ethical priorities, and financial constraints during specific months of the year. As an example, April was once thought to just have one birthstone, the diamond, but there are really four others that have been connected to the month throughout history and are also worthy of consideration. The recent association of diamonds with “conflict” or “blood” stones, which have been used to finance organized crime, bloodshed, insurrection, and civil war in many poor countries, most notably in Africa, has damaged diamond’s reputation as a gemstone. In addition, the manufacture of diamonds has allegedly engaged in labor abuse and damaged the environment at several production sites. Furthermore, throughout the past century or so, De Beers has marketed diamonds shrewdly, which has increased demand while purposefully reducing supply, which has led to an increase in pricing. For these reasons, some people have opted to forego using diamonds as the birthstone for April in favor of four fascinating substitutes that have established their legitimacy as genuine April birthstones: White topaz, quartz, opal, and sapphire.
(The birthstone calendar with a “conventional” design that most people are accustomed to)
Some of these jewels have been used as April birthstones since ancient civilizations in antiquity, long before diamonds were used. One such illustration is the over 3,500-year-old Ayurvedic birthstone calendar from ancient India. Additionally, more recently, some stones that resemble diamonds have been added. The notion that birthstones bring luck and wealth to their owners is the major characteristic that unites all birthstones. The quantity (or lack thereof) of specific gemstones in the environment surrounding each civilization heavily influenced many of the ancient birthstones, and this surely had an impact on the modern birthstone calendars. The American National Association of Jewellers made the first attempt to standardize the birthstone calendar in 1912. Since then, other additional gemmological associations have created their own calendars, the most contemporary of which frequently mention “alternative or “secondary birthstone alternatives for specific months. Although some calendars do identify diamond as the lone birthstone for April, this is mostly due to the stone’s aggressive marketing and enduring vogue during the previous century. In many ancient societies, sapphire and opal, two of the four alternate April birthstones, were well-established for the month of April long before diamond. Due to their physical similarities to diamond and ability to provide eye-clean color and scintillation (or “sparkle”) at a considerably lower cost, white topaz and quartz were added more recently.
(Sapphire is frequently linked to September, but historically, it was an April birthstone.)
The ancient Roman, Slavic, Hebrew, and Arabic calendars all recognized sapphire as the birthstone for April. It is true that a ruby is essentially a red “sapphire” because both are members of the corundum family of gemstones, which also contains sapphire (whereas a sapphire may be found in a spectrum of colours, including blue, pink, yellow, orange, green, black and white). The most common sapphire is blue, but pink, green, and yellow sapphires are also becoming more popular. According to legend, sapphire helps alleviate tension and anxiety while promoting inner calm and tranquillity. Along with facilitating spiritual awareness, this intriguing stone has also been connected to easing despair and frustration. In the traditional Tibetan calendar, opal was regarded as the birthstone for April ” (sometimes referred to as the “mystical birthstone calendar in ancient writings). Beautiful opal is known for reflecting a rainbow of colors, a phenomenon brought on by layers of silica contained in the stone’s physical structure. Opals must be handled carefully because they are a delicate gemstone. It is a “mineraloid, a “amorphous stone without a crystalline structure, in chemical words. Opal was treasured by the ancient Greeks as a source of wisdom, while the Romans saw it as a representation of optimism and purity. Opal is highly prized nowadays for its aesthetic appeal and its reflecting properties. Additionally, according to some spiritualists, it enables people to communicate their ideas and emotions more clearly and honestly.
Although white topaz has not historically been associated with April, it is now, partly because of its physical resemblance to diamond. The simplicity with which cutters can facet white topaz to produce stunning scintillation is one of its primary qualities. Topaz is said to aid its possessor in letting go of negative energy and imprisoning thoughts. Due to its physical closeness to topaz, quartz is also a well-liked substitute for diamond and is notably well-liked as the April birthstone in the UK. Quartz is a mineral that comes in a wide range of colors, but the one that is most closely associated with April is the white or colorless variety. Quartz is considered to inspire creativity. The Herkimer Diamond is a very unique member of the quartz family. In reality, Herkimer diamonds are a type of quartz that can only be discovered in Herkimer County, New York State, in the United States. They got the name “diamond due to the fact that they resemble the precious stone closely and form as double terminated crystals, or diamond-shaped crystals. It is comforting to know that there is a variety of birthstones available with varied degrees of historical links and contemporary spiritual interpretations for people for whom the month of April holds special significance. The most important factor is that you select a stone that you are drawn to and feel a connection to.
