The 1990s saw Vandenbergs Jewellers expand far beyond the showroom. Ralph Vandenberg travelled the globe, from the diamond exchanges of Antwerp and Tel Aviv to the mines of Botswana, South Africa, Brazil, and Russia, gaining rare behind-the-scenes access to the world’s diamond industry. These experiences forged lifelong relationships with influential leaders in the trade and positioned Vandenbergs Jewellers at the forefront of Canada’s emerging diamond industry. Closer to home, the company established its long-standing presence at Manulife Place while continuing to build a reputation for expertise, adventure, and a direct connection to the source of the world’s finest gemstones.
1990
“1990 was a big year for Vandenbergs.
Things had been turning around after the devastation of the NEP, but our location at the Continental Bank Building was a little outside of the action. Manulife Place was the place to be downtown; Holt Renfrew was there, Blue’s, Lord’s Shoes, Night Owl, and Zenari’s, to name a few.
When I heard they had a spot, I remember thinking that there was little chance that they would want our little shop there.
But, hey, you never know unless you try!
Thankfully, the Manulife team were awesome and invited us to join them. And in October of 1990, we moved into our beautiful ‘Periwinkle Blue’ store.
One of my strongest memories of the move was packing all the jewellery into a Samsonite briefcase. Insurance wouldn’t allow us to carry it across the street, so we had to use the Brinks armoured car service. Everything I owned was in that briefcase, and I remember them picking it up, thinking that they’d follow me the 100 feet to the new store.
But no, they don’t do that. They never take a direct route.
So, two hours, three heart attacks and losing my mind twice thinking they must have been robbed along the way, they showed up as if it was all normal. I guess it was, but it would have been good to mention it to me…
So began our 36-year history with Manulife. I can’t imagine having had a better landlord.”
– Ralph Vandenberg
During all these adventures, Ralph had earned the nickname ‘Indiana Stones’ and as a play on that, Ralph started producing newsletters for his clients called ‘Romancing the Stone’. In 1990, Ralph put out an invitation to join him on a trip to Brazil, and more than 20 people opted in! Ralph took the group all over Brazil, hitting many of the key tourist areas and visiting 2 separate mines. Iguazu Falls, Rio, Sao Paulo, Ouro Preto, Bello Horizonte, to name a few, made this a once in a lifetime trip, never to be repeated!
1990
“1990 was a big year for Vandenbergs.
Things had been turning around after the devastation of the NEP, but our location at the Continental Bank Building was a little outside of the action. Manulife Place was the place to be downtown; Holt Renfrew was there, Blue’s, Lord’s Shoes, Night Owl, and Zenari’s, to name a few.
When I heard they had a spot, I remember thinking that there was little chance that they would want our little shop there.
But, hey, you never know unless you try!
Thankfully, the Manulife team were awesome and invited us to join them. And in October of 1990, we moved into our beautiful ‘Periwinkle Blue’ store.
One of my strongest memories of the move was packing all the jewellery into a Samsonite briefcase. Insurance wouldn’t allow us to carry it across the street, so we had to use the Brinks armoured car service. Everything I owned was in that briefcase, and I remember them picking it up, thinking that they’d follow me the 100 feet to the new store.
But no, they don’t do that. They never take a direct route.
So, two hours, three heart attacks and losing my mind twice thinking they must have been robbed along the way, they showed up as if it was all normal. I guess it was, but it would have been good to mention it to me…
So began our 36-year history with Manulife. I can’t imagine having had a better landlord.”
– Ralph Vandenberg
During all these adventures, Ralph had earned the nickname ‘Indiana Stones’ and as a play on that, Ralph started producing newsletters for his clients called ‘Romancing the Stone’. In 1990, Ralph put out an invitation to join him on a trip to Brazil, and more than 20 people opted in! Ralph took the group all over Brazil, hitting many of the key tourist areas and visiting 2 separate mines. Iguazu Falls, Rio, Sao Paulo, Ouro Preto, Bello Horizonte, to name a few, made this a once in a lifetime trip, never to be repeated!
