April Birthstone: A Complete Guide + 4 Alternative Stones

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Those born in April may be luckiest of all. Why? Because the traditional April birthstone is the iconic diamond, the most well-known gemstone in the world.

The month of April is probably named from the Latin aperire, meaning “to open,” because plants like flowers began opening. Ancients associated the month with Aphrodite (or Venus), the goddess of love, fertility, and marriage.

It’s definitely fitting then for April to be represented by the precious gemstone diamond, the stone of love, strength, and eternal beauty.

Want to learn more about the April birthstone? Come along as we break down diamond history, uses, value, and jewelry. We’ll also go over some popular April birthstone alternatives!

Historical & Cultural Significance of April Birthstone: Diamond

Diamonds are illustrious gemstones that not only commemorate April birthdays, but also the 10th, 60th, and 75th wedding anniversaries.

This April birthstone’s color varies from classic white to virtually any color. Those born under Aries (March 21 to April 19) may love a fiery red diamond, while those born under Taurus (April 20 to May 20) might enjoy a soft blue or even chocolate diamond.

But how did diamond become the legendary Queen of Gems it is today?

Pictured above: Gold ring with 7 cut diamonds found in Tåsinge. It weighs 7 grams and can be dated to the first half of the 17th century (translated from Danish) | Image credit: Nationalmuseet, CC-BY-SA-3.0

Ancient Diamond History & Folklore

The earliest known diamonds were mined in ancient India, the only source for centuries. Ancient wealthy Indians, lacking banks, used diamonds as investment currency to store away, like gold today.

The science of testing gem quality now called “gemology” was established in India as Ratna Pariksha or Ratnaparīkṣā, meaning “the examination of gems.”

Many ancients had myths and meanings tied to diamonds:

Ancient India: Hindus believed diamonds originated when lightning struck rocks and would attract lightning. The popular Hindu god Krishna was said to have given his lover Radhato a diamond (believed to be the Koh-i-Noor diamond) that reflected her beauty. Indians also believed diamonds provided their wearer invincibility.
Egyptians: Diamonds symbolized bravery, power, and the sun. Pharaohs put diamonds in the center of the ankh, the hieroglyph for “life.”
Romans: Roman legends surrounding diamond’s origin claimed they were gods’ tears or pieces of falling stars. The Roman god Cupid’s arrows supposedly ended in diamonds.
Greeks: One Greek myth goes that Cronos turned a man with intense strength and luck named Adamas — the same as diamond’s etymological root, adamante, meaning “invincible” — into diamond. Greek philosopher Plato described diamonds as the embodiment of celestial beings.

Many societies had similar interpretations of the April birthstone’s meaning: invincibility, love, and divine strength.

As healing stones, some ancients believed diamonds cured poisoning. Folks in Medieval times extended beliefs about diamond’s healing properties to treating everything from heart conditions to depression.

Some opposite beliefs about diamonds being poisonous or cursed spread later, like the infamous legend about the Hope Diamond causing the Titanic to sink.

Pictured above: The "Tiffany Diamond," once worn by Audrey Hepburn while promoting Breakfast at Tiffany's | Image credit: Adam Fagen on Flickr, CC-BY-SA-2.0

Diamonds in Modern Culture & Society

Europe entered the diamond market in the Middle Ages, but only the wealthy and noble wore the April birthstone. Brazil became the main diamond source in the 1700s, and by the 1800s, diamonds became more widely available.

The modern idea of diamonds being extremely rare and elite may partly come from royal connections like the Hope Diamond or Cullinan Diamond. But the true reason stems from an 1870 marketing campaign collaboration by the De Beers Group and N.W. Ayers.

This campaign brought the famous slogan “A Diamond is Forever,” and the idea that engagement rings must have diamonds. In the 1940s, roughly 10 percent of engagement rings had diamonds, while around 87 percent of engagement rings have this April birthstone today.

