Birthstones
Traditionally, a special stone, a birthstone, has been
selected to celebrate each month of the calendar year. Please click on the months below to view
information on each of the months' birthstones. The birthstones described here are for the
stones most commonly accepted in the United States as the birthstone of the month.
If you are interested in purchasing a gem, feel free to e-mail
us or call us on our toll free
number, 800-659-4367. We will gladly describe and quote price on a specific
gemstone. Our sales staff and goldsmiths can assist you in designing and constructing
a custom piece, and turn your gem into a treasured family heirloom.
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D I A M O N D |::| Mohs' Hardness -- 10
The name diamond comes from the ancient Greek word, Adamas, or unconquerable. It is the hardest of all gems, ranking 10 on the Mohs' Hardness
Scale (a listing of comparative gemstone hardness). A diamond's brilliance, hardness and durability, along with good marketing and
promotion, have made diamonds the most sought after gemstone in the world today.
There are significant diamond deposits in South Africa and Siberia, and a recent find in Australia. Diamonds have been discovered
and commercially mined on a small scale in Canada, and the state of Colorado. It has been reported that a diamond miner must
dig approximately one ton of rock for every half carat of diamond found. Color grading of diamonds starts with the letter 'D' as the
finest grade of white, and progresses through the alphabet as tint levels increase. Clarity, signifying the level of inclusions
in the gem, begins as Flawless, and moves through VVS, to VS, to SI to I or included grades.
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