what kind of AM? are your goals to suppress carrier and sideband or just 'normal' AM?
diode modulator (ring modulator) is used for DSB/SC which is same as AM but with carrier suppressed. demodulating is another story, regular AM can easily be demodulated using simple envelope detection circuit while DSB/SC requires more complicated approach (multiply by signal of same frequency and phase as carrier).
pics show normal AM, DSB (suppressed carrier), and DSB demodulated...