Modern media also uses diamonds, such as:

“Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” sung by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
“Heart of the Ocean,” the fictional blue diamond necklace in James Cameron’s Titanic
Diamonds are Forever, the 1956 James Bond novel and 1971 film adaptation
Audrey Hepburn’s Tiffany Diamond, worn during promotion for Breakfast at Tiffany’s
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by the Beatles

… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

References aside, what do diamond April birthstones symbolize?

April Birthstone Meaning and Symbolism

The April birthstone diamond is commonly associated with strength, love, protection and prosperity, making it a great gift for loved ones. Below, we go into the April birthstone meanings and symbolism in more detail.

Strength

April birthstones are a symbol of strength, clarity, and vigor. That’s because they are the hardest gemstone and element in nature. They are made of pure carbon, and the layers within the lattice structure make it extremely hard. Contrasting, this durability is the birthstone’s symbol of purity, faith, and everlasting love.

Love

It’s the interplay of gentleness supported by eternal strength that makes diamonds the perfect symbol of marriage. And that’s not all, as the April birthstone, diamonds have powerful healing properties that promote happiness, longevity, and protection.

Protection

In poetic folklore, the April birthstone represents a protective amulet against evil, sickness, death, and the plague.

Prosperity

Diamonds aren’t only forever, they are the “stone of immortality,” and thought to amplify financial fortune and prosperity. It’s the toughness of these stones that makes them suitable for April birthstone jewelry. You can’t wear every gemstone every day, but you can certainly wear a diamond every day because they are so durable.

The diamond’s durability starts with its unique formation.

Geological Marvel: The Formation of Diamonds

Diamonds form deep within the Earth, around 100 miles underground. Extremely high pressure and temperatures cause carbon atoms to bond into strong, stiff, consistent patterns over billions of years. Then, volcanic activity brings the gems to the surface.

These April birthstones are just composed of carbon, but their particular arrangement of carbon atom bonds makes them the hardest mineral at 10 on the Mohs scale.

Russia and Botswana are the top producers of gem-quality diamonds currently.

Gem-quality white diamonds range from Type Ia, containing up to 0.3 percent nitrogen, to Type IIb, containing boron and virtually no nitrogen.

These classifications are part of how the April birthstones are graded.

The 4 Cs: Understanding Diamond Quality

Diamonds are often certified by a licensed laboratory like the GIA to grade and verify their quality objectively. Having gemstones certified helps with appraisal, insurance, and confidence in a seller’s claims. You can also get your diamond certified for reselling purposes.

Grading the April birthstone involves looking at the four Cs: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. Our article on the four Cs of diamond quality has more info, but here’s a quick breakdown:

Color

Highest value goes to fully colorless diamonds, or D on the GIA color scale. The lowest point on the scale is Z for pale yellow or brown.

For naturally colored diamonds, value is tied to rarity. The rarest are red; the most common are yellow or brown. Argyle pink diamonds, along with purple, orange, blue, and green diamonds are also rare.

Cut

Faceted diamond cuts are important for maximizing brilliance (white light), fire (colored light), and scintillation (overall sparkle).

Certain cuts can highlight different qualities, but the cut with the most sparkle is also the most popular: the round brilliant.

Cut grades range from Excellent to Poor, with only 0.1 percent being Excellent.

Pictured above: Round brilliant cut white diamond earrings

Clarity

Clarity, the degree of visible inclusions and external blemishes, has two grading scales. Fewer inclusions and blemishes means higher value.

The GIA scale has 11 grades, from Flawless or IF (Internally Flawless, no flaws) to I3 (Included, easily visible inclusions to the naked eye). The AGS (American Gem Society) scale is numerical from 0-10, with 0 corresponding to Internally Flawless and 10 corresponding to I3.

The most common clarity in these April birthstones are SI (Slightly Included), VS (Very Slightly Included or VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included).

Carat Weight

Diamonds are weighed in carats – 1 carat = 0.2 grams. Price-per-carat changes with both quality and size. Two diamonds of equal quality can differ in price-per-carat by over twice as much if one is 1 carat and the other is 2 carats.

