Looking for a Mejuri Alternative? Custom Fine Jewellery at Vanhess
Looking for a Mejuri Alternative? Custom Fine Jewellery at Vanhess
Short answer: Mejuri is a Toronto-founded direct-to-consumer brand selling a catalogue of in-house-designed fine jewellery in mixed 14k solid gold and gold vermeil, with a Kitsilano retail store at 2166 W 4th Ave in Vancouver. Vanhess Jewellery is an indie, founder-led custom studio in Coquitlam, BC, where second-generation jeweller Mehran designs and handcrafts bespoke pieces in solid 14k and 18k gold, with lifetime free resizing and care. Both are Canadian; the real choice is catalogue shopping versus bench-made bespoke.
Who should read this comparison
You probably landed on Mejuri because their Instagram feed looks beautiful, the prices are unusually accessible for fine jewellery, and you can walk into their Kitsilano store and leave with something the same afternoon. That convenience is real, and for everyday stackable pieces it is hard to beat. The question is whether Mejuri is the right fit when you want something more meaningful — an engagement ring, an anniversary upgrade, an heirloom reset, or a one-of-a-kind design in solid gold that you plan to wear for decades.
This guide is for the Metro Vancouver shopper (and anyone shipping across Canada) who loves the clean Mejuri aesthetic but has started asking the harder questions: is this piece solid gold or plated? Can I actually customise it? Will resizing still be free in five years? If that is you, Vanhess Jewellery is worth a serious look before you buy.
Mejuri at a glance
Mejuri was founded in 2015 in Toronto by Noura Sakkijha, a third-generation jeweller, and Majed Masad. It is a direct-to-consumer brand selling in-house-designed fine jewellery online and through a rapidly expanding retail network — 50+ stores across Canada, the US, UK, and Australia, including a Vancouver Kitsilano store at 2166 W 4th Ave. Their materials mix includes 14k solid gold (94% recycled), 18k gold vermeil over sterling silver at a thicker-than-industry-standard 2.5-micron layer, sterling silver, lab-grown diamonds, and Kimberley Process-certified natural diamonds. Everyday pieces start in the $40–$200 CAD range, with bridal running from about $138 up to around $5,500.
Vanhess Jewellery at a glance
Vanhess Jewellery is an independent custom studio at 2929 Barnet Hwy in Coquitlam, BC — about 25 minutes east of Mejuri's Kitsilano store. It is led by Mehran, a second-generation jeweller whose family has worked in jewellery for 50+ years and who trained in gemology and handcraft in India and Thailand. Vanhess is custom-first: Mehran consults with every client personally, then designs and handcrafts the piece in the Coquitlam studio using solid 14k or 18k gold, platinum, or sterling silver — not vermeil or plating. Every Vanhess piece includes a lifetime care plan (free resizing, cleaning, prong tightening, inspections) and a 2-year manufacturing warranty. Vanhess is a Canadian Jewellers Association member with a 4.9/5 rating across 150+ Google reviews.
