Canadian Diamond Engagement Rings: What You Need To Know

Jonathan Goldberg • Dec 12, 2013
Canadian Diamond Engagement Rings: What You Need To Know

Oh, Canadian Diamonds…

We get some requests for (and many questions about) Canadian natural, earth-mined diamonds for use in engagement rings and other jewelry. Here are some of the most important things to know about this precious natural resource residing in our home and native land.


If you're more interested in lab grown diamonds then this likely isn't relevant to your search. There are currently no certified grown-in-Canada programs for created diamonds.


A Diamond Producing Nation

Many people are surprised to find out that Canada has diamond mines. In fact, Canada is the 3rd largest diamond producing country in the world!


The image shown above is an aerial view of the Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Producing 8 million carats annually, it’s been in production since 2003. An interesting fact about this mine is that it’s only accessible by road for two months of the year – when the surrounding lakes are frozen enough to allow for the construction of a road stretching 375km long, from Yellowknife.


Conflict Free Guarantee

Canadian diamonds are known for their guaranteed “conflict-free” origin. In order to verify this origin, many certified Canadian-mined diamonds have a unique identification number laser inscribed on the stone itself (don’t worry, this is invisible to the naked eye, is on the side of the diamond and doesn’t affect its brilliance in the slightest!).

Laser Inscription on a Canadian Diamond

Canadian Born, But Not Necessarily Bred

Just because a diamond was mined in Canada does not mean that it was cut locally. The majority of Canadian-mined diamonds are actually shipped overseas to the major diamond cutting centres of Belgium, India and Israel before they are brought back here to be placed on the hands of Canadian consumers. This is because the cost of manufacturing in Canada is prohibitive for the smaller stones, and the local manufacturing skill is lacking for the larger ones.


Do Canadian Diamonds Cost More?

As you can imagine, mining in Canada is more costly than in some other countries. There are also additional costs associated with the tracking and certification process Canadian diamonds undergo. Some retailers choose to price their Canadian diamonds at a significant premium over non-Canadian goods. Other retailers choose to price the Canadian goods almost on par with diamonds of other origin knowing that they’ll sell faster. The presence and extent of a premium on these diamonds really varies from retailer to retailer.


Not All Canadians Are Created Equal

Just like diamonds of other origin, Canadian-mined diamonds come in all shapes, sizes, clarities and colours. There is a common misconception that Canadian diamonds are “higher-quality” than non-Canadian diamonds. This belief stems from the fact that on average Canadian diamond mines produce a greater percentage of higher-quality diamonds than mines in other parts of the world. However, chances are that you are buying a single diamond… not an entire mine (but if you want to, let’s talk)! Each diamond is graded on the 4C’s individually, and this is how they are compared. A high-quality diamond from elsewhere will be much nicer than a poor-quality diamond from Canada.


Plenty of Fish in the Sea (and Diamonds in the World)

So should you buy a Canadian diamond engagement ring? Not necessarily. The guaranteed conflict-free origin is a significant pro and the fact that the diamonds were born right here in Canada is great, but you must evaluate each diamond on its own merit in order to arrive at the best selection for you or your loved one.


I had a client recently who spends a lot of time up north for work, from where he would frequently return to his girlfriend (now fiancée!) with gifts of Inuit art. As Canadian diamonds are mined in northern Canada, he was set on popping the question with one of them in hand. For him, purchasing a Canadian diamond was a no-brainer, and we focused his selection on only those. It truly is a personal decision!


Kimberfire Canadian Diamonds

At Kimberfire, we are here to assist you whether you are set on purchasing a Canadian diamond or are open to other options - and whether you are looking for engagement rings in Toronto or elsewhere, we can help with our virtual-first process. Let us know your preferences when making an appointment and we’ll make sure to have all the bases covered so that you can make a confident decision.


Why wait until your appointment though? If you have any questions that still need answering please ask them in the comments section below and we’ll get right on it!


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Jonathan Goldberg - Kimberfire

Jonathan Goldberg is the Founder, President & CEO of Kimberfire – a brilliant way to buy diamond engagement rings, fine diamond jewelry, and loose diamonds in Toronto, ON and across Canada. Previously Jonathan worked in the Middle East, Belgium, and Canada in various roles in the luxury goods sector including manufacturing, business development, and diamond wholesale. Jonathan also spent a number of years as an investment banker with one of the large Canadian banks, where he focused on natural resources and diversified issuers.

About Kimberfire

A brilliant way to buy high-quality engagement rings, diamonds, and jewelry. View and inspect your carefully selected diamond virtually (via Zoom), or in our offices in Toronto, Canada. We ship worldwide.

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