1991
Finally, the research trip was arranged for the diamond market study Ralph had been commissioned with. For four weeks, Ralph and Klaus flew all around the world and DeBeers allowed them access to private areas, some of which even their site holders were not allowed to go.
In London, they toured the DeBeer’s CSO (Central Selling Organization). An ex-British MI6 agent watched their every move as they learned how DeBeers assorted, valued, and sold their diamonds to their highly curated site holders. Their assortment process was highly complex and the secrets shared only with a privileged few.
In Antwerp, full access was granted to the Diamond Bourse. Founded in 1531, this was among the earliest formal commodity exchanges in Europe and set the framework for how diamond parcels could be securely traded. This is where diamond dealers would grade, trade, and store their diamond supplies. Extremely secure, access was only granted to carefully selected members and their special guests.
From the Mumbai cutting industry to the Israeli Diamond Bourse in Tel Aviv, to Davy Lapa’s massive factory in Johannesburg, Ralph and Klaus were invited behind the scenes. They met the Chairman of DeBeers in Johannesburg, then DeBeers flew them to multiple sites within South Africa. In Botswana, they toured DeBeers’ massive 160-hecatare Orapa mine, were invited to stay at Orapa House (where all dignitaries stayed), and were then treated to an overnight safari!
From Botswana, they flew to Venetia, a mine in South Africa. They learned about the Namibia boats and harvesting diamonds from the ocean floor.
It was during this life-changing trip that Ralph met many people who were either at the time, or would eventually become, some of the most influential people in the diamond industry, including Nicky Oppenheimer. These connections would become very valuable to Ralph in the years to come and would pave the way for the future of Vandenbergs Jewellers.
1992
Diamonds were discovered in the Northwest Territories in November 1991. (Sadly, NOT in Alberta). Having made significant connections at this point, Ralph dove in on the ground floor. He got very involved in acting as a facilitator between some of the Junior Mining Companies and DeBeers.
Eventually, the dust would settle and there would be 3 mines established in the NWT. The largest, Ekati, was run by BHP, then Diavek (Rio Tinto), and Gahcho Kue (Mountain Province/DeBeers). Ralph was working with Mountain Province. This relationship took Ralph back and forth to the London DeBeers office several times.
Meanwhile, things had opened up in Russia since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Rumours of large quantities of rough were circulating, so off went Ralph to Russia to test the waters. Ralph had dinner with Russia’s #2 man under Boris Yeltzen. After dinner, this man took him down a dark street to a door underneath a single pendant lamp (think Humphrey Bogart film). Inside, he revealed a suitcase full of large uncut rough diamonds. Very cloak and dagger!
1992
Diamonds were discovered in the Northwest Territories in November 1991. (Sadly, NOT in Alberta). Having made significant connections at this point, Ralph dove in on the ground floor. He got very involved in acting as a facilitator between some of the Junior Mining Companies and DeBeers.
Eventually, the dust would settle and there would be 3 mines established in the NWT. The largest, Ekati, was run by BHP, then Diavek (Rio Tinto), and Gahcho Kue (Mountain Province/DeBeers). Ralph was working with Mountain Province. This relationship took Ralph back and forth to the London DeBeers office several times.
Meanwhile, things had opened up in Russia since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Rumours of large quantities of rough were circulating, so off went Ralph to Russia to test the waters. Ralph had dinner with Russia’s #2 man under Boris Yeltzen. After dinner, this man took him down a dark street to a door underneath a single pendant lamp (think Humphrey Bogart film). Inside, he revealed a suitcase full of large uncut rough diamonds. Very cloak and dagger!
1993
When one of the Junior Mining companies Ralph had been working with became interested in a diamond play in Russia, they asked him to go back. More adventures ensued, most involving his guide, a tank sergeant with the Russian army.
1999
– Ralph Vandenberg
1999
– Ralph Vandenberg
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