Natural Diamond Prices – December 2024
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Helzberg Review: These pages may reference products from companies that help to support PriceScope.
100 Years of Helzberg
Helzberg Diamonds is one of the oldest jewelers in the USA, having celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2015. Their longtime presence and success has earned them a positive reputation among jewelry chains in the USA. In the 1930s Helzberg debuted “Certified Perfect Diamonds,” some 20 years before GIA introduced diamond grading. Over the years the company played a pivotal in founding the Diamond Council of America, partnering with the Make-A-Wish® foundation of America and even ordaining sales associates so they can perform in-store marriage ceremonies.
Helzberg: At a Glance
1. What is the Helzberg Story?
A Berkshire Hathaway Company
Morris Helzberg founded Helzberg Diamonds in Kansas City in 1915. He soon became ill and the company fell under the leadership of his son, Barnett Helzberg Sr., who was only 14 years old. Barnett’s son, Barnett Jr. continued in his father’s footsteps, running operations and ascending to become Chairman of the Board. He sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway in 1995. The company quickly grew to over 200 stones, primarily in mall locations around the USA.
2. What is most appealing about Helzberg?
Presence and Selection
Helzberg Diamonds has a significant presence and boasts a nice selection of diamond, gemstones and jewelry, including an array of inexpensive items suitable for casual purchase or gifting.
In-Person Viewing
Helzberg Diamonds offers a wide selection of diamonds, from commercial goods graded by second-tier laboratories to loose lab grown diamonds graded by IGI, to loose lab-grown diamonds, and a variety of finished lab-grown diamond jewelry.
Grading Authorities
Helzberg offers natural diamonds graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and lab-grown diamonds graded by the International Gemological Institute (IGI), the leaders in those respective areas. Their Masterpiece Diamond collection, available to see in-store only, come with grading reports from the American Gem Society (AGS).
Masterpiece Diamonds
Helzberg Masterpiece Diamonds come with the prestigious AGS 0 Ideal Light Performance grade, which is extremely uncommon in mall chain stores. Unfortunately there is no way to search these diamonds online. To view these diamonds you will need to visit a physical location.
The Selection
- 13,000+ Loose Natural Diamonds, all shapes
- 15,000+ Loose Lab Grown Diamonds, all shapes
- Featured Diamond Brand: Masterpiece
- Helzberg Signature Jewelry Collection
- Charles and Colvard Moissanite
- Several Designer Jewelry Collections
- Finished Colored Gemstone Jewelry
- Finished Pearl and Silver Jewelry
- Watches and Gifts
The Experience
- Customer service available 24/7
- Free pickup in-store
- Free ground shipping on orders over $99
- Paid expedited delivery
- Paid same-day pickup within 20 miles of select stores
- Financing options
- Price Match Guarantee
- 30-day inspection period
- 1 Year Jewelry Guarantee
- Lifetime Care Plan options
3. What diamond and jewelry products does Helzberg offer?
Featured Natural Diamond Brand: Masterpiece
Helzberg Masterpiece Diamonds are promoted as “Ideal” on the website and “Super Ideal” in their stores. This line comes with the prestigious AGS 0 Ideal Light Performance grade, which is extremely uncommon in mall chain stores. Unfortunately there is no way to search these diamonds online. There is not a filter in the search and the description page states “To view these diamonds, find a store near you.”
Featured Lab Grown Jewelry Brand: Light Heart
Helzberg Light Heart lab grown diamond jewelry features finished jewelry set with round, oval, pear, princess, marquise, emerald, cushion or rectangular shaped lab grown diamonds. Proclaimed as “an unrivaled selection of lab grown diamonds worthy of your unique love story, all at an incredible price,” most of the diamonds appear to be graded by Gem Quality Assurance Laboratories (GCAL), however the grading reports are not posted online, nor are color or clarity details, making product and pricing comparisons difficult if one does not visit a Helzberg location.
13,000+ Loose Natural Diamonds
15,000+ Loose Lab-Grown Diamonds
Featured Jewelry Brands
Other Fine Jewelry
4. What sets Helzberg apart from others?
AGS 0 Ideal Light Performance
Helzberg is a member of the American Gem Society (AGS) and Helzberg Masterpiece Diamonds qualify for the prestigious AGS 0 Ideal Light Performance grade. It’s extremely uncommon to find this pedigree in mall jewelry stores, which sets them apart. Be advised that Helzberg offers no online information, and you need to view the diamonds in-store to assess their cut precision (aka Hearts & Arrows), which is not a part of light performance assessment. Additionally, in shopping comparisons we found that Helzberg Masterpiece diamonds cost twice as much, sometimes more, than comparable or better cut diamonds, from top e-commerce sellers offering AGS 0 diamonds.
Charles and Colvard Moissanite
Helzberg offers branded Moissanite jewelry, featuring colorless and near-colorless stones from round to fancy shapes like pear, oval, radiant and cushion. In addition to engagement and wedding jewelry, a variety of bracelets, pendants and earrings are offered.
Ordained Associates
In 2019 Helzberg began ordaining Associates so couples would not only find the ring, but have the opportunity to get married in the process. Over the program’s inaugural year Helzberg helped over 100 couples tie the knot.
Enchanted Disney Jewelry
Disney’s superfans will be glad to know Helzberg offers a collection of rings, necklaces and earrings inspired by Disney characters, from “princess” pieces attributed to Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Aurora, Elsa and Anna to other beloved characters including Tinkerbell, Olaf, even Maleficent and Ursula.
Pearl, Gemstone, Silver and Children’s Jewelry
Helzberg boasts an array of pearl, gemstone and silver jewelry, including laboratory-created gemstone jewelry with lab-grown diamond accents – set into rings, earrings, necklaces, and pendants, and an array of jewelry for children.
Inexpensive Items
Helzberg boasts a nice selection of inexpensive gifts and low-priced jewelry items, immediately available and suitable for casual gifting.
5. Are you the ideal Helzberg customer?
Helzberg Diamonds has a great variety of products to choose from but the pricing is not nearly as competitive to comparable items offered by jewelers specialized in e-commerce. The lack of visible product images, particularly loose diamond images and videos, makes online shopping difficult.
If you don’t mind visiting a Helzberg store near you it’s definitely advantageous to see a wide variety of diamonds at different quality levels, from commercial all the way to AGS 0. It’s also a great place to browse for inexpensive charms, a spontaneous gift or Disney Jewelry for the Disney lover in your family.
We would strongly advise doing head to head product and policy comparisons before purchasing any large ticket item from Helzberg.
The information in this review is current, to the best of our knowledge, as of April 1, 2022.
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