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The birthstone for April is the fabulous diamond, queen of gems, pure carbon, and hardest of all substances.
The diamonds most often found in jewellers, and the ones associated with April, are colourless but Diamond as a stone can be found in blue, pink, yellow, brown and other lesser known hues. Regardless of colour, however, the best quality diamonds are famous for their brilliant inner fire when faceted.
 If diamonds are not in the budget this time, however, clear quartz can make an excellent substitute. It offers a variety of more unusual and creative gift choices from sparkling clusters to carvings to an enormous array of cut and uncut jewellery. There is even a variety of Quartz called "herkimer diamond" that is found in small, highly reflective crystals reminiscent of their namesake.Â
Diamonds owe their name to the Greek word for "invincible". Clear and brilliant, they have traditionally been thought to help tap in to divine energies. As they relate to all the upper chakras this is in fact, in some ways true. Also, perhaps because of their hardness, because "diamonds are forever", unfailing in their lustre and brilliance, they have since ancient times been attributed with many magical properties. They provided victory, courage, faithfulness and purity. Hindus long ago wore them to protect from evil spirits, poison and illness.  |
