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Diamond: The April Birthstone

Madhavi Ghare
Diamond, one of the hardest substances on Earth, is the birthstone for April, and can be worn in all kinds of ways - finger rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and so on. Diamonds are rare, and hence, highly priced. Also, due to the hardness of the stone, they can only be set in hard materials, like gold or platinum.
Composed of carbon, which has been pressurized under the Earth's surface for thousands of years, a diamond has been one of the most precious and desired stones since the dawn of time.
These coveted stones are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, ranging from shades of pink, blue, green, and purple, to red, orange, yellow, and even black.

Buying a Diamond

One of the most important things to consider when buying diamonds are the 4 C's, or the Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat of the stone. Prices of diamonds depend majorly on these.
Go for a diamond that has a superior cut and clarity. Color and carat can then depend on your budget. The higher the carat, the higher is the cost.
Diamonds are also produced artificially. Such diamonds are usually low in cost, and are mostly used for industrial purposes to cut through hard metals. Diamonds are also used on the tips of machines used to cut and polish precious stones. These are very rarely used in jewelry, and are made for industrial purposes only.

About Diamonds

~ Diamonds were considered to protect against evil, and bring the wearer happiness and wealth. Ancient Greeks also considered as a protection against effect of poison.
~ Diamonds are found mainly in South Africa, Russia, and parts of the USA. Deposits are generally found in areas which have had a high volcanic activity in the past, which explains how these pressurized bits of carbon reached the surface.
~ A diamond is held to be the stone for the planet Venus. This is the planet of love, beauty, and creativity. A diamond ring is usually worn in the ring finger, because it is said that the vein of love (which is a vein that flows directly to the heart) lies in this finger.
This is probably the reason why diamonds are used for engagement rings the world over.

 

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