Anyone that was born on the fourth month of the year may be well aware that the April birthstone is one of the most prized possessions in the world.
Yes! If you are lucky enough to be born in April, you may well receive the ultimate gift of a diamond ring for your birthday.
Most people are aware that the diamond is the hardest gemstone and made of the element carbon. It is actually 58 times harder than any other natural material and can only be cut with another diamond.
It’s also common knowledge that a diamond is clear and sparkly. But who knows that diamonds can exist in several other colours including green, blue, pink, red and yellow?
The most expensive examples of diamond have a colour which is saturated throughout and with no blemishes. To satisfy demand, clear diamonds are sometimes “colour treated “ in a laboratory as an attempt to increase the value.
Of course, the diamond is not left out when it comes to magical powers invented by ancient civilizations.
Among others the stone is thought to cure brain disease and purify the blood.
Due to it’s strength and durability, the diamond is associated with eternity. This makes it the perfect choice for an engagement ring or as an everlasting gift for someone that you admire.
Diamonds and the four Cs
There are four things to take into consideration when choosing a diamond which collectively are known as the “Four Cs” cut, color, clarity and carat weight.
The only condition that has a human influence is “The Cut”. The beauty of the diamond set in a piece of jewellery depends on this and has the most influence on quality and price tag of the resulting piece.
The colour being a totally natural condition can range from colourless or clear to light brown. Fancy colours are also available as already mentioned above.
Clarity refers to the purity of the diamond regarding any imperfections present in the stone. There are two kinds. Internal ones are called inclusions and the external marks refered to as blemishes. Perfectly clear diamonds are very rare and fetch the highest price. However most have several small inclusions and/or blemishes which may not be visible to the naked eye.
Coupled with all the properties already mentioned, carat weight also has a huge influence on the final value of the stone. Obviously, large diamonds are heavier than smaller ones and hence have a higher carat weight.
Busing a diamond ring online is a great way to acquire one of the world’s prized possessions. However there are some serious risks that you must consider before making your purchase. Please read the article at The Ringmania Blog for some invaluable advice.
Real or Fake?
When buying diamonds anywhere, you will come across many kinds with as many different price tags. The best ones to buy are “Certified Diamonds”. These are provided with a certificate which has been issued by an independent authority and guarantees the quality and authenticity of the stone. Do not accept any certificate that was issued by the vendor or something called an “appraisal” which is only good for insurance purposes. GIA or AGS are the best places for certification of diamonds so please check where the certificate has been issued. If it cannot be traced to a reputable source, leave well alone and look elsewhere.
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Ethically sourced or Lab created diamonds?
Diamonds which have been ethically sourced are sometimes refered to as Ethical Diamonds.
These are stones which have been mined without exploiting workers or the environment. The origin and status of the stone should clearly be stated by the supplier at their website.
Lab Created Diamonds are those which are man made and have been manufactured in a laboratory. They display the same characteristics as naturally mined diamonds and can be difficult to distinguish from the “real thing” without specialized equipment. They should not be confused with imitation diamonds such as Cubic Zirconia and should always come with a certificate stating their origin as laboratory grown.
Imitation or Synthetic Diamonds.
These are normally man made and can be anything from highly leaded glass to a natural mineral called “Moissanite”. Cubic Zirconia or CZ is also commonly used to manufacture synthetic diamonds. It’s normally easy for someone with a trained eye to quickly spot the difference between something like a Cubic Zirconia and a natural diamond.
The April birthstone as a long lasting gift.
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when buying the April birthstone. It may seem daunting at first sight but hopefully you can now make a good choice when buying a long lasting gift. We hope this article has been of some use in making your decision. For further information, please read “Buying a diamond ring online”
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