What actual birthstone does April have?
One of the most coveted and adored jewels in the world, diamond sparkles with a fire of its own. This brilliant jewel, which represents strength and clarity, is the lucky birthstone of April babies. The word “diamond” derives from the Greek word “adamas,” which means “invincible or unbreakable,” due to how strong it is. Long before it was designated as the birthstone for April, people admired diamonds for their eternal beauty. The origins of diamond are just as intriguing as the legends that surround them.
Is the birthstone for April the priciest one?
Tanzanite, turquoise, and blue zircon are the three distinct birthstones for the month of December, making it unique among other months. The former is a lovely blue or violet stone, however it lacks the emerald’s vibrant hue. One of the most distinctive-looking gemstones, turquoise typically has its name-brand color, while it also frequently has gold, orange, and black flecks. Unsurprisingly, blue zircon also has a blue colour, though it is a little lighter than tanzanite. Furthermore, tanzanite doesn’t have a lot of mythology attached to it compared to zircon and turquoise, which are both supposed to have protective qualities and lead those who wear them to greater health, enhanced intelligence, and prosperity.
Peridot (August)
August has two main drawbacks: it’s an unbearably hot month worldwide, and its birthstone isn’t exactly fantastic. Many crystal aficionados believe that the green stone peridot, which is believed to have been one of the original jewels in Aaron’s breastplate, can reduce stress. Unfortunately, it’s not really a color that most clothing can easily match, unless it’s St. Patrick’s Day.
Citrine and Topaz (November)
Citrine is one of the least popular yellow gemstones, which explains why it is so low on the list of birthstones. Even though the color most often associated with it is yellow, the birthstone for November also occurs in tones of brown and orange. The alternative birthstone for November is topaz, which is available in a variety of hues, including blue, green, and pink. However, it also frequently has an unattractive yellow tint.
Diamond (April)
Those born in April have the double-edged sword of having diamonds designated to their birth month, making them the most expensive and valuable birthstones. Although these stones are thought to bring about love, purity, creativity, self-esteem, and strength, they are frequently quite expensive, making it difficult for you to purchase one without spending your entire paycheck. While more colorful diamonds are attractive, they aren’t as as intriguing as the more distinctive and vivid stones on the list, despite their beauty.
Diamond
Both a modern and traditional birthstone are diamonds for April. The eternal love sign has endured through the ages and is still listed as the birthstone for April.
The word “diamond,” which means “unconquerable; indestructible,” is derived from the Greek word “adamas.” It takes billions of years for a diamond to develop naturally. Despite the fact that there are other things to take into account, diamonds are typically thought of as being more expensive than other jewels.
Diamond is a translucent crystalline form of carbon that is four times harder than corundum and has the same chemical make-up as corundum. It is among the world’s toughest naturally occurring materials.
Due to its high difficulty, diamond cutting demands skill and understanding. One-carat diamonds can only be created from one in a million raw diamonds. The “Golden Jubilee” now holds the record for largest cut diamond in the world. Gabriel Tolkowsky carved and polished the 755-carat rough stone. He spent two years creating the largest cut diamond in the world. Because it was given as a present to the King of Thailand for his 50th Coronation Anniversary in 1997, the diamond was given the name “Golden Jubilee.”
