Helzberg Diamonds Review (Updated) - Good or Bad? (2024)

Helzberg Diamonds Review (Updated) - Good or Bad? (1)

Some companies start off with a bang, others grow slowly over time. Helzberg Diamonds was a bit of both. In this article, you can read up on a short history of Helzberg and how it became the iconic brand it is today.

In this review of Helzberg Diamonds, we will also review some of their items available for purchase (specifically diamond rings), which has gone far beyond a few diamonds to include other precious gems, jewelry, watches and more.

After finding out more about the company, you should have a better idea of whether buying a Helzberg diamond ring is right for you.

Brief History of Helzberg Diamonds

Helzberg Diamonds has been in business for well for over a century. In fact – they are 102 years old and counting at the time of writing!

Originally, the business was formed by a gentleman by the name of Morris Helzberg. Sickness prevented him from growing the company as he would have liked and his young son was left to take over the operation. He in turn trained his own son, and this tradition has kept the company within the Helzberg family.

However, in 1995, Barnett Helzberg Jr. made the decision to put the business on the market and it was purchased by a company under the ownership of Warren Buffet.

Today, the CEO of the business is Beryl Raff and the chain has expanded to hundreds of stores located across America. Some of their featured products include personalized rings, diamond and gemstone jewelry and bridal jewelry.

Helzberg Jewelry Reviews – A Quick Overview of Product Categories

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Engagement Rings

There is no shortage of ring designs to choose from in the engagement category. From the traditional round solitaire ring designs to the more sophisticated shapes such as the emerald or pear, there’s a massive selection available.

And even though their brand name may suggest otherwise, it doesn’t mean Helzberg Diamonds only carry diamonds! They sell a whole range of gemstone rings like rubies, amethyst, topaz and other types of birthstones.

Of noteworthy mention is that Helzberg Diamonds carry certain lines of branded diamond cuts like the Royal Asscher and Crisscut. These branded diamonds take on a different appearance (not saying it is any better or worse)and flavor compared to their traditional counterparts.

Wedding

If you are planning that special day and need wedding bands, Helzberg Diamonds may just have the thing you are looking for. They have a slew of jewelry designs that range from being very simple to others of incredible detail. Prices start around $200 and scale upwards depending on merchandise.

Interestingly, Helzberg Diamonds also offer a selection of gifts for the bridesmaid, groomsmen and even the parents. So, if you plan on getting a gift of appreciation to your helpers and loved ones, this is something you may want to check out.

Diamonds

As you can imagine, the categories for diamonds are huge with this company. They have multiple options from earrings, studded or otherwise, to bracelets and necklaces and many more.

Create Your Own

Creating your own ring or building your own piece of jewelry is a popular feature that almost every jewelry site offer right now. Helzberg is no different and has kept up with the trend. You can choose to design your own jewelry in a few different ways.

You may start creating your own ring with a diamond or another gemstone, or you can even start with the setting. The options are fairly open which leaves a lot of room for imagination. But really, this is a standard feature that every other jeweler is able to provide in today’s world.

Helzberg Diamonds Review – Shopping for a Diamond Ring

Anybody can sell a diamond online these days.However, what sets a great vendor apart from another lies in the business’s customer service standards and how easy it is for a consumer to make an educated purchase.

While Helzberg Diamonds has a great variety of settings and designs to choose from, buying a big ticket item like a loose diamond or diamond engagement ring from their website isn’t that easy even for a seasoned shopper like myself.

For starters, the lack of tangible data like videos or performance images makes diamond selection extremely tough. Granted, they do have listings with “3D views” where a Sarine scan of the diamond’s appearance is provided. However, these selections are very limited.

At a time when other online vendors like James Allen are already showcasing listings with interactive videos, Helzberg Diamonds is lagging behind in terms of user experience and how diamonds are sold on the Internet.

Here’s how a typical listing looks like on Helzberg.com:

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Click this link to browse through the inventory Helzberg.com…

In contrast, here’s how a listing on James Allen (another online retailer) would look like with HD interactive videos:

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Click this link to interact with the video and experience the user interface at James Allen.

Interestingly, Helzberg Diamonds offers a service where you can preview up to 2 loose diamonds in-store for free. This is clearly an effort to integrate online sales with their physical retail stores.

I must say it’s a good policy to have and adds some value to the consumer. However, it doesn’t change the fact that there is insufficient tangible data to help you narrow down your choices to preview in-store.

Helzberg Masterpiece Diamond Review

The Helzberg Diamond Masterpiece series is the company’s line of “super ideal” cut diamonds which have accompanying AGS certificates. Personally speaking, I love AGS graded diamonds because the laboratory employs scientific techniques to grade a diamond’s cut quality and light performance.

