News

Engagement ring trends in 2026 look noticeably different from a few years ago, and the shift is real, not just marketing. At Vanhess Jewellery in Coquitlam, BC, the rings couples ask about when they walk in have changed: more elongated stone shapes, more yellow gold, more colour, and far more lab-grown diamonds than even two years back. Here is what is actually moving, with a look at what Tri-Cities couples in particular keep requesting at our bench. Lab-grown is now the majority choice The biggest change isn't a style, it's the stone. Lab-grown diamonds have gone from alternative to default....

Knowing how to store jewellery is the difference between pieces that look new in ten years and a tangled drawer of scratched chains and dull silver. At Vanhess Jewellery in Coquitlam, BC, most of the damage we repair didn't happen while jewellery was being worn. It happened in storage, when a diamond ring sat loose against a gold chain, or a silver bracelet spent a humid summer in a plastic bag. Good storage is cheap and simple once you understand the few things that actually cause damage. Separate pieces by hardness This is the single most important rule, and the...

Hypoallergenic jewellery matters because nickel is one of the most common causes of allergic skin reactions, and a lot of jewellery sold cheaply contains it. At Vanhess Jewellery in Coquitlam, BC, we see customers come in with red, itchy ears or fingers after wearing a piece that looked fine but turned out to have nickel in the mix. This guide explains which metals are genuinely safe, which ones to question, and what to ask before you buy or get pierced. It is general information, not medical advice. If your skin reacts, see a doctor. Why nickel is the usual culprit...

Choosing between a tungsten, titanium, or gold wedding band comes down to how the ring lives on your hand for the next several decades, not how it looks in a display case. At Vanhess Jewellery in Coquitlam, BC, this is the most common question we field from grooms, and the honest answer changes depending on your job, your skin, and whether you ever want the ring resized. Here is how the three metals actually compare, with the trade-offs spelled out. Hardness and scratch resistance Hardness is where these three metals separate fastest. Mineral hardness is measured on the Mohs scale,...

Chain types matter more than most shoppers expect, because the link pattern decides whether a necklace holds a pendant well, survives daily wear, or kinks the first week you own it. Cable, curb, rope, box, and Figaro are the workhorses, with snake and herringbone for a sleeker look. At Vanhess Jewellery in Coquitlam, BC, we repair broken chains in-house every week, so we see firsthand which styles last and which ones come back. Here is a plain rundown of each. The five everyday workhorses Cable is the classic. Simple oval links connected in a row, each one set at a...

A good necklace length guide saves you from the most common buying mistake we see: a beautiful chain that sits in exactly the wrong spot. Length is measured as the full circumference of the necklace, clasp included, and a few centimetres change everything about how a piece looks on you. At Vanhess Jewellery in Coquitlam, BC, we keep a measuring tape and a mirror at the counter for this reason. Here is how to choose the right length by your neckline and your height. The standard lengths, in centimetres and inches The trade uses a handful of named lengths. They...