In the US, most engagement rings have a 1-carat diamond.

One “grade” outside of gemology is the “industrial-grade” diamond.

Pictured above: Diamond coated 2mm bits, used for drilling materials such as glass | Image credit: Junkyardsparkle, Public domain

Beyond Beauty: Diamonds' Industrial and Scientific Value

Did you know most diamonds are not used for jewelry? As of 2019, roughly 80 percent (by weight) of diamonds worldwide are used in research or industrial applications.

Industrial diamonds can be synthetic or natural. Natural ones are not gem-quality, like the small, dark, and opaque bort. However, synthetic diamonds are often preferred, since they can be customized, duplicated indefinitely, and created with less environmental impact.

Industrial Applications of Diamonds

Some of diamond’s valuable industrial qualities are its hardness, high thermal conductivity, broad optical transmission, and resistance to radiation.

Primarily, industrial diamonds are used as abrasives for grinding, cutting, drilling, and polishing other materials. Diamond windows are used in lasers, spectroscopy equipment, and infrared imaging.

Diamonds are also used in medicine and various technology components. In devices like computers, diamonds help dissipate heat and serve as semiconductors.

Diamonds in Scientific Research and Exploration

The technology and engineering industries have made great strides with diamond applications.

One popular device is the diamond anvil cell (DAC), which helps scientists recreate extreme pressure conditions.

Other experimental uses for diamonds include:

Radiation detection
Acoustics (e.g. tweeter dome speakers)
Treating wastewater contamination
Studying brain chemistry (e.g. diamond-coated microelectrodes)
Creating quantum computer bits (qubits) in nitrogen-vacancy (NV) diamond centers

MIT researchers in 2020 even started experimenting with changing diamonds’ electrical conductivity without altering the stone’s stability or composition, opening the potential for custom-designing diamonds for different functions.

Cleaning and Caring for your April Birthstone

The best way to clean your April birthstone is to use a mild detergent, soft brush, warm water and lint-free cloths.

Apply detergent, use a soft toothbrush to gently brush your birthstone, and then rinse it under warm water. After you’re done, make sure you dry it with a soft towel. Don’t leave it out to air dry, as this will create spots, similar to water spots that you find on glass.

We also recommend that you take your diamonds to a jeweler every few months, as they will be able to ensure that your April Birthstone is in great condition.

On a more serious note, you may wonder about the conditions of diamond mining and how ethical they are.

Pictured above: A miner in Kono District, Sierra Leone searches his pan for diamonds | Image credit: USAID Guinea, Public domain

The Ethical Diamond Dilemma

More conscious consumers today try to avoid “conflict diamonds,” or “blood diamonds,” meaning diamonds mined and sold to finance armed conflicts against governments. Humanitarian issues like forced labor, child soldiers, and loss of life are tied to these diamonds.

Efforts to combat this include the Kimberley Process, a coalition established by the United Nations in 2003 to provide more oversight and transparency on where diamonds come from. Participants in the coalition must meet ethical sourcing criteria for their diamonds to be considered “conflict-free” with a Kimberley Process Certification.

However, even “conflict-free” diamond mining still has major negative impacts on the environment and nearby communities.

This consideration has led many to synthetic (lab-grown) diamonds.

Synthetic diamonds are manufactured but have all the chemical and physical properties of natural diamonds, minus the impurities. They’re created for both industrial and gemstone uses.

Although energy emission is still a negative impact with synthetic diamond manufacturing, these emissions are still 5.5-times lower than the emissions of the most eco-conscious diamond mines, according to a 2020 Stanford comparison.

Still, the negative feelings toward diamonds may have you wondering: is diamond the only birthstone for April? Nope!

4 Alternative April Birthstones

Like non-diamond engagement rings, April birthstone rings and jewelry can also feature other gems.

