Rare Tiffany & Co., Schlumberger diamond leaf-shaped brooch, American, c. 1960″s. Samuel Saidian & Sons.
Derived from the Greek word “adamas” meaning “invincible,” April’s birthstone, the diamond, is thought to be the hardest substance on earth, making it a natural fit for the gemstone that best symbolizes enduring love.
Mario Buccellati eternity band, 18K gold and diamonds, Italy. Botier Inc.
The most popular gemstone for engagement rings, the April birthstone is also the traditional gift for the 60th wedding anniversary, a landmark anniversary that certainly warrants a marker of lasting love.
Art Deco brooch, featuring square-cut rubies, baguette and round-cut diamonds set in a platinum spray. American, c. 1920-1930. Clifford Baron Gallery.
“Remarkably simply in composition,” yet unique in its ability to reflect and refract light in bursts of color, Ancient Hindus, finding the diamond washed up after thunderstorms thought it to be created by bolts of lightning and named it “vajra,” meaning lightning.
Panther, 18K white and yellow gold, yellow sapphires, and black diamonds, unknown origin, 1960’s-1970’s. Brian Stewart Gallery.
While transparent diamonds have traditionally been the most popular variety for jewelry, colored diamonds, such as black and yellow diamonds, are gaining popularity. The color of the diamond depends on the impurities embedded inside it.
An extraordinary antique English diamond, gold and silver necklace, Victorian period, circa 1880. Alexander’s Antiques Gallery.
Some individual diamonds even have their own storied past, such as the “Koh-i-Noor” (“Mountain of Light”), a 5,000 year-old stone passed through Indian Rajahs to the crown of Queen Victoria. See our own extensive collection of antique and vintage diamonds here.
