If you're lucky enough to be born in April, you have three beautiful gemstones to choose from as your birthstone - diamond, white topaz or cubic zirconia. But which is the better choice?
Diamond
Let's start with the diamond. This traditional birthstone is beloved for its hardness, brilliance, and fire.
A diamond is the perfect symbol of eternal love, making it a popular choice for engagement and wedding rings. But diamonds come with a hefty price tag, which might not be ideal for everyone.
The diamond is the symbol of invincibility, strength, and power. It is said to bring clarity and insight to the wearer, and to help them understand and solve problems.
The diamond has been treasured since ancient times, and its beauty has been revered by cultures all over the world. The name "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas", which means "invincible". Diamonds are the hardest known natural material, and they have been used for centuries to cut and polish other precious stones.
It's worth noting that all the diamonds used in Sennen Jewellery's diamond jewellery collections have been certified as “conflict free”, with the designers being members of the The Responsible Jewellery Council, which is a not-for-profit organisation that has been established to promote responsible ethical, social and environmental practices, which respect human rights, throughout the Diamond and Gold Jewellery supply chain. All diamonds used in Custom Jewellery Commisions are also conflict free and sourced from London's historic diamond district in Hatton Garden.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia, on the other hand, is a more affordable option that still has a lot of sparkle. This synthetic stone is made in a lab, so it doesn't have the same history or meaning as a diamond, however it also doesn't have the same ethical and sustainability issues as real diamonds.
Cubic zirconia is a diamond simulant, which means that it looks like a diamond but is not actually a diamond. Cubic zirconia is made of zirconium dioxide, and it is much cheaper than a real diamond.
Cubic zirconia is also quite hard, but it is not as hard as a diamond.
However, Cubic Zirconias are beautiful gemstones in their own right, and are great paired with Sterling Silver to create wonderfully sparkly jewellery designs that can be worn every day as well as for special occasions.
White Topaz
Clear White topaz reflects the light beautifully and is often used as a substitute for diamond in jewellery designs where the size of stone required would be unaffordable for most if set with a diamond.
However White Topaz stones are very beautiful in their own right and symbolise hope, love and happiness.
In challenging situations, this gemstone is said to promote honesty and wisdom and will eventually help you to achieve self-realization and self-control. It is also associated with emotional balance and health.
So, which should you choose? If you're looking for a classic birthstone with a lot of meaning, diamond is the way to go. White topaz has different meaning to diamond but is great as a larger stone in a jewellery piece. If you are on a budget cubic zirconia is a great option, especially with Sterling Silver jewellery designs.
Interested in the Birthstones for other months? Take a look at our guide here: Your Guide to Birthstones (sennenjewellery.com)