APRIL: DIAMOND stands for fearless-ness and invincibility.  It was believed to bring victory to the wearer by giving him strength and courage. The Hindus believed that diamonds would endow the wearer with power, fortunes and good luck. The name "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas" meaning unconquerable-suggesting the eternity of love. In fact, diamonds have been the traditional symbol of love since ancient Greece. Discovered about 2,500 years ago in India, the ancients believed they were splinters from the stars, perhaps crystallized lightening or hardened dew drops or even tears of the gods.

Although diamonds are associated with being a colorless stone, they are occasionally found with a strong, bright color-green, red, pink, blue, canary yellow and amber. These "fancy" colored diamonds are highly-prized.

Occasionally, to improve appearance, diamonds are laser-drilled and, sometimes, a foreign substance is used to fill surface cavities or fractures. Diamonds may also be irradiated and/or heated to induce "fancy" colors.

Even though it is the most durable of gemstones, care should be taken to protect a diamond from sharp blows. Household chemicals may discolor or damage the mounting. To clean, you may use a jewelry cleaner, lukewarm soapy water and a small bristle brush, soak in a half-and-half solution of warm water and ammonia for 5 or 10 minutes.

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A diamond is crystallized carbon, like the graphite in a lead pencil. Carbon is  the fundamental building block of all matter on earth, including humans. Diamonds are the hardest, most durable substance (10 on  Mohs' scale)  ever  discovered by man, and also the purest substance that occurs in nature. They are the product of tremendous heat and pressure, caused when the earth was still being formed.

The diamond is formed at a temperature and pressure so high it is equivalent to that existing 150 miles below the earth's surface. The diamond has a melting point of approximately 4,000 degrees centigrade, which is two and a half times greater than the melting point of steel. 

Don't confuse hardness with brittleness. While it is true that nothing except another diamond can cut or scratch a diamond, a sharp blow from a hard object can crack or shatter a diamond.

The worlds largest diamond is the Cullinan, 3,106 carats.

The famous Koh-i-noor diamond, belonging to the British Crown, is believed to be found some 5,000 years ago.