Find Your Perfect Loose Diamond
Right Now
Lab-Grown & Natural
You Don't Have to Settle. You Just Have to Search.
For a long time, buying a loose diamond in Canada meant walking into a jewellery store, looking at whatever three or four stones happened to be in the case, and choosing the "best" of a very limited selection. You couldn't filter by your exact specifications. You couldn't compare side by side. You either trusted the salesperson or you didn't.
That era is over.
At Jacob Mercari, we've built a diamond search experience that puts thousands of certified loose diamonds directly in your hands before you ever speak with anyone, before any pressure, before any commitment. Lab-grown. Natural mined. Every shape. Every carat range. Every clarity and colour grade. Filter it exactly the way you want.
→ Start Your Diamond Search at jacobmercari.com
Why Start with a Loose Diamond?
If you're buying a diamond for a custom engagement ring or for any significant piece of fine jewellery starting with the loose stone is the professional approach. Here's why:
When you choose the stone first, you evaluate it on its own merits. You can confirm cut quality, review its certification, assess its proportions, and compare it against other diamonds without any setting distracting your eye or inflating the perceived value. Then, once you've chosen the right stone, the setting is designed around it not the other way around.
The result is a piece of jewellery built from the ground up for you. Not a pre-made ring with a stone dropped in. Not a showroom sample in the closest available size. Yours from the first decision to the last detail.
Search Lab-Grown Diamonds: Maximum Beauty, Remarkable Value
Our diamond search includes an extensive inventory of certified lab-grown loose diamonds spanning every major shape, cut grade, and carat weight. Here's what you need to know before you search.
What Makes Lab-Grown Diamonds So Compelling Right Now
Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural mined diamonds. The same carbon structure. The same hardness. The same fire and brilliance. No gemologist can tell them apart with the naked eye specialized equipment is required even for experts.
What has changed dramatically is their price. In 2026, lab-grown diamonds typically cost 75 to 85% less than natural diamonds of equivalent cut, colour, and clarity. For context: a stunning 1.5-carat, G colour, VS1 clarity lab-grown diamond that would rival anything in a luxury retailer's case can be purchased for a fraction of what a comparable natural stone would cost.
That price difference has real-world implications. Many of our clients use it to:
- Move up significantly in carat size while staying in budget
- Achieve a higher clarity or colour grade than they originally thought possible
- Allocate more of their total budget to an exceptional custom setting
- Simply get more diamond for their investment
What to Look For When Searching Lab-Grown Diamonds
When you use our diamond search tool, use these filters to find the best lab-grown stone for your needs:
Cut: Always prioritize Excellent or Ideal cut grades. Cut is the single most important factor in how a diamond looks it determines how light enters, reflects, and exits the stone. A well-cut diamond in a modest clarity grade will outshine a poorly cut stone with perfect clarity every time.
Colour: For lab-grown diamonds, G or H colour is the sweet spot for most buyers nearly colourless to the naked eye, and significantly more affordable than D–F. If your setting will be white gold or platinum, consider F or G. Yellow gold settings pair beautifully with H or I.
Clarity: VS1 or VS2 clarity means the inclusions are not visible without magnification. For most shapes, this is ideal. Step-cut shapes like emerald and asscher "look into" the stone more they benefit from VS1 or higher. Brilliant cuts like round, oval, and cushion hide inclusions more effectively.
Certification: Every lab-grown diamond in our inventory is certified by either GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or IGI (International Gemological Institute) the two most respected authorities for lab-grown diamond grading. Never buy an uncertified diamond.
→ Search Lab-Grown Diamonds at jacobmercari.com
Search Natural Mined Diamonds: Rarity, Legacy, and Timeless Value
Our inventory also includes a curated selection of certified natural loose diamonds for buyers who want the genuine geological article. Formed over one to three billion years under immense pressure and heat, every natural diamond is an irreplaceable product of the Earth.
The Case for a Natural Diamond in 2026
Natural diamonds are finite. As production from older mines declines and new discoveries become increasingly rare, the supply of gem-quality natural stones is not growing it's contracting. This geological scarcity is built into their value in a way that cannot be replicated.
For buyers who view their diamond as a generational piece an heirloom to pass down, a stone to upgrade over time, an investment in something permanent natural diamonds hold their value meaningfully better than lab-grown alternatives. GIA-certified natural diamonds typically retain 40–60% of retail value on the secondary market, with high-quality stones sometimes performing better over time.
There's also something irreducible about origin. When you give someone a natural diamond, you're giving them something the Earth made billions of years ago and that no human has ever been able to copy in terms of its story. For many clients, that narrative matters.
What to Look For When Searching Natural Diamonds
The same 4C principles apply, but there are some natural-diamond-specific considerations:
Fluorescence: Some natural diamonds exhibit fluorescence under UV light. In D–F colour diamonds, strong fluorescence can occasionally create a slightly hazy appearance look for none or faint. In G–J colour diamonds, faint to medium fluorescence is generally fine and can even enhance the stone's appearance.
Polish and Symmetry: These are graded separately on natural diamond certificates and are worth reviewing. Excellent polish and symmetry contribute to maximum light return and brilliance.
Diamond Shape Trends in 2026: Round brilliant remains the benchmark unmatched in brilliance and the most versatile for any setting style. Oval is surging in popularity, as it can appear up to 15% larger than a round of the same carat weight. Cushion, pear, and elongated radiant cuts are all climbing the ranks for clients who want something personal and distinctive.
