"A Kaleidoscope of April: Celebrating Diamonds in Color"

The Diamond is unanimously recognized as the birthstone for April on all modern birthstone lists. A lucky few born in the spring are bestowed with an association to the most desirable and adored gemstone in history. This sparkling gem has always been a symbol of strength, even receiving its name from the Greek word “adamas,” meaning “unbreakable.” It seems an appropriate decoration for all those assertive Aries and Taurus individuals in your orbit.

If you are looking for a twist on traditional diamond jewelry, consider adding fancy-colored diamonds to your next April birthday or anniversary gift. According to the Gemological Institute of America, only one in every 10,000 diamonds mined will have a fancy color—defined as a hue more saturated than a Z grade on the Institute's color grading scale. At Landmark Jewelers, we have created several beautiful custom rings displaying extraordinary colored diamonds like canary yellows, soft pinks, and chocolate browns. There is something almost magical about diamonds displaying an unusual body color.

Currently, we even have one or two estate treasures housing a vibrant fancy diamond. These special antique heirlooms are worth a visit in-store. But be warned—it will be hard to walk away from these spectacular colored vintage beauties.

Natural fancy-colored diamonds are rare but can be found in nearly every hue, with some colors being more prevalent than others. Brown and yellow shades occur more often than the scarcely seen blues, greens, pinks, oranges, purples, and reds. A diamond needs to have a body color extending beyond the normal D-to-Z diamond color grading scale to be considered fancy. These stones are graded on a special scale, with their value increasing with the intensity and saturation of their given color.

While fancy-colored diamonds have traditionally been deemed less desirable than their colorless counterparts, their popularity and availability have grown dramatically in recent years. This is largely due to the lab-grown availability of traditionally rare shades. Both natural and lab-grown options can be sourced, though certain colors are more common in one category than the other. A growing number of Landmark patrons have recently selected colored stones and diamonds to feature in their custom creations in place of colorless diamonds.

Let us at Landmark Jewelers aid you in designing a piece of jewelry for your April-born loved ones, holding an extraordinary colored diamond in your favorite chroma. Scintillating colorless diamonds can be awe-inspiring—but let’s add a one-of-a-kind color to this gemstone's already elusive appeal.

Aquamarine Gemstone: The Timeless Beauty of the Sea in Crystal Form

The precision gemstone Aquamarine is the greenish-blue variety of the mineral Beryl. Nearly always pastel in tone, this crystal has been desired throughout history for its gentle yet elegant presence. The mineral family Beryl includes several other notable gems: the blush-hued and delicate Morganite, the royal-favorite green Emerald, and the mysterious yellow Heliodor. Aquamarine owes its unusual tranquil color to small traces of iron in its crystalline structure; this impurity distinguishes the gemstone from its other Beryl counterparts. All Beryls traditionally form in large-scale crystals, allowing for faceted gemstones with a larger presence than their counterparts, such as Sapphire or Diamond.

Derived from the Latin word for seawater, it's easy to imagine the inspiration behind the name of this gemstone. Aquamarine’s greenish-blue color and exceptional clarity evoke the calm steadfastness of the sea. This gemstone is often associated with March as its birthstone. At Landmark Jewelers, we have several vintage estate treasures featuring Aquamarines. Custom-created masterpieces are also an option, allowing you to hand-select the gemstone of your choice. We can assist you with every step of the process, starting with Aquamarine sourcing.

All Beryl gemstones, including Aquamarine, are susceptible to scratching. They have a lower Mohs hardness grade compared to harder gemstones like Corundum (Sapphire and Ruby) or Diamond. If you choose to set an Aquamarine in a custom-created setting, it must be worn and stored with care. If set into a ring or bracelet, that piece may not be suitable for everyday wear. However, an heirloom pendant showcasing a beautiful seawater-hued Aquamarine would be a perfect way to wear this gemstone with longevity in mind. Alternatively, a pair of stud earrings featuring this dazzling March birthstone would be the perfect gift for any Pisces or Aries in your orbit.

Aquamarines have historically been mined in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, which remains a major source of this gemstone and other Beryl varieties. They are often found in the eastern regions of the state. Pakistan’s elevated mines are another notable source of the blue gemstone. Reaching these crystal deposits first requires a 13,000-foot climb up a steep cliff. These difficult mining conditions are rewarded with some of the most beautiful Aquamarines ever unearthed—described as ‘clear as water’.

If you desire an Aquamarine, let us at Landmark Jewelers assist you in sourcing the perfect estate piece featuring this gemstone or starting a custom project where you can select from a range of loose stones.