Along with representing love, diamonds also stand for power, tenacity, bravery, elegance, and luxury. Wearing a diamond is advantageous since it is thought to make you physically stronger. The energy that fosters mental clarity and aids in overcoming challenges and hardships in life is said to be carried by diamond. It makes sense that diamond, one of the world’s hardest materials, is also said to be a protective gemstone that shields the wearer from harm and curses. For instance, it is said that diamond can protect you from the evil eye’s curse. An unknown poet from the second century BCE stated the following regarding this particular diamond myth:
Diamond has been the most popular gem for wedding bands and engagement rings for more than 500 years. When Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, was given a diamond engagement ring by Archduke Maximilian of Austria in the year 1477, this ritual was first observed in medieval Europe. Numerous affluent people and even royalty were inspired by this. Later, as diamond became more widely available (though it was still pricey), it spread among common people.
Sapphire
The traditional April birthstone is sapphire. Because its legacy as an April gem dates back to the Renaissance era, some people refer to it as the “old April birthstone.” The fate of April borns and sapphire is entwined through decades of history, and it isn’t something you can just shake off. Today, sapphire may be better recognized as the September birthstone. Sapphire’s status as the birthstone for April was acknowledged in Tiffany’s birthstone poem from 1907 (see the beginning of this article).
Although sapphire comes in a variety of hues, blue is the most well-known. Sapphire can form in any color due to the presence of several chemical components. Other sapphire colors include yellow, purple, green, brown, violet, orange, pink, colorless, and black in addition to blue sapphires.
A corundum variant makes up the mysteriously alluring black sapphire. It comes in two different forms: semitransparent and opaque. The largest black star sapphire in the world, weighing 733 carats, was discovered in an Australian mine. A special type of sapphire called a star sapphire has a striking star pattern that appears to float on its surface. Harry Kazanjian chose to sacrifice more than 400 carats in order to preserve the star pattern on the unusual diamond when he cut it.
In contrast to its contemporary counterpart diamond, sapphire has a different significance and connotation. Although sapphires are sometimes said to offer protection to their wearers, they are more commonly associated with honesty, sincerity, intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, and dignity. Sapphire also has a spiritual significance because it was thought to represent heaven. Because of this, clerics in the Middle Ages frequently wore sapphires.
Given its favorable vibrational patterns, sapphire is a suitable gift for April babies.
What shade of stone is April?
Diamond April While white diamonds are the most prevalent, fancy colored diamonds are also available in a wide range of colors, including yellow, blue, pink, and several more.
What color is April?
The clear or white birthstone for April symbolizes the transparency of diamonds. The hardest natural substance known to man is a diamond, which is entirely composed of carbon. In actuality, the word “diamond” is derived from the Greek word “adamas,” which means “invincible” and may allude to the superior hardness of diamonds.
Consumers must make sure any diamonds they buy are verified as “conflict free” due to the numerous problems surrounding diamond mining and illegal dealing. Pick jewelers that trace their diamonds to the mines where they were originally mined, ideally to miners that uphold ethical and environmental standards.
The use of lab-grown diamonds, which are equally stunning, have gained popularity recently because they can be traced easily and avoid the numerous social and environmental problems associated with mining.
A contemporary, in-vogue substitute for the traditional clear diamond is jewelry with fancy colored diamonds or black diamonds. Yellow, blue, green, brown, pink, red, grey, and black are among the colors of fancy diamonds.
How come April is diamond?
The diamond, which is the traditional April birthstone and has special significance for anyone born in that month, is said to improve relationships and give the wearer more inner strength. Other advantages, such as harmony, clarity, and abundance, are said to come from wearing diamonds.
What other gemstone is the birthstone for April?
Diamond substitutes as April’s birthstones Two of the most common diamond substitute gemstones, white topaz and quartz, are also the alternate birthstones for April. Quartz and topaz both have a range of color development.
What are the two most rare birthstones?
All gemstones, especially expensive gemstones, are thought to be relatively rare, yet some birthstones are more common than others. Although some highly expensive stones are not that rare, and vice versa, price tags can be deceiving when it comes to rarity. For instance, although expensive, April’s diamond is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite. Speaking of alexandrite, it is now the most expensive and rarest gemstone on the list of birthstones. Additionally extremely rare, black opals are.
An intriguing technique to select jewelry is by birthstone. They enable people to investigate jewels that they might otherwise avoid. However, birthstones are not always what people think they are, so make sure you are buying birthstone jewelry for the right reasons while making your selection.