There are many diamond alternatives, from moissanite to white sapphire. But what are the other April birthstones? The alternative April birthstones are:

Sapphire
Opal
White Topaz
Quartz

Below, we’ll look at the properties and meanings of these gems, some of which were considered April birthstones long before diamonds.

Sapphire

Did you know diamond wasn’t the original April birthstone? The first historical birthstone lists, derived from Biblical lists of 12 stones, listed April’s birthstone as sapphire.

In fact, Ancient Romans, Italians, Russians, Hebrews and even Arabic cultures considered sapphire to be the April Birthstone, despite the idea of sapphire as a September birthstone today.

Sapphire is thought to bring inner peace and relieves mental tension for those who wear it. Additionally, it helps with depression and promotes self-expression.

Opal

The mystical birthstone lists, rooted in ancient Tibetan astrology, list opal as the April birthstone.

Besides Tibetans, ancient Greeks were also known to consider opal the April birthstone. Back then, opals were believed to give the power of foresight to those who bear it.

Today though, opals are thought to absorb and amplify the thoughts, feelings, and characteristics of those who bear them, and to help bring them to the surface.

White Topaz

A modern alternative April birthstone often listed is white topaz, a popular diamond alternative. (You can see their comparison in our white topaz vs diamond guide.)

It is believed that those who possess white topaz will be more conscious of their own thoughts and actions. White topaz is also thought to release stagnant energy, helping the wearer move forward with their life.

Quartz

In Britain, quartz is often referred to as the birthstone for April. The stone is thought to be a stone for clarity, and often a source of inspiration and creativity. Quartz stones can also help with improving your concentration and retaining knowledge.

Pearl

Is pearl an April birthstone? It can be! Just as some consider pearls precious gems like diamonds, the stones are also sometimes considered equal April birthstones.

Though traditionally a June birthstone, pearls reflect the symbolism of love, integrity, and commitment associated with diamonds and April.

Personalized April Birthstone Gifts

For a loved one born in April, an April birthstone makes a thoughtful, personalized gift. Don’t forget: diamonds aren’t exclusively for women! These timeless stones have the brilliance and symbolism to suit anyone.

Some options for April birthstone gifts:

Colorless diamond ring
Diamond-studded cufflinks
Diamond-encrusted whiskey decanter
Three-stone diamond necklace pendant (representing parents and a child or three close friends)
Colorless loose diamonds to custom-make into a truly unique jewelry item
Tennis bracelet with diamond April birthstones
Statement colored diamond ring
Diamond earrings
Diamond-studded watch

Thought diamonds were one-note? Think again! The April birthstone offers limitless variety.

Before you gift diamond jewelry to someone special, be sure to note their favorite colors or browse their Pinterest for inspiration.

Enjoy April Showers of Diamonds with this Timeless Birthstone!

That concludes our April birthstone article! To learn more about the traditional April birthstone, read our full guide on diamonds here.

Ready to show an April birthday how much you care? Shower them with the eternal love that shines from the heart of a beautiful diamond birthstone.

Find traditional and alternative April birthstones from our hundreds of gemstones available!

Diamond

Colored Diamonds

Si vous êtes né en avril, vous avez la chance d'avoir l'une des pierres de naissance mensuelles les plus populaires associées à votre anniversaire. Après tout, le diamant est la pierre de naissance d'avril, et c'est l'une des pierres de naissance les plus vénérées de toutes. Non seulement la pierre de naissance d'avril est l'une des pierres de naissance mensuelles les plus précieuses ; selon l'échelle de dureté MOHS , c'est aussi la pierre précieuse la plus dure. En fait, il est si dur qu'il ne peut être taillé qu'avec un autre diamant.

Donc, que vous soyez né en avril ou que vous cherchiez à acheter des diamants pour quelqu'un qui l'est, vous êtes au bon endroit pour en savoir plus sur la pierre de naissance d'avril - allons-y.

