Looking for an alternate April birthstone?
Understandable. Diamonds can be challenging for multiple reasons.
Perhaps you are trying to find a gift but don’t want to splurge on April’s traditional birthstone.
Or perhaps you have issues with the diamond industry itself and its continuing problems with blood diamonds.
Whatever the case, you’re in luck! There are a handful of alternate April birthstones from which to choose.
1. White Sapphires
White Sapphire is believed to bring peace, wisdom, and prosperity to those who wear it. It is also said to symbolize truth, loyalty, and friendship.
White Sapphires are considered a more affordable alternative to diamonds and are also considered a good option for those looking for a more ethical or sustainable choice in jewelry.
This precious gemstone belongs to the mineral family corundum, just like Blue Sapphire.
It is known for its colorless or white appearance, which is caused by the presence of minute traces of iron and titanium. The colorless variety of corundum is called White Sapphire.
White Sapphires are highly valued for their clarity and durability and are often used as an alternative to diamond in jewelry.
They are often set in rings, earrings, pendants, and bracelets.
White Sapphires are also used in various industrial applications, such as in watchmaking, and as a substitute for synthetic corundum in various abrasive applications.
2. Rock Crystals (aka Clear Quartz)
Rock Crystals are believed to have powerful healing properties and are said to promote balance, harmony, and clarity of mind.
The name “Rock Crystal” is often used to describe any clear or translucent variety of quartz, regardless of its origin, size, shape or color.
Rock Crystal is a type of quartz, a mineral made up of silicon and oxygen atoms. It is a natural form of crystalline silica, and is considered a precious gemstone because of its beauty and durability.
The color of Rock Crystal is usually transparent or translucent, and can be colorless or have a slight yellow, brown or gray hue.
Rock Crystal is highly valued for its clarity, and has been used for centuries in jewelry, sculpture, and other decorative items.
In addition to its use in jewelry and decorative arts, Rock Crystal is also used in industry for various purposes such as for electronic components and scientific equipment.
People often use it for meditation, as a talisman, for healing and for spiritual practices.
While Rock Crystal is a natural mineral, it can also be artificially produced, which is known as synthetic quartz.
3. Black Diamonds
Black Diamonds are often associated with protection, power, and strength. They are also said to help with grounding and centering.
Black Diamonds are a type of diamond that have a dark, opaque color.
They are formed from carbon, like all diamonds, but contain impurities or structural defects that give them their black color.
Black diamonds are also known as “carbonado” or “black carbonado”.
Black Diamonds are relatively rare compared to traditional, clear diamonds, and are valued for their unique color and appearance.
They have been used in jewelry for centuries, and are particularly popular in men’s jewelry such as rings, earrings, and bracelets.
Black Diamonds are also used in industrial applications, such as cutting and polishing other types of diamonds and other hard materials.
The color of Black Diamonds can vary from a deep dark black to a dark gray or brownish hue.
They can be cut and polished into various shapes, such as round, oval, cushion, pear and so on. They can be treated or enhanced in some way such as irradiation, high pressure-high temperature (HPHT) treatment, or painting.
There are also “fancy black diamonds” or “black synthetic diamonds” which are created in a lab; these are not the same as natural black diamonds but are used for similar purposes.
4. Blue Sapphires
Blue sapphire is said to bring wisdom, prosperity, and good luck. It is also believed to symbolize truth, loyalty, and trust.
The traditional birthstone for September, sapphires also double as an alternate April birthstone.
This precious gemstone belongs to the mineral family corundum and is known for its deep blue color, which is caused by the presence of iron and titanium impurities in the mineral.
Blue sapphires have been used in jewelry for centuries and are often set in rings, earrings, pendants, and bracelets.
They are considered one of the most valuable precious gemstones, and are often compared to diamonds in terms of value and rarity.
In addition to being used in jewelry, blue sapphires have also been used in various industrial applications, such as in watchmaking and as a substitute for synthetic corundum in various abrasive applications.
Blue sapphires can be found in many locations around the world, with the most notable sources being in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Myanmar.