News

A stopped watch and a strap that does not fit are two of the most common things people bring to a jeweller, and both are quick fixes when a professional does them. A battery swap or a strap adjustment takes minutes on our bench, and doing it right protects the watch in ways a kitchen-drawer attempt does not. Here is what watch battery and strap service actually involves, and when to bring it in. Watch battery replacement is not just a battery A quartz watch, the everyday kind that ticks once a second, runs on a small battery that lasts...

There is no single right age to pierce a child's ears, but there is a sensible one: when the child can take part in looking after it. The American Academy of Pediatrics says there is little risk at any age if the piercing is done carefully and cared for well, and it suggests waiting until a child is old enough to help with aftercare, which is often around age eight. Here is what parents in Metro Vancouver should know, including how to choose safe first earrings. A quick note: Vanhess sells jewellery, including safe children's earrings, but we do not...

Buying an engagement ring in the Tri-Cities means you can hold the stone, try the setting on the actual hand, get the size right, and build a relationship with the jeweller who will look after the ring for decades. That last part matters more than most people realise. If you live in Coquitlam, Port Moody, or Port Coquitlam, here is how to buy an engagement ring locally and what to look for in a jeweller. Why buy local instead of online Online looks cheaper until you count what you give up. In person you see how a diamond actually catches...

Engraving turns a ring into a private message. A date only the two of you know, a name, a set of coordinates, a few words in someone's own handwriting: it sits on the inside of the band where nobody else sees it, and it costs very little to add. Here is how ring engraving works, what fits, and the choices to make, from our Coquitlam workshop. Hand engraving vs machine engraving There are two ways to put words on a ring, and they suit different jobs. Hand engraving is the traditional method: a jeweller cuts each letter by hand with...

Yes, you can wear gold and silver together. The old rule that you had to pick one metal and stick to it is long gone, and mixing tones is one of the most current ways to wear jewellery. Done with a little intention, a gold-and-silver mix looks modern and personal rather than accidental. Here is how to combine metals well, plus one honest practical note about wear. The rule is dead, so relax For years people were told gold and silver clash. They do not. Walk through any current collection and you will see mixed metals everywhere, from two-tone watches...

The most heartbreaking repair we see is the one that comes in too late: a ring with an empty setting where a diamond used to be. Almost every lost stone is preventable. Prongs wear down slowly over years, and there are clear warning signs before one lets go. A two-minute check at home and a quick professional look once or twice a year is the cheapest insurance you can buy for a ring you love. Here is what to watch for, from our Coquitlam bench. What prongs do, and why they wear Prongs are the little metal claws that grip...