April Birthstone - Diamond & Quartz

Diamond

Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April and it is the hardest natural substance on earth. T

hey are formed with a combination of heat and pressure with temperatures of 2,000-3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and depths from 75 miles and 120 miles beneath the surface of the earth. What causes diamonds to rise closer to the surface is volcanic activity.

The earliest account of diamonds date back to 500 BC. Diamonds are virtually fireproof and to even cause a burn to appear on one, temperatures have to reach 1,292 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hotter than a standard house fire just to make a mark.

A pure diamond is naturally colorless but colored diamonds exist with blue and red being extremely rare. India was the world’s first source of diamonds beginning in the 1400's. In the 1700's Brazil became the major source until the 1800's when a large diamond reserve was found in South Africa.

Today diamonds are found in many places including Canada, Botswana, and Russia. Even though the United States produces almost no diamonds, Americans buy 40% of the world’s. Diamonds making them the largest diamond market.

Proper Care

Diamonds may be the hardest material on the planet, but they still need tender loving care--and cleaning! 

Diamonds can scratch themselves and other materials, so they are best stored in individual jewelry cases such as boxes, soft cloth pouches or other separate storage. This prevents diamonds from scratching or chipping other diamonds, other gemstones or metal settings. (Yes, diamonds can scratch gold, silver and other jewelry metals.) 

Remember to put jewelry on only after applying lotions, powders, perfumes, hairspray and other beauty aids. Such liquids, creams and sprays can dull the sparkle of the stone. Clean diamond jewelry with steam, ultrasonic and liquid jewelry cleaners, using a soft bristle brush to clean beneath the setting.

**Please note that all metaphysical or healing properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat medical conditions.

Quartz

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the earth's continental crust. Only feldspar is more abundant. It is a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Quartz has been the most commonly used mineral in the making of jewelry especially in Europe and the Middle East. Quartz can be clear or various colors and it is considered the “universal crystal” because of the many uses.

Quartz is believed to be a stone of harmony, believed by many to be a balancer of energies. Not only is it used in jewelry making, due to its hardness it is used also as an abrasive in sand blasting.

Quartz also has it's use in the petroleum business as well and is used in a process known as hydraulic fracturing which helps with rising of natural gas.