L'histoire de la pierre de naissance d'avril

Au cours du siècle dernier, la pierre de naissance d'avril (diamants) est passée d'une jolie pierre d'accent à la vedette du spectacle. Mais l'histoire de cette pierre remonte à l'Antiquité. Les mineurs les ont d'abord collectés le long des ruisseaux et des lits des rivières de l'Inde, et ils ont été ornés par les riches et la royauté dès 400-300 avant JC. Au fil du temps, cependant, les marchands ont introduit les diamants dans le courant dominant en les commercialisant lors de festivals et de marchés.

Pourtant, ils sont restés un ornement exclusif et inaccessible pour la haute société et ne sont devenus un produit domestique qu'au milieu du XXe siècle.

Les diamants ont peut-être été un accessoire somptueux pendant l'Antiquité, mais leur popularité s'est estompée (avec toutes les marchandises joyeuses) au Moyen Âge, c'est-à-dire à l'âge des ténèbres. Ils sont restés en sommeil pendant environ deux cents ans. Cela ne veut pas dire qu'ils sont complètement tombés de la société, mais ils n'étaient certainement pas à l'honneur.

En fait, les bijoux colorés comme les rubis et les saphirs ont reçu plus de notoriété. Pourtant, les diamants avaient quelque chose de spécial et la campagne de marketing de De Beers a montré au monde à quel point ils étaient spéciaux lorsqu'ils ont décidé qu'"un diamant est éternel". Nous savons qu'ils sont populaires. Nous savons que tout le monde aime les diamants pour les bagues de fiançailles. Mais que proposent-ils de plus ?

Signification et symbolisme de la pierre de naissance d'avril

Les pierres de naissance d'avril sont généralement associées à la force, à l'amour, à la protection et à la prospérité, ce qui en fait un excellent cadeau pour les êtres chers. Ci-dessous, nous entrons plus en détail dans les significations et le symbolisme de la pierre de naissance d'avril.

Force

Les pierres de naissance d'avril sont un symbole de force, de clarté et de vigueur. C'est parce qu'ils sont la pierre précieuse et l'élément les plus durs de la nature. Ils sont faits de carbone pur et les couches à l'intérieur de la structure en treillis la rendent extrêmement dure. En contraste, cette durabilité est le symbole de pureté, de foi et d'amour éternel de la pierre de naissance.

Amour

C'est le jeu de la douceur soutenue par la force éternelle qui fait du diamant le parfait symbole du mariage. Et ce n'est pas tout, en tant que pierre de naissance d'avril, les diamants ont de puissantes propriétés curatives qui favorisent le bonheur, la longévité et la protection.

protection

Dans le folklore poétique, la pierre de naissance d'avril représente une amulette protectrice contre le mal, la maladie, la mort et la peste.

La prospérité

Les diamants ne sont pas seulement éternels, ils sont la « pierre de l'immortalité » et sont censés amplifier la fortune et la prospérité financières. C'est la ténacité de ces pierres qui les rend adaptées aux bijoux de pierre de naissance d'avril. Vous ne pouvez pas porter toutes les pierres précieuses tous les jours, mais vous pouvez certainement porter un diamant tous les jours car elles sont si durables.

Nettoyer et prendre soin de votre pierre de naissance d'avril

La meilleure façon de nettoyer votre pierre de naissance d'avril est d'utiliser un détergent doux, une brosse douce, de l'eau tiède et des chiffons non pelucheux.

Appliquez un détergent, brossez doucement votre pierre de naissance puis rincez-la à l'eau tiède. Une fois que vous avez terminé, assurez-vous de le sécher avec une serviette douce. Ne le laissez pas sécher à l'air libre, car cela créera des taches, semblables aux taches d'eau que vous trouvez sur le verre.

Nous vous recommandons également d'apporter vos diamants à un bijoutier tous les quelques mois, car ils pourront s'assurer que votre pierre de naissance d'avril est en excellent état.

