Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, even more so for April babies! April’s birthstone is the diamond. Diamonds are the hardest stone among gemstones and come in several colours including black, blue, green, pink, red, purple, orange, and yellow. Wearing diamonds is said to bring balance, clarity, and abundance. Today, diamonds are considered a symbol of wealth and everlasting love. The diamond is also used for engagement rings, and are gifts for 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.
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There’s a lot to consider when purchasing diamonds. If you’re considering getting your April baby diamond jewellery for their birthday, you’ll need to know a few things first.
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About Diamonds
Diamonds get their name from the Greek word adamas, or “invincible.” Diamonds are rated at a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them the hardest of all the gemstones. It’s durable enough to be cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner but it’s best to clean your diamonds with our preferred method.
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Diamonds come in a variety of colours including black, blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, and orange. Coloured diamonds often have some kind of impurity in the stone. Instead of the stone being made of pure carbon, there are traces of other elements like nitrogen (yellow diamonds) or boron (blue diamonds.)
What To Look For
When buying diamonds, you need to be aware of the 4C’s: colour, clarity, cut, and carat. These things determine the quality of the diamond and can determine the price of a diamond. Experts say to pay the closest attention to the cut of a diamond. The more precise a diamond’s cut is, the better the diamond looks to the wearer. Look for diamonds graded by GIA or AGS to ensure that their grading is fair and accurate.
Although completely clear diamonds exist, they are incredibly rare. Most diamond has some kind of inclusion or blemish. Don’t prioritize colour and clarity over the other C’s. You should aim to have the same level of quality with all four of the C’s. More importantly, don’t get too caught up in the diamond’s grade alone. The diamond you choose should be appealing to you and should live up to its certificate of authentication.
Cut
The cut of a diamond is exactly what it sounds like. A diamond’s cut depends on the angle, proportion, facets, and finish of the stone. Diamonds can be cut into several different shapes and sizes. This also affects the price of your diamond.
Color
Diamonds come in several different colours such as pink or yellow. These are considered “fancy” diamonds. Although colourful diamonds are still valuable and gorgeous, top-quality diamonds are colorless since they’re the rarest.
Clarity
Diamond clarity refers to whether or not the diamond has any inclusions or external blemishes. Most diamonds have some kind of blemish or inclusion that can only be seen through a magnifying glass.
Carat
A diamond’s weight is measured in carats. One carat equals 1/5 gram and is subdivided into 100 points. Most diamond buyers make the mistake of valuing the weight over the other C’s.
What Is Cubic Zirconia?
Cubic zirconia is a real stone, but it’s not a real diamond. It’s often used as a more affordable alternative to pure diamonds. There are other diamond alternatives but cubic zirconia is most often used because it looks the closest to a diamond.
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Cubic zirconia is often man-made in a lab using the same carbon structure as a diamond. There are cubic zirconia deposits found in nature in very small amounts. Whether the stone was mand-made or found in nature, it still holds the same value.
Cubic Zirconia VS. Diamonds
When it comes to the look of cubic zirconia compared to diamonds, there is very little difference. Unless you have a magnifying glass, quality jewellery made with cubic zirconia looks identical to real diamonds.
Cubic zirconia (left) and real diamond (right)
Is Cubic Zirconia Worth It?
In short, yes! Cubic zirconia is a great affordable alternative to diamonds. Real diamonds, although lovely and captivating, can be quite expensive for many people. For small birthday gifts or to wear every day, we recommend cubic zirconia if you don’t have the budget for real diamonds.
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Although cubic zirconia gives off the same appearance as a diamond, it doesn’t have the same hardness. When it comes to your engagement ring, fine jewellery, or other pieces for special occasions, we recommend pure diamonds. Cubic zirconia wears over time and will lose its shine and clarity after two to three years of everyday wear. Over time, cubic zirconia becomes scratched and cloudy. The stone can last up to five years with proper care. Water exposure, general wear, and improper aftercare will speed up the wearing process.
Remember to take your jewellery off before showering, swimming, working out, or cleaning. Water and residue can make your stone cloudy. Regularly cleaning your jewellery with our preferred cleaning method and storing your jewellery in a soft box ensures it'll shine for years to come.
Also Read: How To Clean Your Jewellery At Home
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