Gemstone Education


Whether you believe in ancient myths and superstition, or you just want to learn more about a great piece of jewelry, you're in the right place. Helzberg Diamonds is proud to offer a large variety of gemstone jewelry, and knowing more about it - including knowing how to clean and care for it - will help you get the most value out of your collection.

Gemstone Education

Gemstone Basics

Precious vs. Semi-Precious Gemstones


Natural vs. Lab-Created Gemstones

Natural gemstones are found in nature, created deep in the Earth and mined out of it. Natural gemstones are sometimes enhanced, which means they were treated in some way to improve their color or clarity. This often involves heat or delicate chemical processes.

Lab-created gemstones, on the other hand, are formed in laboratories by human hands and machines. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to gems found in nature, and there's no way to tell them apart. Of course, lab-created gemstones don't have the rarity of natural gemstones, which is why they're less valuable.

Gemstone Color, Clarity, and Carat




Gemstone Care & Cleaning



Remember, pearls are not gemstones - but you can learn about pearl care here. Lastly, don't clean your jewelry and gemstones over a sink - it just may end up down the drain!


The origin of birthstones dates back to biblical times. It's said that Aaron's breastplate contained twelve gemstones representing twelve tribes of Israel. Due to translation difficulties and inaccurate historical naming conventions, it's hard to say exactly what types of stone were first used.

According to many legends, gemstones and birthstones are said to possess mystic healing powers. While in modern times we often wear our birthstone all year long, in the old days it was recommended that you own all twelve stones and alternate them monthly so you were always getting the full effect of that month's magic.

Not all gemstones are birthstones. Helzberg Diamonds also has collections of other gems, including alexandrite, touramaline, tanzanite, jade, moissanite, morganite, onyx, and quartz. If you have more questions about gemstones and caring for your gem jewelery, stop by your local Helzberg store.