Les meilleurs cadeaux de naissance d'avril

Nous connaissons tous quelqu'un dont l'anniversaire est en avril, et les diamants font un cadeau de naissance bien pensé ! N'oublions pas que les diamants ne sont pas exclusifs aux femmes. En fait, ils conviennent à tous ceux qui chérissent leur symbolisme et leur éclat. Lorsque vous offrez à quelqu'un une pierre de naissance d'avril, vous lui offrez quelque chose de complètement personnalisé. Voici quelques options pour les bijoux de pierre de naissance d'avril :

Une bague en diamant incolore

Un pendentif collier diamant trois pierres (représentant un couple et un enfant, ou trois amis proches)

Boucles d'oreilles en diamant dans la couleur préférée de votre bien-aimée

Des diamants non sertis de couleur que vous pouvez personnaliser pour en faire un bijou unique en son genre

Un bracelet tennis orné de diamants de la pierre de naissance d'avril

Une bague tendance de couleur vive
Une variété de diamants blancs

Si vous pensiez que les diamants étaient singuliers ou à une seule note, vous pouvez maintenant voir que la pierre de naissance d'avril offre une variété illimitée ! Si vous souhaitez offrir des bijoux en diamant à quelqu'un de spécial, assurez-vous de prendre des notes : demandez-lui sa couleur préférée ou parcourez Pinterest pour trouver l'inspiration. Et n'oubliez pas de magasiner notre collection de diamants non sertis à vendre !

Prêt à montrer à un anniversaire d'avril à quel point vous tenez à lui ? Douchez-les avec l'amour éternel qui brille du cœur d'une belle pierre de naissance en diamant.

4 pierres de naissance d'avril alternatives

Comme promis, nous allons également discuter de 4 pierres de naissance d'avril alternatives. Oui, les diamants sont la pierre de naissance traditionnelle d'avril. Cependant, différentes cultures ont associé d'autres pierres de naissance au mois d'avril. Ils sont les suivants :

Saphir
Opale
Topaze blanche
Quartz

Ci-dessous, nous passerons en revue les propriétés de chacune de ces pierres alternatives, dont certaines ont été utilisées comme pierres de naissance d'avril bien avant les diamants.

Saphir

Les anciens Romains, Italiens, Russes, Hébreux et même les cultures arabes considéraient le saphir comme la pierre de naissance d'avril. On pense que le saphir apporte la paix intérieure et soulage la tension mentale de ceux qui le portent. De plus, il aide à lutter contre la dépression et favorise l'expression de soi.

Opale

Les Tibétains étaient connus pour désigner les opales comme la pierre de naissance d'avril, tout comme les Grecs de l'Antiquité. À l'époque, on croyait que les opales donnaient le pouvoir de prévoyance à ceux qui la portaient. Aujourd'hui cependant, on pense que les opales absorbent et amplifient les pensées, les sentiments et les caractéristiques de ceux qui les portent, et aident à les faire remonter à la surface.

Topaze blanche

Une pléthore d'entreprises de joaillerie font la promotion de la topaze blanche comme pierre de naissance alternative d'avril. On pense que ceux qui possèdent la Topaze Blanche seront plus conscients de leurs propres pensées et actions. On pense également que la topaze blanche libère de l'énergie stagnante, aidant le porteur à avancer dans sa vie.

Quartz

En Grande-Bretagne, le quartz est souvent désigné comme la pierre de naissance d'avril. La pierre est considérée comme une pierre de clarté, et souvent la source d'inspiration et de créativité. Les pierres de quartz peuvent également aider à améliorer votre concentration et à conserver vos connaissances.

Conclusion

Cela met fin à notre article sur les pierres de naissance d'avril ! Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur la pierre de naissance traditionnelle d'avril, vous pouvez lire notre guide complet sur les diamants ici . Si vous cherchez à acheter des diamants ou une pierre de naissance d'avril pour vous-même ou pour quelqu'un que vous aimez, n'hésitez pas à suivre l'un des liens ci-dessous.