Since 1976, Vandenbergs Jewellers has making been dreams come true. From crafting an engagement ring that becomes a cherished heirloom to restoring a beloved necklace that means the world to a client, each piece of jewellery, every client interaction – everything Ralph Vandenberg G.G., founder and CEO, and his team do is about adding a special shine to your story. Today, they share theirs.
The story of Vandenbergs Jewellers started in 1976.
“We had very humble beginnings, selling costume jewellery from a showcase inside a Hallmark card shoppe in Capilano mall in 1976,” Ralph reminisces. “Now, 50 years later, we have gone from a 500-square-foot store to our latest state-of-the-art, award-winning shop here in Manulife Place. In fact, this store was chosen as one of ‘North America’s coolest’ stores in 2020 by InStore, a leading industry trade magazine.”
It’s easy to see why. Throughout its 50 year history, Vandenbergs has forged a reputation built on integrity and quality. The showroom is stunning, and the jewellery is unique and eye-catching. Yet, it’s more than that. What has drawn people to Vandenbergs for five decades is a feeling. It’s the feeling of being truly seen, of having your story heard and then marveling at how the jewellers capture that story in the perfect piece, ensuring that story continues in precious metal and gemstones for a lifetime.
“To us, a relationship with our clients is more important than a single sale,” says Ralph. “We are pleased to now be serving the grandchildren of clients that we served at the beginning of my career. Our motto has always been ‘everything we do is intended to make someone happy,’ and as long as we keep that in mind, we can’t go wrong.
The focus at Vandenbergs is on helping our clients acquire the best possible item that meets their unique needs. Clients have input along the entire process, and it all happens right on site. They can see the designers at work: the CAD designers making the 3D files, the 3D printer, the pouring of gold in the casting of the items, the finishing and setting off the items, the final polishing and presentation. It’s an exceptional experience you can’t get anywhere else.”
“It’s really a blend of old world traditional craftsmanship, the newest technologies and the finest selection of high quality gems and jewellery,” continues Ralph. “In addition to our showroom, we have a full custom factory on site where our items are created. We have begun to design our own collections of unique, exclusive engagement rings and jewellery featuring proprietary designs.
“There are many more things that make the Vandenbergs experience different. One aspect is our team approach to every project. They are goldsmiths, designers, gemologists, CAD designers and jewellery specialists. As a Vandenbergs client, you have access to everyone in the creation of your piece. It’s a very rare thing in our business, but we are truly interested in matching our clients with the best fit for their needs. Additionally, we are non-commission. There is no pressure, no quotas and no sales targets, just a genuine desire to serve our clients. Another feature is the state-of-the-art goldsmith studio, which is in store and behind a floor to ceiling glass wall. You can see the artisans at work and even take a tour of the shop for a close up look.”
Vandenbergs Jewellers celebrated its milestones and achievements with Business in Edmonton magazine in 2019. Since then, there have been many changes.
“The obvious change since the last time we spoke is surviving COVID,” Ralph shares. “We had just moved into our new, larger location around the corner from our previous location in November of 2019, and then COVID hit in March of 2020. There were some anxious moments, but we managed to survive.”
That is a modest way of putting it. Vandenbergs did more than survive. They thrived.
“The first full year that we were able to open (after they opened the doors to Manulife Place again) we had an almost 50 per cent increase in sales versus pre COVID sales – even though downtown was devastated with workers going remote and offices leaving entirely. Manulife Place lost the vast majority of its retail shops, but we continued to thrive. We’ve continued to have record years, with last year being our best one ever. This year we’re running about 20 per cent above last year. Our staff has grown to 14 people, adding another CAD designer and jewellery designer and another fabricating goldsmith.”
As he reflects on 50 years, Ralph recalls a couple standout moments that defined the brand.
“Probably the two most memorable moments for Vandenbergs, was first, the decision to travel to Brazil in the 1980s to purchase gems directly from the source, the mines and the cutters. No one was doing that in those days, and it really set Vandenbergs apart from our competition.”
This was a controversial move, given the economy of the 1980s, the National Energy Program and the recession that Alberta was experiencing. Yet, Ralph’s vision and intuition were correct, and that decision set the foundation for continued success.
“The second was opening of our new store. I designed the store from the ground up. It was the culmination of more than 40 of years of experience; the realization of everything that I thought a custom jeweller should be. It was a great honour to be recognized by the industry as one of the coolest stores in North America. It’s really something that needs to be experienced in person. Our clients all say they’ve never seen anything like it, and they’re right. I haven’t either, in 50 years of looking!”
The years also show another side to the industry.
“Perhaps the biggest challenge facing our brand, like many brands, is technology and the loss of artisan craftsmanship. It’s getting harder every day to find talented people who are able and willing to learn the trades. New technologies are replacing many of the skills required, but the personal touch and creativity that make each handmade item unique is often lost.”
Ralph and his team love to give back to the community, serving a large number of non-profits and charities annually. “The list of charities that we support seems to grow every year,” he smiles.
In 2025 alone, they supported these various organizations:
• Flaman Foundation
• Basically Babies
• Sorentino’s Garlic Stomp
• Bright Night for Autism Gala
• Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation Gala
• International Oilmen’s Golf Tournament
• The Build Project Foundation
• Highway to Healing
• Dogs with Wings Gala
• Stars Air Ambulance
• Women + Wealth Gala
• Teen Time of Edmonton
• GROWCASE: Abbotsfield Youth Project
• Festival of Trees, University Hospital Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House
In 2021, Ralph was honoured in the Leaders awards. He looks forward to seeing the legacy of Vandenbergs continue.
Ralph concludes, “Vandenbergs Jewellers is 50 years young, and the future has never looked brighter. With a vibrant and exciting team led by my daughter, Chelsea Kovacs-Vandenberg, there’s no telling where we’ll go. I will be stepping back a bit after this year and will sort of fade away … but I’ll be around the business for a few years. With our commitment to offering the best of what the gem and jewellery world has to offer, Vandenbergs continues to set itself apart from the pack of jewellery retailers in Canada.”
