Born in April? Your Birthstone of the Month is the always elegant Diamond. Discover more about it’s meaning, mythology and extraordinary famed diamonds throughout history.
A FLOWER DIAMOND RING
A timeliess and elegant design set in 18ct White Gold
About Diamonds
Diamonds are truly unique among minerals. They are the only gemstone made from a single element (typically 99.95% carbon) and they are the hardest naturally occurring substance on earth. Formed deep within the earth’s crust under very high pressure, diamonds have been adopted for industrial applications - high performance cutting, drilling, polishing and as insulators in electrical engineering - but where they truly shine is as an exquisite jewellery centrepiece.
We typically pictured diamonds as translucent, or possibly a pale pink, but they do come in a range of colours including yellow, orange, green, purple and black. The rarest diamond colours are red (called Fancy Reds) followed by pink, with the former Argyle Mine in Australia providing over 90% of the world’s pink diamonds before it’s closure in 2020. Other major producers of natural diamonds include Africa, Russia and Canada.
Natural diamonds are now accompanied by lab grown diamonds, with the only difference between the two being their origin. Indistinguishable from the natural variety and using the same grading standards as mined diamonds, lab diamonds are gaining popularity because of their affordability and accessibility. You can read more about Lab v Mined Diamonds in our March newsletter.
As well as being the birthstone for April, diamonds mark the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries. Over the last century, they have also become the preferred stone for engagement rings, symbolising love and eternity.
History & Mythology
First formed about 3.3 billion years ago, diamonds have captivated cultures throughout history.
Whilst not as common in Ancient Egypt as materials such as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian and faience, diamonds still held sway as a symbol of the sun, power, truth and courage. For ancient Indians, diamonds represented clarity and invincibility, by some accounts, believed to be formed when lightning struck the earth. Ancient Greeks and Romans likened diamonds to the tears of the gods, or according to Plato, as living beings embodying celestial spirits. And during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, diamonds became synonymous with healing.
The association with love stems from ancient societies, which also associated diamonds with beauty and passion. According to Roman mythology, Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds. While the diamond also came to be associated with the Greek term ‘adamas’, meaning invincible, unconquerable and for eternity.
Diamonds were not always used for engagement rings however, with emeralds, rubies and sapphires popular in Edwardian and Victorian times, sometimes paired with a diamond. The De Beer diamond company is credited with popularising the diamond engagement ring. In 1947, it launched it’s classic “A Diamond is Forever” slogan which followed one of the most successful marketing campaigns in history. It’s advertisements featuring glamorous Hollywood stars in diamond jewels saw sales increase by 50 percent during the 1930’s.
The World’s Most Famous Diamonds
It is perhaps not surprising that some diamonds have achieved extraordinary fame. Among them is the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, originally from India and believed to be a specific diamond mentioned in a 5,000-year-old Sanskrit text. The name Koh-i-Noor ("Mountain of Light") was bestowed by the Persian general, Nadir Shah, who acquired the diamond in the 18th century. It changed hands many times, often through conflict, and was ultimately claimed by the East India Company for Britain in 1849, when it was cut into a 108.93 carat gem for Queen Victoria. It has passed down through British royalty and now resides with the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, although India continues to dispute it’s British possession.
The Hope Diamond at 45.52 carats, is the largest deep blue diamond in the world, and possibly the most famous. It is believed to have been discovered by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier who sold it to Louis XIV in 1668. It disappeared from France in 1789, emerging in England 20 years later. Through most of the 19th century it was held by the Hope banking family. It was sold to Cartier in 1910, who turned it into a pendant, before it was purchased by Evalyn Walsh McLean, an American mining heiress. Today it is part of the Smithsonian collection in Washington.
The Regent Diamond was discovered in India in 1698 and claimed by Thomas Pitt, the English Governor of Madra. It was transported and cut in England, before passing to French royalty. It appeared on the coronation crowns of Louis XV, Louis XVI and Charles X coronation, and most famously, on the crown of Napoleon III. Today, it is on public display in the Louvre in Paris.
Also part of the Crown Jewels in London, the Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond in history, it’s outstanding size of 3,106 carats matched by unparalleled clarity. Uncoverd in 1905 at the Premier Mine near Pretoria, South Africa by mine worker Frederick G. S. Wells, it was named for the mine’s owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan. In another disputed colonial transaction, it was presented to Edward VII by the Transvaal Government.
The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine diamonds, named Cullinan I to IX, as well as 96 smaller diamonds. The 530-carat Cullinan I, also known as the Star of Africa, is set in the British Royal Sceptre, while the second largest stone, the 317 carat Cullinan II features on the Imperial State Crown used in British coronations. The other larger diamonds are set into pendants and brooches, privately owned by the Royal family.
Bespoke and Antique Diamonds
Prischl is a leading Sydney jewellery, crafting exquisite bespoke jewellery and sourcing antique and vintage jewels from around the world - including stunning natural and lab grown diamonds.
To enquire, please visit our online gallery, drop into our boutique in Sydney’s Northbridge, or contact us.
