Diamond
Diamond is an April birthstone, August guardian angel birthstone, and Taurus zodiacal birth gem. It is ‘the king of kings’ of the gem world with superior brilliance and the most outstanding reflection of all gems. Diamond is a powerful birthstone.
Various diamond rings
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1. Diamond birthstone virtues, meaning and facts
Diamond – ‘the king of kings’ of the gem world. The name derives from Greek ‘adamas’ which means unbreakable. This birthstone has superior brilliance and the most outstanding reflection of all gems. Its hardness and clearness are unsurpassed. Some specimens of this birth gem can cost an absolute fortune. One of the most famous diamonds called Koh-i-noor at the time was rumored to be valued at half of world daily spend.
Given the popularity of this birthstone, it is a very interesting fact that there are relatively few stories about diamonds. The main reason is that when in rough diamond is often a very dull gem covered with a thick crust, and do not forget it is the hardest birthstone. Hindu lapidaries discovered that diamond can be polished by crushed particles of other diamonds though at that time only the regular sides were polished. The art of faceting diamond to enhance its reflection of light was discovered in 1456 by De Berghen – lapidary from Bruges. He experimented with diamonds belonging to the Duke of Burgundy. In the 2nd half of the 16th century a gem cutter called Peruzzi invented the double cutting called ‘Brillants recoupes’, and Clement Birago and Jacopo da Trezzo were the first lapidaries to successfully make an engraving on a diamond.
White gold and diamond earrings
Stingray shaped pendant decorated with white diamonds
The legend says that the ‘god of mines’ took ruby, sapphire and emerald and blended them together to create one superior gemstone, that is on one hand colorless, and on the other hand can display an entire spectrum of colors.
Another legend tells that Jupiter, the king of gods, turned into diamond one young man who asked to remain unchanged forever.
There is also a diamond legend involving gnomes or dwarfs, but not the Snow White though. It says when gnomes cried, their tears turned into diamonds.
In the story called ‘The Yellow Dwarf’, the mermaid presents a captive royal with an all-conquering sword made from a single diamond, which rendered invincible anyone who carried it.
Diamond is a powerful birthstone. Most of its magical properties were linked to this gems’ unparalleled hardness, transparency, and purity.
It was believed to foster strength, courage and fortitude, and make the wearer victorious, especially if it is one’s birthstone.
St. Hildegard, German Benedictine writer and philosopher, considered diamond the greatest enemy of the devil because this birthstone resisted its powers day and night.
In the middle East diamond was considered a lucky birthstone bringing good fortune. Rabbi Benoni, the 14th century mystic, believed that diamond was such a powerful talisman that it made the person invincible.
The Queen of Spain was saved by her diamond. When the assassin stabbed her with his knife, he hit the gem and the blade bounced off it. Napoleon also highly regarded this birthstone and wore the famous Regent diamond in the hilt of his sword.
According to Talmud, diamond was worn by the highest priest. This gem was believed to tell who was guilty and who was innocent. If the accused were innocent the gemstone would display a brilliant shine, and if the accused were guilty it would turn grim.
Diamond has commonly been assumed to increase reproductive powers and stimulate sexual attraction. The tradition of using diamonds in engagement rings originated from Rome. The gem was held to promote harmony and love if given to the bride. It was also believed to guard health and vitality if worn on the left hand. It is also considered to be one of the most beautiful birthstones.
Almost half of all gemstone grade diamonds come from Central or Southern Africa. Significant deposits were also found in Russia, Australia, India and Canada. Believe it or not, the gem is very common in space. About 3% of carbon in meteorites is in the form of tiny diamonds.
Rose gold ring set with diamonds
There are several stories about the occurrences of this birthstone in ancient times. Marco Polo, the famous trail blazer and explorer of the 13th century, wrote about the valley of diamonds where the gem could be found in abundance. After big rains local people would collect the gemstones along riverbeds; and during dry spells they climbed up the mountains full of snakes in search of precious stones. A somewhat similar story is told in the second voyage of Sindbad the Sailor in the ‘Thousand and One Nights’.
South Africa was the first country on the African continent where diamonds were discovered by Europeans.
Believe it or not, these gems were first found in the pockets of local witch crafters. People there carried diamonds in small leather pouches as talismans. Some children were seen playing with the gemstones.
The first important discovery there was made in 1867 by a Dutch farmer who did not initially value his finding but still sent it for the assessment. The reply confirmed that it was a diamond, and the gem was later exhibited in Paris as ‘The First African Diamond Discovered’.
One of the early diamond mining camps in South Africa was set up after a Boer farmer found diamonds in mud bricks out of which his house was built.
There were famous diamonds or pieces of diamond jewelry throughout history, some of which are more like legends.
Lady Gaga wearing Tiffany Yellow Diamond at the 91st Academy Awards
The Tiffany Diamond was discovered in the Kimberly mines of South Africa in 1878. When cut, it weighs 128.5 carats and is of a yellow color. The gem has become famous after Audrey Hepburn wore it for Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1961. The latest person to wear The Tiffany Diamond was Lady Gaga in 2019 at the 91st Academy Awards.
French monarch Louis XV ordered a 500-diamond necklace that he wanted to give to his favorite Madame Du Barry. The king died before the piece of jewelry was completed and Madame Du Barry was exiled from the palace. Another lady, Madame de Lamotte, visited the Cardinal and presented him with the Queens desire to keep the piece and asked for his financial assistance in purchasing the necklace because it was worth an absolute fortune. The Cardinal was happy to satisfy the Queen’s wish and signed the papers next to the Queen’s signature forged by Madame de Lamotte. Accomplices of Madame de Lamotte took the necklace from the Cardinal and exported it to England where it was broken down into separate stones. When the Cardinal asked the Queen Marie Antoinette for his money, she denied she new anything about the necklace.
The Cardinal took the case in front of the Parlement de Paris. In 1786 after a 9 months trial Madame de Lamotte was sent to prison for life for theft.
Pope Hildebrand presented a diamond ring to William of Normandy who was bout to invade England. The ring was said to enclose a hair from the head of Peter the Apostle.
Diamond is one of the most expensive birthstones, and the following story also supports it. In 1968 Richard Burton presented his wife Elizabeth Taylor with a superior clarity 33 carat Krupp Diamond. Research conducted by the Gemological Institute of America determined that the gem originated from Golconda region in India and was one of the purest and most flawless diamonds known. Burton bought the gem in 1968 for $307,000 from the Krupp family estate. It sold in a 2011 auction for $8.8 million and is now known as ‘Elizabeth Taylor Diamond’.