April’s Birthstone Gets Real: 15 Diamond Facts That You Might Not Know

April’s Birthstone Is a Diamond—But You Probably Didn’t Know These 15 Sparkling Secrets

April, rejoice—you hit the birthstone jackpot. While the rest of the months get pretty gems like garnet, peridot, or topaz, you get diamonds. Classic. Elegant. Iconic. From engagement rings to crown jewels, diamonds have long held their throne as the world’s most coveted gem.

But here’s the twist: behind all that sparkle lies a treasure trove of secrets. Whether you were born in April, adore bling, or just love fun facts.

15 things most people don’t know about diamonds.

1. Diamonds Aren’t Actually the Rarest Gem
They might be the most famous, but diamonds are far from the rarest. Gems like alexandrite, red beryl, and even some sapphires are much harder to come by. Surprise!

2. They Can Catch Fire
Despite all the “eternal” branding, diamonds will burn at around 1,562°F (850°C).

3. Some Diamonds Are Literally from Space
Meteorites have been found containing microscopic diamonds. And scientists believe full-blown diamond planets could exist. Intergalactic sparkle? Yes please.

4. They Come in Colors
Clear is classic, but diamonds also come in fancy colors like pink, blue, green, yellow, black, and even red—one of the rarest and most expensive hues on Earth.

5. They Glow in the Dark (Kind Of)
About a third of diamonds fluoresce under UV light, most often glowing blue. It’s like your diamond moonlights as a nightclub dancer.

6. They’re Fancy Pencil Lead
Both graphite (in your pencil) and diamonds are made of carbon. The difference? Atom arrangement. One writes essays, the other makes people cry at proposals.

7. They’re Born in Volcanic Chaos
Most diamonds are formed deep in the Earth and only reach the surface through ancient volcanic eruptions via something called a kimberlite pipe. So yes, your birthstone is basically volcanic treasure.

8. Lab Diamonds Are the Real Deal
Lab-grown diamonds aren’t “fakes”—they’re chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds. Even experts need high-tech equipment to tell them apart.

9. They’re in Your Skincare (and Medicine!)
Tiny diamond particles, aka nanodiamonds, are used in drug delivery systems, cancer treatments, and even fancy face creams. Who knew diamonds were multitaskers?

10. They’re Older Than Dinosaurs
Most natural diamonds are between 1 and 3 billion years old. That’s older than trees, dinosaurs, and pretty much everything else on your “ancient history” radar.

11. The Biggest Diamond Ever Found?
The Cullinan Diamond weighed in at 3,106 carats—so big it was cut into over 100 stones, several of which are now part of the British Crown Jewels.

3,106 Carat Rough Cullinan

12. Diamonds Used to Be the Hardest Thing
While diamonds are still the hardest natural material, synthetic materials like wurtzite boron nitride and aggregated diamond nanorods are giving them a serious run for their money.

13. The Engagement Ring Tradition Is Marketing Magic
The whole “diamond = engagement” thing? A 1940s ad campaign by De Beers. One brilliant slogan—“A Diamond is Forever”—and boom: tradition was born.

14. Salt and Pepper Diamonds Are the Cool Kids
These diamonds feature visible inclusions that give them a smoky, speckled appearance. They’re moody, edgy, and totally trending.

15. Some Diamonds Change Color
Chameleon diamonds are real—and they can temporarily change color when exposed to heat or UV light due to fluorescence. Basically, their mood rings in high fashion form.

Final Sparkle

April may have claimed the diamond as its birthstone, but these brilliant little crystals belong to all of us—whether worn on a finger, studied under a microscope, or dreamed of in space.

So, the next time someone flashes a rock, go ahead and hit them with a diamond fact or two. Because now you’re brilliant with knowledge.

For more information about Diamonds and other colored stones, visit the International Gemological Institute’s website at https://www.igi.org.