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108 www.thejewelrybook.com April It is hard to decide where to start with April's birthstone, Diamond. True, it is a gemstone with a rich and detailed history but it is also so much more. Diamonds are arguably the most iconic gemstone in the world. Ingrained in our culture as the epitome of status, wealth and love. Diamond's story begins in India in the 4th century BC where they were collected in the rivers and streams, worn by India's wealthy class and eventually made their way over to Europe. Dia- mond is the hardest material on earth and because of this was very hard to facet. The popularity of diamonds boomed in the 14th century because better cutting techniques were developed and the brilliance of diamonds was fi nally revealed. George Kunz describes diamond in his book, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, "The diamond, like a knight of old, brilliant and resistant, is the emblem of fearlessness and invincibility." Beliefs about diamonds are either related to its purity or its unparalleled hardness. Diamond is said to give the wearer great courage and strength. It was believed to be the Devil's great enemy because it was strong enough to resist his power day and night. If you wore it on your left arm, set in gold, it was thought to drive away nightly specters. Diamond dust was thought to be a deadly poison and was often mixed with mercury to achieve the desired effect. In 1477 Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented the very fi rst diamond engagement ring to his future bride, Mary of Burgundy. This of course created a trend in the nobility which carried on to Victorian time that saw couples mixing diamonds with other gemstones. Around this same time there was a historic discovery of diamonds in Africa creating more supply and thus more demand for the gemstone. During the great depression diamond sales slumped. In 1947, looking for a way to reinvigorate diamond sales the DeBeers company combined the two most notable qualities of a diamond, purity and durability to create the greatest market- ing campaign of the 20th century and perhaps ever, "A Diamond is Forever." It worked wonderfully and today diamonds represent unchanging, forever love. If you are interested in learning more about the history of gem- stones may I suggest my reference book, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, by George Kunz. It is a wealth of knowledge. Jennie Kwon Designs Diamonds Jack Kelége Diamonds Jack Kelége Diamonds Alex Sepkus Diamonds Fall 2021 | Birthstones

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