Naturally, this piqued my interest.

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When buying a super ideal cut diamond, you would require tangible data in order to verify a company’s claims of a diamond being “super ideal”. More specifically, I look out for the diamond’s hearts and arrows cut precision, ASET images to verify light performance and Idealscope images to analyse light return properties.

However, when performing a review of Helzberg Diamond Masterpiece jewelry pieces, I couldn’t utilize an analytical approach like I normally do.This is becausecrucial tangible data like these were not made available on Helzberg’s website.

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Sample ring listing from Helzberg.com

Another issue that bugs me is the lack of choices the consumer can make when buying a Helzberg Diamond Masterpiece online. Stated in the listing below (as well as the other listings on their website), the center diamond has an “I” color and “SI2” clarity.

There’s no option to choose or select your own diamond and as a consumer, you would be constrained by what the available diamond specs they stated. Now, I would go on the record saying that SI2 diamonds need to be eyeballed with a video or in person for eyecleanliness.

What happens if you don’t want a I diamond and want a colorless E color diamond instead? What if you want a VS2 clarity or an IF clarity for symbolic reasons? Likewise, the same issue arises if you are looking for a diamond with a specific carat size (e.g. 0.9ct diamond).

As a shopper, the last thing you would want to do is to jump through unnecessary hoops and hassle to find something you need.

For the educated consumer, you would likely want a degree of certainty and be in control of what you are buy. This is especially true when buying a super ideal cut diamond. White Flash and Brian Gavin are examples of great vendors who specialize in super ideal cut diamonds and provide an impeccable shopping experience.

Price Comparisons of Helzberg Diamonds And Other Retailers

Regardless of where you intend to buy your diamond ring, I’m pretty sure budget would be one of your main criteria when buying an engagement ring. So, how do prices of Helzberg Diamonds’s engagement rings stack up?

Let’s do a couple of price comparisons to find out…

Using the same Helzberg solitaire ring from the Masterpiece series above, the cost of the ring would be $3,399; with a center diamond graded by AGS that is assumed to be an I color and SI2 clarity.

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At White Flash, I actually had to choose a diamond with higher specifications because they didn’t have any low clarity diamonds in the SI2 range at the point of writing. A simple solitaire setting made from 18k white gold was also selected for this price comparison…

If you tallied the cost of the White Flash ring with a center diamond of higher quality, the price comes up to be: $545 + $1,697 = $2,242.

This is 50% LESS than the cost of the Helzberg ring and mind you, this comparison was made using a higher quality diamond from White Flash. If we had to use a lower quality diamond that Helzberg offers, the White Flash ring would cost even less!

Let’s do another comparison of prices between Helzberg and a different vendor; James Allen. This time, a pave setting with a 1 carat center stone was selected from the Masterpiece series. In similar fashion, the diamond specifications of this Helzberg engagement ring is I color and SI2 clarity.

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Over at James Allen, we selected a platinum ring with similar design and used a top tier AGS ideal cut diamond with H color and SI2 clarity.

By adding up the cost of the loose diamond and ring setting from James Allen, we get a total cost of $1,230 + $5,670 = $6,900. Once again, the price of the ring with a higher quality diamond (H color compared to Helzberg’s I color) is significantly lower!

Due to lower overheads and better efficiency of managing inventory, online retailers like White Flash and James Allen are typically able to pass on the savings to consumers compared to a traditional retailer.

Overview of Our Helzberg Diamonds Review

Helzberg Diamonds is a reputable company with multiple stores across America and have a vast retail presence when it comes to the jewelry market.In a market where consumer habits are fast changing due to e-commerce and the availability of information, Helzberg Diamonds is definitely moving in the right direction. However, they still have a lot of catching up to do.

I personally find Helzberg Diamonds to be a great place to shop if you are buying smaller items and jewelry gifts. When it comes to important purchases like a diamond engagement ring, a discerning customer may find their offerings lacking and their higher price points uncompetitive.

Compared to traditional retailers, online vendors like White Flash, Brian Gavin and James Allen do a great job in offering better selections, transparency of diamond details and prices when shopping for an engagement ring.

Related Articles

  • Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows Diamonds Review

  • How Pink Diamonds Are Formed And Get Their Color

  • 5 Types of Ring Settings That Make Diamonds Look Bigger

  • What is the Best Diamond Color Grade to Buy?

Helzberg.com Achieves a Rating of 2.5/5 – Reviewed by Paul Gian

Helzberg Diamonds Review (Updated) - Good or Bad? (2024)

FAQs

Are Helzberg Diamonds real or fake? ›

When searching for an engagement ring, you can buy confidently knowing that, in addition to being one of only two national AGS jewelers, Helzberg Diamonds only partners with the strictest and most highly trusted labs in the industry to ensure that both our natural and lab grown diamonds meet our unmatched standards of ...

