The April birthstone is diamond, a gem made of pure crystallized carbon and the only birthstone rated 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Diamond is best known as colorless, but it also occurs in yellow, brown, pink, blue, green and other fancy colors. It is the single April stone on the US list.
Diamond symbolizes strength, clarity and lasting love, and its name comes from the Greek adamas, meaning invincible. Compare every month in the birthstone chart by month.
What Is the April Birthstone?
Diamond is the official April birthstone in the United States, and it has held that place since the first modern list in 1912. Britain's list adds rock crystal, a colorless quartz, as a second April stone.
| Quick fact | April birthstone: diamond |
|---|---|
| Composition | Pure carbon |
| Mohs hardness | 10, the highest on the scale |
| Color range | Colorless to light yellow or brown (D to Z), plus fancy colors |
| Traditional meaning | Strength, clarity, lasting love, protection |
| Notable sources | India historically, Brazil, South Africa, Botswana, Russia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, Canada |
| British alternate | Rock crystal (colorless quartz) |
| Zodiac signs in April | Aries and Taurus |
The facts above come from the GIA April birthstone guide and the American Gem Society April birthstone page.
April Birthstone Colors
The April birthstone color is colorless, or white, though diamond comes in nearly every color. The American Gem Society explains that diamonds run from colorless through light yellow or brown on the D to Z color grading scale.
Diamonds beyond that range are called fancy color diamonds. The American Gem Society lists yellow, brown, red, pink, orange, green, blue, purple, gray, black and fancy white among them. A colored diamond is still an April birthstone, which gives April birthdays more room for personal style.
The Hope diamond is a deep blue diamond of 45.52 carats that came from India's Golconda mining area, according to GIA. King Louis XIV bought the stone in 1668, and its blue color shows that the April birthstone is not limited to colorless gems, even though colorless diamond is the classic choice (GIA, April birthstone).
Diamond Meaning and History
Diamond's name comes from the Greek adamas, meaning invincible or unbreakable. India was the first source: diamonds were gathered from its rivers and streams and traded as early as the fourth century BCE, GIA notes.
By the 1400s, diamonds had become fashionable among Europe's elite. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy the first recorded diamond engagement ring, which helped tie the stone to lasting love. Some ancient cultures believed diamonds were lightning made real, and others thought they protected against plague, poison and the evil eye.
The Cullinan I diamond, also called the Great Star of Africa, is a 530 carat pear shaped stone cut from a rough diamond recovered at South Africa's Premier mine in 1905. GIA notes that Cullinan I is housed in the Tower of London with the British Crown Jewels, where visitors can see the April birthstone at royal scale (GIA, April birthstone).
Diamond was assigned to April on the 1912 list released by the National Association of Jewelers, now Jewelers of America, as the International Gem Society notes. Later US updates in 1952, 2002 and 2016 left April unchanged.
Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamond
A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond made of crystallized carbon, with the same chemical and physical properties as a mined diamond. The two main methods are high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
In July 2018, the Federal Trade Commission revised its Jewelry Guides and removed the word "natural" from the definition of diamond, which brought lab-grown diamonds within the definition. The revised guidance treats lab-grown stones as diamonds that must be clearly described as lab-grown or created, so buyers know a stone's origin before they pay (FTC, 2018).
Read the FTC announcement of the revised Jewelry Guides and the summary in the Wikipedia synthetic diamond entry. Origin and price are the main differences, not durability. Ask for written disclosure and a grading report for any significant stone.
