The Montare Journal
Honest guides to lab-grown diamonds and engagement rings — the 4Cs, shapes, settings, value and certification, written to the same standard we hold every stone to.
Lab-Grown vs Mined Diamonds: The Honest Comparison
Same crystal, same physics, different supply chain — what is identical, what differs, and what actually matters for the ring.
Read the guide →Diamond education
The 4Cs Explained — Without the Jargon
Cut, colour, clarity and carat — which two actually change how a diamond looks, and where to spend.
Read →Triple Excellent Cut, Explained
The grade that most determines how a diamond looks — and why it is our floor.
Read →IGI vs GIA for Lab-Grown Diamonds
Which certificate actually matters for a lab-grown stone — and what it cannot tell you.
Read →Why Three Carats: The Montare Floor
How big a 3-carat diamond really is, and why it is our minimum.
Read →Value & buying
What an $11,000 Ring Is Really Charging You For
Almost none of it is the diamond. The retail markup, layer by layer.
Read →Buying Lab-Grown Diamonds in Canada
Real prices, value versus mined, duties and certification — the 2026 guide.
Read →Diamond Consultation: What to Expect
A free, no-pressure conversation that leads to a better ring for less.
Read →Designing your ring
Engagement Ring Shapes: A Visual Guide
Round, oval, emerald and more — what each shape does on the finger, and who it suits.
Read →Engagement Ring Settings Explained
Solitaire, halo, cathedral, toi et moi — every setting, and who it suits.
Read →Cathedral Setting Engagement Rings
The arched silhouette explained, and the diamond shapes it flatters.
Read →Toi et Moi Rings: Meaning & Design
Two stones, two people — the meaning, the history, and how to design yours.
Read →How to Find Her Ring Size Without Asking
Five stealthy, reliable methods for a surprise proposal.
Read →