Appelt's Diamonds

There is no set in stone number to spend, it all depends on your personal preference. The “three months salary” myth comes from a De Beers marketing campaign in the 1990s. Here at Appelt's we have a large selection of beautiful rings starting from as little as $2000.

The two choice that will have the largest impact on price are how thick of a ring you choose (how much gold is required), and whether you select a natural or lab diamond.

Lab grown diamonds are created either by simulating the heat and pressure of the earth's mantle, or by placing a thin sheet of diamond in a vacuum-sealed chamber and "growing" it using carbon-rich gasses.

Natural diamonds are formed in the earth's mantle by carbon being compressed by extreme temperature and heat.

Both methods produce a chemically identical diamond.

Almost all diamonds to this day have to go through the Kimberly Process to be certified. Ever since the development of this certification, blood diamonds are near extinct. The Kimberly Process checks the entire journey the diamond had to go through to get to the retailer, ensuring at each stage it was ethically sourced and did not participate in illegitimate working conditions or treatment. At Appelt’s Diamonds all our natural diamonds come from Canada or are hand selected in Belgium, so there is never a worry of the legitimacy of the nature of the diamond.

Due to lab diamonds being produced in higher and higher quantities, they have little to no resale value. At Appelt's we do not purchase lab diamonds from clients wishing to sell.

Depending on the characteristics, we may purchase natural diamonds from clients.

The 4Cs refer to Cut (the angle the facets are cut at, Clarity (how many blemishes (called inclusions) are visible), Colour (how colourless or yellow it is), and Carat (the weight/size of the stone).

While this varies with personal preference, the “most important” would be cut as this is what directly impacts the light refraction and creates the famous sparkle that diamonds are best known for. 

Choosing diamond shape really depends on personal preference, but the two most popular are round and oval. Round is designed to sparkle more than any other shape as the light refracts best. However, elongated shapes have become increasingly popular due to a couple benefits. They can appear larger in carat as the surface area is longer rather than deeper. Elongated shapes also help make the finger appear longer, which some people prefer. One of the biggest benefits of oval diamonds is that they can appear bigger than a round diamond at the same carat weight due to their elongated shape. Oval has been trending and highly desired for years, but more recently there has been a shift towards elongated cushion cuts especially as recent celebrities have ventured into less common shapes.

Buying a diamond online can be cheaper than buying a diamond in store however it comes with its own set of risks. When buying a diamond online you are basing your decision on a digital photo rather than seeing the diamond in person up close. Diamonds can look a lot different in person than they can online so it is much safer to buy in person or with a trusted jeweller. At Appelt’s Diamonds we give you the choice and control to hand select your own diamond so you never have to worry if you made the wrong decision.

A diamond certificate is an independent grading report that evaluates a diamond's cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. While not required, it gives you confidence that you know exactly what you're buying.

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is widely recognized as the gold standard for grading natural diamonds, while IGI (International Gemological Institute) is highly respected and commonly used for lab-grown diamonds.

At Appelt's Diamonds, we offer both GIA- and IGI-certified diamonds and will explain the grading report so you can make an informed decision with confidence.

A diamond doesn't have to be larger to make a big impression. Choosing an excellent cut helps maximize sparkle, while shapes like oval, pear, and marquise often appear larger than round diamonds of the same carat weight. A halo setting can also create the illusion of a larger centre stone.

Another smart option is choosing a diamond just below a popular "magic" carat weight—such as 0.90 ct instead of 1.00 ct. The size difference is barely noticeable, but the price can be significantly lower.

At Appelt's Diamonds, we'll help you find the best combination of cut, shape, and setting to maximize both beauty and value.

Yes, if you bought your ring at Appelt’s Diamonds and it has a diamond in it, it is covered under our Rock Solid Diamond Warranty and is resized free of charge. Otherwise if your ring was bought somewhere else you can resize it for a fee at any of our locations. A ring can be returned if it doesn’t fit or you are not happy with the style, however this typically comes with a fee as almost all our engagement ring orders are modified for the partner in mind.

At Appelt’s Diamonds we highly recommend bringing in your jewellery to be cleaned and prongs checked every 6 months. This is free of charge and gives us the opportunity to make sure your ring is good as new! We also sell care kits that come with a cleaner, polishing cloth, and cleaning pen which are perfect for at home cleaning to give your ring constant sparkle.

At Appelt’s Diamonds we have Rock Solid Diamond Warranty which covers any damage to the ring itself or loss of any diamonds, however, if the ring is completely lost that is not covered under our warranty. You can either put the ring under Jewellers Mutual or under your house insurance. 

From a jewellers point of view, half the couples we see come in together and half don’t. This is entirely up to you, whether you want her to be a part of the process or not. If you would like to keep it a surprise but still want to keep her a part of the engagement ring process, you can come in together to see what she likes then come in on a later date to make your purchase. We can set aside your diamond and ring with a deposit as well.

It typically takes about 3-6 weeks to get in a ring for a special order, although we do carry proposal ready. We always recommend giving yourself at least two months before you plan on proposing to give yourself time to get your ring without any worries of delay that could affect your proposing plans.