April Birthstone Alternatives Compared
Diamond is the hardest April option, but several clear stones give a similar look at different budgets. The table compares the stones shoppers most often consider.
| Stone | Mohs hardness | Look | Relative price tier | Everyday wear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural diamond | 10 | Colorless or fancy color, high brilliance | Highest | Excellent, including rings |
| Lab-grown diamond | 10 | Same as natural diamond | Lower than natural | Excellent, including rings |
| Moissanite | About 9.5 | Colorless, strong rainbow flashes | Low to moderate | Excellent |
| White sapphire | 9 | Colorless, softer sparkle | Moderate | Excellent |
| White topaz | 8 | Colorless | Low | Good, avoid hard knocks |
| Rock crystal (quartz) | 7 | Colorless | Low | Good for pendants and earrings |
Moissanite is silicon carbide, first identified by Henri Moissan in 1893 in samples from Meteor Crater, Arizona, per the Wikipedia moissanite entry. Sapphire hardness comes from the GIA sapphire gem encyclopedia, and topaz hardness from the GIA November birthstone guide. Rock crystal is listed for April by Britain's goldsmiths, according to the Wikipedia birthstone page.
How to Care for Diamond Jewelry
Clean diamond jewelry with warm water, mild soap and a soft toothbrush, or wipe it with a lint free cloth. GIA says ultrasonic cleaning is acceptable for untreated diamonds without significant inclusions.
- Diamond is hard but can still chip from a sharp blow, so remove rings for heavy work and sports.
- Store diamond apart from other jewelry, because a Mohs 10 stone can scratch every other gem.
- Avoid harsh chemicals, as the American Gem Society advises.
- Care for the setting too. For plated metals, follow the gold plated jewelry care guide.
How to Wear and Gift an April Birthstone
An April birthstone necklace with a single clear stone is a timeless gift that suits every outfit. The necklace length guide helps you choose where a solitaire pendant should sit.
For a clear stone look, try the Solitaire Crystal Necklace, or start with birthstone styles such as the Celeste Birthstone Necklace, Noa Birthstone Necklace, Kali Birthstone Necklace and Faye Birthstone Necklace. Check each product page for the stone used for April and current availability.
For an April birthstone ring, browse gemstone rings and see how to measure ring size at home before you order. April birthdays fall under Aries and Taurus, so a sign piece from the zodiac collection makes a thoughtful pairing.
Frequently Asked Questions About the April Birthstone
What are the two birthstones for April?
The US list names only one April birthstone: diamond, assigned in 1912 and never changed. Britain's National Association of Goldsmiths adds rock crystal, a colorless quartz, as a second April stone, and some older traditional lists paired diamond with sapphire. The wear difference is large: diamond ranks 10 on the Mohs scale and rock crystal 7. Choose diamond for everyday rings and rock crystal for pendants or earrings.
What is a poor man's diamond?
Poor man's diamond is an informal nickname, not a gemological term, for colorless stones that imitate diamond at a lower price. Sellers apply it to white topaz, rock crystal quartz and similar clear gems. The stones differ in durability: white topaz ranks 8 on the Mohs scale and quartz 7, compared with 10 for diamond. If you want diamond durability at a lower price, a lab-grown diamond is real diamond.
Is opal considered the birthstone for April?
No. Opal is an October birthstone, alongside tourmaline, on the modern US list. April's birthstone is diamond, with rock crystal as an alternate on the British list. The mix up may come from zodiac charts, which assign stones by sign rather than month. Opal is also much softer than diamond, rating 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale versus 10, so the two wear very differently.
What stone is April Taurus?
By month, an April Taurus (born April 20 to 30) has diamond as a birthstone, the same as every April birthday. Zodiac stone lists are separate traditions and vary by source, so there is no single official Taurus stone. Many people simply pair their diamond birthstone with a sign symbol. A Taurus pendant worn with a clear stone necklace covers both traditions at once.
Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?
Yes. A lab-grown diamond is pure crystallized carbon with the same chemical and physical properties as a mined diamond, including a Mohs hardness of 10. In 2018 the Federal Trade Commission removed the word natural from its definition of diamond, bringing lab-grown stones within it. Sellers must still clearly disclose a lab origin, so ask for it in writing and for a grading report on larger stones.
Find an April piece to celebrate the month in the EVRY gemstone necklaces collection.
