About DiamondsThe ultimate gemstoneIts name comes from the Greek adamas, unconquerable. It was prized by ancient Indians and Roman emperors. Even today, when 8 out of 10 American men pop the question, a diamond is the gemstone they hold in their nervous hands. Diamond is the birthstone for any lucky person born in April, but of course diamonds are given year-round for important occasions and "just because". 4 CsDiamonds are graded on the 4 Cs — color, cut, clarity and carat. To learn more about the 4 Cs of diamonds, visit the Learning Guide and view our videos on each of the 4 Cs, or use our interactive tools to gain a better understanding of diamond quality. CertificationMore than any diamond buyer’s guide, a certificate of assessment from an independent gem association can identify the characteristics that make your diamond uniquely yours. It will give formal "grades" on aspects such as color, clarity and the cut of your diamond. IGI graded diamonds are certified by the International Gemological Institute, an international organization that independently certifies diamonds. Taking it homeDiamonds rate a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, the highest rating available. They resist scratching, breaking and chipping extremely well. Due to the hardness of diamonds, don’t store them with your other fine jewelry; they could scratch softer gems. Diamonds are best kept in soft pouches inside your regular jewelry box. Clean diamonds once a week by mixing one part ammonia to six parts water, and gently scrub your diamond with a soft brush, taking care not to scratch the metal. Every six months, bring your diamond to a Helzberg Diamonds store for a free professional cleaning and inspection. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on diamonds. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
