Diamonds are created when carbon compresses under extreme pressure and heat, 90 to 125 miles below the earth's surface, where they reside for anywhere between one and three billion years before a kimberlite eruption brings it up.
Visually Speaking
The neutral, highly reflective surface of rhodium-plated white gold does not cast a warm color tint into a diamond's facets, allowing the stone's own brilliance to appear maximally white and intense.
Elemental Detail
The difference between 14kt and 18kt white gold is a function of the gold-to-alloy ratio. 18kt contains more pure gold and may appear slightly warmer in tone; 14kt's higher alloy content produces greater hardness and scratch resistance, making it the more durable choice at the cost of slightly lower gold purity.