Canadian Diamonds: Ask us about Canadian-origin natural diamonds mined under some of the world's most stringent environmental and labour standards, with full traceability. These are particularly meaningful for Canadian buyers and make a powerful gift story.
→ Search Natural Diamonds at jacobmercari.com
How Our Diamond Search Works
We built our search tool to put you in control from the first click. Here's how to get the most out of it:
Step 1 — Choose Your Type
Select lab-grown or natural mined. You can also browse both simultaneously if you're still comparing.
Step 2 — Set Your Shape
Round, oval, cushion, emerald, pear, marquise, asscher, radiant, princess all major shapes are available. If you're not sure which shape is right for the setting you have in mind, our team can advise.
Step 3 — Filter Your 4Cs
Use the sliders to set your carat range, colour range, and clarity range. Start broader than you think you need to you may be surprised by what becomes available once you see the full spectrum.
Step 4 — Sort by Cut Grade
Filter for Excellent or Ideal cut grades first. This narrows your results to diamonds that will perform beautifully then use the remaining filters to find the best value within that pool.
Step 5 — Review Certificates
Every stone in our search is certified. You can review the grading report details before reaching out no pressure, no commitment required.
Step 6 — Connect with Our Team
When you've found a stone you're interested in or a shortlist of two or three reach out. We'll discuss the stone with you, answer questions, and if you're moving toward a custom engagement ring or jewellery piece, we'll take it from there.
→ Open the Diamond Search at jacobmercari.com
The Most Popular Diamond Searches on jacobmercari.com Right Now
Based on what our Canadian clients are searching for most in 2026:
"1 carat lab-grown oval diamond" — The oval shape combined with lab-grown pricing is giving clients access to a visually striking, finger-elongating stone at an approachable budget. G colour, VS2 clarity with an Excellent cut is the sweet spot.
"1.5 carat round natural diamond GIA" — Round brilliant natural stones remain the most universally wanted diamond. GIA certification is non-negotiable for most buyers at this carat weight.
"lab-grown cushion diamond under $3,000 CAD" — Cushion cuts in lab-grown are delivering exceptional value, particularly in the 1.5–2.5 carat range at this budget.
"emerald cut diamond VS1" — Emerald cut lovers know that clarity matters here more than in brilliant cuts. VS1 and above is the right call for this elegant step-cut shape.
"Canadian natural diamond" — Ethically sourced, fully traceable Canadian-mined diamonds continue to grow in demand. Ask our team specifically about Canadian-origin stones.
Lab-Grown vs. Natural: A Quick Decision Framework
Choose lab-grown if:
- You want the maximum visual impact for your budget
- Carat size matters and you want more of it
- You plan to wear and enjoy this piece for years without concern for resale
- You value transparent, traceable origins
Choose natural if:
- You want a stone with geological rarity and a billion-year story
- Resale value or long-term financial retention matters to you
- You're purchasing a generational heirloom
- The natural origin of the stone is meaningful to the person receiving it
Either way: both are real diamonds. Both are graded the same way. Both can be absolutely beautiful. The decision is personal and we'll never push you in either direction.
Why Canadians Choose Jacob Mercari
Toronto-based, Canada-wide. We serve clients from Vancouver to Halifax. Our consultations are available in person or remotely most of our custom engagement ring clients across Canada work with us entirely online.
Certified inventory only. We don't work with uncertified stones. Every loose diamond we carry comes with a GIA, IGI, or equivalent grading report.
Transparent, honest guidance. If a stone isn't right for your needs, we'll tell you even if we carry it. Our reputation depends on clients who love what they receive, not clients who felt pressured.
Custom design from the stone up. Once you've chosen your loose diamond, our design team can create a custom setting that was built specifically for that stone and the person who'll wear it.
No pressure. No minimum. Browse the search tool, shortlist your favourites, and reach out when you're ready. We're here when you need us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does shipping work for diamonds ordered across Canada?
All diamonds are fully insured and shipped via secure carrier. We serve clients Canada-wide and have experience shipping to every province. Details on shipping, insurance, and handling are available at checkout or through our team.
Do you offer appraisals for insurance purposes?
Yes. All of our diamonds come with their grading certificates, which are the foundation of any jewellery insurance appraisal. We can provide documentation your insurance provider will need.
What's the return policy on loose diamonds?
At Jacob Mercari, we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction with your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied, we offer the following return and refund options, subject to the terms outlined below.
- Items may be returned for a refund or exchange within 20 days of the delivery date.
- To be eligible for a return, items must be in their original, unused condition, free of any damage or signs of wear, and include all original packaging, documentation (e.g., diamond certificates), and proof of purchase.
- Custom-made, engraved, resized, or personalized items are non-refundable and cannot be returned.
Do you carry fancy coloured lab-grown diamonds?
Yes — ask our team about availability. Yellow, pink, and blue lab-grown diamonds are available and represent exceptional value compared to their natural coloured equivalents.
Ready to Find Your Diamond?
The search is live. The inventory is certified. The team is ready.
Whether you're months away from a proposal and just beginning to research, or you know exactly what you want and are ready to move our diamond search is the right place to start.
→ Search Loose Diamonds Now at jacobmercari.com
Jacob Mercari is a custom jewellery studio based in Toronto, serving clients across Canada. We specialize in certified loose diamonds — lab-grown and natural — and bespoke custom jewellery design. Visit us at www.jacobmercari.com.