Who grades Helzberg Diamonds? ›

Many of our diamonds have been graded by some of the most trusted third-party labs in the industry, such as AGS, GIA® and GCAL. For every graded diamond, we provide our customers with a grading report, which assesses a stone's quality based on several key factors.

Is there a better time to buy diamonds? ›

While diamonds will be at their most expensive during the late fall and early winter and are rarely discounted, many jewelry sellers offer sales on the cost of the setting during Black Friday, Cyber Monday if you're buying online, and other traditional holiday sales periods.

Can you return a ring to Helzberg Diamonds? ›

We want you to feel the love with your Helzberg Diamonds purchase. So if you're not satisfied with your purchase, we'll happily offer a refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase. Simply return your purchase in unworn, new condition*, along with the receipt, and any physical grading reports that came with the item.

Where does Helzberg get their diamonds? ›

superior diamond selection

Every diamond is hand-selected from international diamond markets year-round. This allows us to not only see the diamonds first-hand, but also affords us the opportunity to be highly selective in the diamonds we choose and to secure better, more upfront pricing for our customers.

Is Helzberg, GIA certified? ›

Buying with Confidence: Diamond Certification

Helzberg Diamonds only partners with the strictest and most highly trusted labs in the industry, such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America), GCAL (Gem Certification & Assurance Lab) and American Gem Society (AGS), to grade and certify most of our natural diamonds.

Does Helzberg have lab grown diamonds? ›

Though their origins may differ, Helzberg lab grown diamonds are just as real and just as radiant as their natural diamond counterparts. In fact, they're chemically, visually and physically identical!

Does Warren Buffett own Helzberg Diamonds? ›

After a chance meeting on the streets of New York City, Barnett sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett – leaving the company with a tremendous opportunity for grown. Helzberg reached 200 stores.

Is Helzberg Diamonds expensive? ›

Unsurprisingly, a purchase from Helzberg Diamonds will set you back quite a fair amount. In particular, their engagement rings can carry a hefty price tag.

What month are diamonds the cheapest? ›

The Best Time to Buy Diamond Jewelry
  • Black Friday. No sales list would be complete without mentioning Black Friday. ...
  • Cyber Monday. As you can tell, November is sounding more and more like a great time to buy diamonds. ...
  • Christmas Holiday. The Holiday season certainly sees lots of sales. ...
  • Mother's Day.

Are diamond prices dropping? ›

Lab-grown diamond prices have generally fallen over time as the technology and techniques used to produce lab diamonds have improved, and competition among manufacturers has increased. 2023 was no different, with lab-grown diamond prices continuing to decline rapidly.

Why do diamonds lose value after purchase? ›

Diamonds typically lose between 25 and 50 per cent of their actual worth upon resale due to market fluctuations, the markup on your ring, and the decline in diamond prices. A portion is also taken out for insurance.

What is Commission at Helzberg Diamonds? ›

Yes, Helzberg Diamonds Associates receive their hourly pay plus commissions that are based on the volume of their personal sales. They can also receive a team sales incentive if the store makes it's monthly sales plan. Yes, 0.5% - NOT MUCH! Yes but they only get 1/2% unless they reach a certain sales volume each month.

What is the Helzberg 12 month guarantee? ›

12 month guarantee

We will repair or replace your mounting without charge if any defects are found during this period. If your jewelry becomes damaged as a result of manufacturer defect, Helzberg Diamonds will repair or replace the item, at our option, without charge.

Can you sell jewelry back to Helzberg? ›

We only pay for the gold or platinum itself. If there are stones in your Items that you want to keep, you should remove them prior to sending them to us. The stones will not be returned to you if you decide to sell your Items to us.

How can you tell if diamonds are real? ›

These include: The fog test: This involves blowing hot air onto the diamond to see if it fogs up. A real diamond will clear up quickly due to its high thermal conductivity. The water test: Since real diamonds are denser than most gemstones, they will sink when dropped into a glass of water.

Can lab diamonds pass a diamond tester? ›

Will Lab Diamonds Pass A Diamond Tester? Yes, lab diamonds have the same carbon composition as natural diamonds. Therefore, they have the same thermal conductivity. The test results are positive when exposed to the diamond tester, since the diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.

Are lab-tested diamonds real? ›

Yes, lab grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds, with the same properties that natural diamonds have. Lab diamonds have no physical differences from natural diamonds, and it is impossible to tell them apart without specialist laboratory equipment.

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