- IGI-certified diamonds
- Triple Excellent standard
- Lifetime setting upgrades
- Free, fully insured shipping
- Made to order in Toronto
Buying a diamond is one of the most significant purchases most people make — and yet most jewellers expect you to do it alone, clicking "add to cart" on a major purchase without ever speaking to a person. A diamond consultation replaces that guesswork with a real conversation. Here is exactly what happens in one, how to prepare, what it costs (nothing), and the questions worth asking any jeweller — including us.
What is a diamond consultation?
A diamond consultation is a one-on-one conversation with a diamond specialist before you buy — no sales floor, no pressure, no obligation to purchase. It exists to answer your questions, translate the technical details into plain language, and help you choose the right stone and setting for your budget. At Montare, every consultation is private and entirely personal, by call, email or video — whatever suits you.
It is worth being clear about what it is not. It is not a pitch, it is not a commitment, and it is not a session designed to move you up a price bracket. If you leave having decided not to buy anything, the consultation has still done its job — you will know considerably more about diamonds than you did, and that knowledge is useful wherever you eventually buy.
What happens, step by step
- Submit your request. Tell us what you have in mind — shape, setting, carat range, timeline. As much or as little detail as you have. It takes about a minute.
- We reach out the same day. A Montare specialist contacts you and confirms how you would like to connect: call, email or video.
- Your consultation. An unhurried, expert conversation. We walk through your options, explain every specification, and guide you toward the right piece — answering every question along the way.
- Your piece, crafted. When you are ready — and only when you are ready — we begin. No imposed timelines, no pressure.
How to prepare
You do not need to prepare at all — many people arrive knowing only a rough budget, and that is genuinely fine. But if you want to get more out of the conversation, these four things help most.
| Bring | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| A budget range | The single most useful piece of information — it shapes every other recommendation |
| Any images she has saved | Screenshots and saved posts tell us more about taste than any description |
| Her ring size, if you have it | Not required to start, but it is the most common cause of delay later |
| Your timeline | Lets us tell you honestly what is achievable by your date |
If you would rather explore numbers yourself first, our ring builder shows live pricing as you change shape, carat, clarity and metal — and you can bring whatever you build into your consultation. If the terminology is new, the 4Cs explained without the jargon is the fastest way in, and the shapes guide covers the first real decision.
Every centre diamond is Triple Excellent, D–E, VVS and at least three carats — the hard calls are made for you.
Design your ringQuestions worth asking any jeweller
The most valuable thing a consultation gives you is the ability to interrogate what you are being sold. These are the questions that separate a specific answer from a vague one, and you should ask them of us as readily as of anyone else.
- Which laboratory graded this stone, and can I see the report? The answer should be a named lab and a document, not a reassurance. We specify IGI — see IGI vs GIA.
- What are the table and depth percentages, and are they ideal for this shape? These vary by shape and are the numbers most sellers will not volunteer. Ours are published on our standards.
- Is the stone eye-clean, and has it had any treatment? Eye-clean appears on no certificate, so it has to be answered by a person.
- What is the length-to-width ratio? For any elongated shape this decides the silhouette entirely.
- Is there a bow-tie? On an oval, pear or marquise, ask directly. It is not on the certificate.
- What exactly am I paying for — stone, setting, metal? A seller who cannot break it down is hiding the breakdown.
- What happens if it needs resizing, or a prong wears? Ask before you buy, not after.
A good jeweller will welcome all seven. If any of them produces evasion, that is your answer.
Is a diamond consultation free? Honest answers
- Is it free? Yes. There is no cost and no obligation to buy.
- Is it pushy? No. Our consultations are information-first. You decide if, when, and what to purchase — entirely on your terms.
- How long until I hear back? The same day. Submitting your request takes about a minute.
- Do I need to know what I want already? Not at all. Many people come in only knowing a rough budget. That is exactly what the conversation is for.
- Can I do it from anywhere in Canada? Yes. We are based in Toronto and consult by phone, email or video across the country.
- Can I bring my partner? Of course — and plenty of couples design the ring together rather than as a surprise.
Why a consultation saves you money
The biggest cost in most diamond purchases is not the diamond — it is the markup, and the upgrades you did not need. A consultation protects you on both counts. We explain the real differences between VVS1 and VVS2, between D and E colour, and the proportions that actually affect how a diamond performs in light — so you spend on what you will see and skip what you will not.
Some of that conversation involves talking you out of things. Clarity above eye-clean buys assurance rather than visible difference on most shapes; carat weight buried in a stone's depth is weight you have paid for and cannot see. The one place we never suggest economising is cut, because it is the factor that decides whether the diamond actually performs — see why Triple Excellent matters. For the bigger picture on markups, read how lab-grown diamond retail markup works.
Who you will speak with
Every Montare consultation is with a diamond specialist, not a call-centre script. We are a Toronto-based, founder-led house, and we hold every stone to the same floor — lab-grown, D–E colour, VVS1–VVS2 clarity, Triple Excellent cut with table and depth in the ideal range for that shape, IGI certified, three carats minimum.
The process itself is straightforward: you describe what you are looking for, and we go and source the best stone that clears that floor. You are not picking from a tray of stock. Our goldsmiths then cast, set and polish the ring by hand in Toronto — nothing is made for stock, so no ring is hurried to catch a shipping cut-off. The aim is never to get a piece out the door as fast as possible; it is to make the best piece possible.
Design your ring in minutes. Every centre diamond is D–E colour, VVS clarity, Triple Excellent cut and at least three carats — IGI certified, made to order in Toronto.
Open the ring builder →Frequently asked questions
Is a Montare diamond consultation really free?
Yes. It is completely free and carries no obligation to purchase. It is an information-first conversation designed to help you decide.
What happens in a diamond consultation?
You share what you have in mind, a specialist reaches out the same day, and you have an unhurried conversation about shape, setting, carat, clarity and budget — then craft your ring only when you are ready.
How do I book a diamond consultation?
Submit a short request — shape, setting, carat range and timeline — and a Montare specialist replies the same day to arrange a call, email or video consultation.
Are consultations available across Canada?
Yes. Montare is based in Toronto and consults by phone, email or video with clients across Canada, shipping free and fully insured nationwide.
What should I prepare before a diamond consultation?
Nothing is required, but four things help: a budget range, any images she has saved, her ring size if you have it, and your timeline. Many people arrive knowing only a rough budget, which is exactly what the conversation is for.
What questions should I ask a diamond jeweller?
Which laboratory graded the stone and can you see the report; the table and depth percentages and whether they are ideal for that shape; whether the stone is eye-clean and untreated; the length-to-width ratio; whether an elongated stone has a bow-tie; how the price breaks down between stone, setting and metal; and what happens if it needs resizing or a prong wears.
Do I have to buy after a consultation?
No. There is no obligation at any point. If you decide not to buy, or to buy elsewhere, the consultation has still given you what you needed to judge a diamond properly.
Can my partner join the consultation?
Yes. Plenty of couples design the ring together rather than treating it as a surprise, and consultations work just as well with both of you on the call.
Ready to design your ring? Tell us what you have in mind and a specialist replies the same day — free, and with no obligation. Book a consultation or start in the ring builder.
The Montare standard
Lab-grown · D–E colour · VVS clarity · Triple Excellent · 3ct minimum · IGI certified
Every ring is made to order in Toronto and backed by our lifetime setting upgrade, with free, fully insured shipping.
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