Birthstones are a popular tradition where particular gems are linked to months of the year and are believed to bring luck to those birthdays they represent.  

Well I have to say that those of you with April birthdays are probably the luckiest when it comes to birthstones.  Yes you  lot get the best of the bunch with diamonds!!

Named from the Greek adamas, meaning invicible, diamonds were known in Europe from Roman times. They were treasured initially for their hardness and their percieved magical qualities and in the Middle Ages enjoyed a fearful reputation, powdered, as a poison. However only small quantities reached Europe until the renaissance. By the early sixteenth century the development of diamond points and table-cuts allowed the brilliance of the stone to be appreciated.  From the 1620 the rose cut was used in Europe, with a flat base beneath a dome of triangular facets. Greater sparkle was achieved through the brilliant cut with its 58 facets, first appearing in the late seventeenth century. With slight modifications this remains the most typical cut to this day.

Extract from Jewels and Jewellery, Clare Phillips

Diamond is the most intensively mined and carefully graded of all gem minerals. The quality of the gem diamond is assessed by a system known as the ‘Four C’s’: colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. 

Diamonds vary from colourless, through a range of yellows and browns, to green, blue, pink and a very rare red. Colourless diamonds are considered the most valuable.  

From Marilyn Monroe to Shirley Bassey - Diamonds really are a girls best friends!  ………. But don’t worry if your birthday’s not in April there are beautiful stones for everyone! Next month is May and one of my favourites the Auamarine.