April Birthstone

Diamond is pure crystallised carbon. The classic look is colourless, graded on the D to Z scale, but diamond also occurs naturally in yellow, brown, blue, pink and very rare red. The word diamond comes from the Greek adamas, meaning unconquerable. It is the universal modern symbol of enduring love and is the default centre stone for an engagement ring. April-born wearers get a birthstone that goes anywhere and lasts.

Diamond is the hardest natural material at Mohs 10 and is the only stone hard enough to shrug off everyday wear without a protective setting. It can still chip along its cleavage planes under a sharp impact, but for daily-wear rings, eternity bands and stud earrings, no other stone is harder.

Diamond was first traded in India around 4,000 years ago, used initially for its hardness as much as its sparkle. The diamond engagement ring tradition is often traced to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring. South African discoveries in the late 1800s expanded supply, and the 20th-century marketing era cemented diamond as the global symbol of engagement. Today, lab grown diamond has become a serious share of the engagement ring market, particularly in Australia, the US and UK.

For an April birthday, a pair of diamond stud earrings is the most versatile gift, with lab grown letting the carat size step up sensibly. A diamond pendant on a fine chain is the next most classic. For a milestone gift, a diamond eternity band reads as both birthstone and anniversary stone. Lab grown diamond engagement rings give the same look at a much lower price than the equivalent natural stone.

Diamond is safe to clean in warm soapy water, ultrasonic and steam, and tolerates everyday handling better than any other stone. Oils, lotions and soap film dull the brilliance, so a regular clean is the main upkeep. Diamonds can scratch other gems and metals, so store them separately.