The first half of the decade tested and strengthened Vandenbergs Jewellers. Through the challenges of COVID-19, industry recognition, continued growth, and the emergence of the next generation of leadership, the company continued to thrive. In 2026, Vandenbergs proudly celebrated 50 years in business—a milestone built on Ralph Vandenberg’s vision, innovation, integrity, and unwavering commitment to people.
2020
Covid hit. Virtually overnight, downtown was decimated. Foot traffic in Manulife Place went from 8,000 people a day down to almost zero, as 90% of workers transitioned to working from home.
Forced to close for 10 weeks, the store was, yet again, saved by Ralph’s foresight. Mere days before Covid became a known threat, Ralph launched an online store. Over the coming year, annual sales dropped, but thanks to our incredible and loyal clientele,
the store survived.
With its unique design, Vandenbergs Jewellers won the prestigious INSTORE Magazine’s “Coolest Stores in North America”.
2020
Covid hit. Virtually overnight, downtown was decimated. Foot traffic in Manulife Place went from 8,000 people a day down to almost zero, as 90% of workers transitioned to working from home.
Forced to close for 10 weeks, the store was, yet again, saved by Ralph’s foresight. Mere days before Covid became a known threat, Ralph launched an online store. Over the coming year, annual sales dropped, but thanks to our incredible and loyal clientele,
the store survived.
With its unique design, Vandenbergs Jewellers won the prestigious INSTORE Magazine’s “Coolest Stores in North America”.
2021
Business in Edmonton magazine honoured Ralph with their 2021 Leaders Awards. This prestigious award “recognizes people in the business community who have contributed to making Edmonton the great city that it is — through their personal integrity, values, business initiatives, community involvement, innovation, and philanthropic activities”.
2023
The GIA campus in Carlsbad opened once again to international students and Chelsea was finally able to attend to secure her Graduate Gemologist. She came back even more on fire for gems than when she left. In the meantime, she had taken over our social media and had grown our numbers significantly. Chelsea also reignited our passion for giving back to the community, something that Ralph had done consistently for decades. Now, with renewed fervor and open hands, Ralph and Lori (now in the business full time) significantly increased their
philanthropic activities.
2023
The GIA campus in Carlsbad opened once again to international students and Chelsea was finally able to attend to secure her Graduate Gemologist. She came back even more on fire for gems than when she left. In the meantime, she had taken over our social media and had grown our numbers significantly. Chelsea also reignited our passion for giving back to the community, something that Ralph had done consistently for decades. Now, with renewed fervor and open hands, Ralph and Lori (now in the business full time) significantly increased their
philanthropic activities.
2024
With Covid firmly in the rear view, our team’s focus turned back to updating our knowledge, tools, and incorporating new technology and training, which in turn, allowed us to offer the best and latest services and technology to our clients. Ralph’s enduring attitude toward innovation and education continued to encourage our team to learn and grow their skills. This challenge created a culture where our team was always excited to learn and try new things.
2025
Vandenbergs JewellersVandenbergs Jewellers had experienced rapid growth in the past 4 years, and our team had grown right along with it. Renovations to the store were needed to accommodate our expanded team of 14 experienced and dedicated professionals.
We feel incredibly blessed to have our current team: Shelley, Jeff, Guillermo, Larry, Inah, Jorge, Debora, Jordan, Cody, Itzel, and Cesar. And we honour past teammates, gone but not forgotten: Peter, Nhi, Vi, Joanne, Liz, Travis, Reagan, Stephanie, Sarah, Kat, Cheron, and Sonja (to name just a few). Each of these truly remarkable people have helped shape and define our story over the past 50 years and into the next.
In 2025, our team took a leap in a new direction and VJ launched its first bridal collection called Spring Love. Designed and curated by our amazing design team and brought to life by our dedicated craftsmen, this collection was a Vandenbergs Jewellers’ first. In the fall, we launched the Romanesque Collection, a line of jewellery crafted in the style of Ancient Rome. More collections are planned in the coming years!
2025
VJ had experienced rapid growth in the past 4 years, and our team had grown right along with it. Renovations to the store were needed to accommodate our expanded team of 14 experienced and dedicated professionals.
We feel incredibly blessed to have our current team: Shelley, Jeff, Guillermo, Larry, Inah, Jorge, Debora, Jordan, Cody, Itzel, and Cesar. And we honour past teammates, gone but not forgotten: Peter, Nhi, Vi, Joanne, Liz, Travis, Reagan, Stephanie, Sarah, Kat, Cheron, and Sonja (to name just a few). Each of these truly remarkable people have helped shape and define our story over the past 50 years and into the next.
In 2025, our team took a leap in a new direction and VJ launched its first bridal collection called Spring Love. Designed and curated by our amazing design team and brought to life by our dedicated craftsmen, this collection was a Vandenbergs’ first. In the fall, we launched the Romanesque Collection, a line of jewellery crafted in the style of Ancient Rome. More collections are planned in the coming years!
2026 And Beyond
This year, Vandenbergs Jewellers reached a significant milestone; 50 years in business serving the Edmonton region. We believe our success has come from a blend of Ralph’s leadership, a dedicated and talented team, and the generous patronage of our loyal clientele.
Ralph has consistently modelled for our team an insatiable desire to learn, a fearless determination to explore, the flexibility to continuously innovate, and the humility to pivot when something fails. He has instilled in Chelsea and the team his love for people, his philanthropic values, and his unfailing integrity. These attributes have become the foundational pillars of Vandenbergs Jewellers, entrenched into the very fabric of our identity.
For 7 years, Ralph has mentored Chelsea by involving her in day-to-day decisions, and by taking her to industry trade shows and to Antwerp on buying trips and to tour cutting factories. He has adopted her into his long-standing industry relationships and watched her forge her own as she recently travelled to the Vicenza trade show and came home with cutting-edge technology that will positively impact our store, and our clients, for years to come. Chelsea’s dedication to excellence, her deep passion for gems, and her desire to continuously learn, grow, and innovate make her the perfect fit to lead Vandenbergs Jewellers into the future.
But even as the coming years see Ralph and Lori slowly fade into the background, the heart of Vandenbergs Jewellers will endure. Along with our shared values and unwavering faith and trust in Jesus, the pillars Ralph has established will continue to be Chelsea’s North Star. Our store’s high standards of quality and craftsmanship, our passion to learn and grow, our commitment to our great community, and our love and respect for people will not change as she leads our dedicated team into the future.
And with your help, and thanks to your loyalty, Vandenbergs Jewellers will strive to be around for another 50 years!
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR STORY.