The bottom line
If you want a $60 gold-vermeil hoop by Saturday, Mejuri is the honest better pick and their Kitsilano store delivers. If you want a piece in solid 14k or 18k gold, designed around your stone or your idea, sized by the jeweller who made it, and cared for free for life — Vanhess is the closer match. Both are Canadian; the real split is catalogue DTC versus bench-made bespoke.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Vanhess Jewellery | Mejuri |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Indie, founder-led custom studio with a Coquitlam showroom | DTC catalogue brand, online + 50+ retail stores |
| Custom design | Yes — full bespoke, bench-made by Mehran | No — in-house catalogue only, no made-to-order bespoke |
| Primary metal standard | Solid 14k/18k gold, platinum, sterling silver | Mixed: 14k solid gold and 18k gold vermeil over silver (source) |
| Stone options | Lab-grown + natural diamonds, rare gemstones, heirloom stones | Lab-grown + Kimberley-certified natural diamonds, limited coloured stones |
| In-person consultation (Metro Vancouver) | Coquitlam studio; walk-ins and booked appointments with Mehran | Kitsilano retail store at 2166 W 4th Ave (retail staff, not bench jewellers) |
| Made in | Coquitlam, BC (in-house bench) | Not specified as a single origin; globally manufactured through supply partners |
| Lifetime care plan | Yes — free cleaning, inspections, prong tightening for life | No — not offered as a standard lifetime service |
| Resizing | Free for life | Paid Extend Protection Plan: 1 resize/year, max 2 sizes (source) |
| Warranty | 2-year manufacturing warranty + lifetime care plan | 2-year workmanship warranty only — excludes tarnishing, wear, scratches (source) |
| Return policy | 30-day returns on ready-to-wear; custom pieces non-refundable | 30-day free returns on unworn items with tags |
| Heirloom stone reset | Yes — redesign family stones into new pieces | No — customer-supplied stones not offered |
| Starting price tier | Gift pieces from ~$200; custom engagement rings typically $2,500–$15,000 CAD | Everyday pieces from ~$38–$50 CAD; bridal from ~$138 to ~$5,500 CAD |
| Public reputation | 4.9/5 across 150+ Google reviews | ~4.0/5 across 5,000+ Trustpilot reviews (source) |
Strengths and honest trade-offs
Where Vanhess wins
- True bespoke design — bring an idea, a Pinterest board, or an heirloom stone, and Mehran builds it from scratch.
- Solid gold only — every piece is 14k or 18k solid (or platinum/silver), never vermeil or plated.
- Lifetime free resizing, cleaning, and prong tightening — not gated behind a paid protection plan.
- One relationship, start to finish — the person who designs it is the person who makes it and fits it.
- Heirloom reset service for family stones you want modernised.
Where Mejuri genuinely wins
- Everyday price accessibility — real fine jewellery starting around $38–$50 is a legitimate entry point Vanhess does not compete on.
- Transparent materials storytelling: 94% recycled 14k gold, Kimberley-certified naturals, and a 2.5-micron vermeil layer that is thicker than most (source).
- Founder-led by a third-generation jeweller (Noura Sakkijha) with a strong editorial and retail network, including a convenient Kitsilano walk-in location.
- Instant gratification — ready-to-ship catalogue means you can buy a piece today, not wait 4–6 weeks for a bespoke build.
Which should you choose?
Choose Mejuri if…
You want a recognisable, minimalist catalogue piece under $300 — a vermeil hoop, a stacker ring, a simple pendant — and you want to try it on in Kitsilano this weekend. For gift-level everyday fine jewellery at accessible prices, Mejuri's model is genuinely strong.
Choose Vanhess if…
You want a custom engagement ring, a one-of-a-kind anniversary piece, or a redesign of an heirloom stone — built in solid 14k or 18k gold by the jeweller who personally designs it with you. You want the piece sized, cleaned, and cared for free, for life.
Still deciding?
Timeline and intent are the tiebreaker. If this is a milestone piece you plan to wear for decades, the 4–6 week Vanhess process is time well spent and the lifetime care compounds. If this is a fun everyday piece you will probably rotate out of in two years, Mejuri's catalogue is the faster, cheaper call.
Pricing: how do they actually compare?
Mejuri's pricing advantage is real at the entry level. A gold-vermeil bold hoop or a simple chain lands in the $38–$150 CAD range, and even their 14k solid everyday pieces typically stay under $500. That is not a tier Vanhess competes on — Vanhess's ready-to-wear gift pieces start around $200 and most of the custom work sits above that. If your entire budget is $150 for a birthday layering piece, Mejuri is the honest better call.
The comparison changes once you move into solid gold and bridal. Mejuri's bridal ranges from about $138 (vermeil + lab sapphire) to around $5,500 (14k eternity band with natural diamonds), with most lab-grown diamond rings in the $348–$1,700 range. Vanhess custom engagement rings typically fall in the $2,500–$15,000 CAD range, with lab-grown options letting you hit a similar spec at Mejuri prices while going fully custom and fully solid. Our engagement ring budget guide walks through how the numbers actually break down, and lab-grown vs natural diamonds covers the stone tradeoff.
The part that does not show up on the price tag is what happens after. Mejuri's 2-year warranty covers manufacturing defects only — not tarnishing, wear, or scratches — and resizing is limited to one service per year (max two sizes) via the paid Extend Protection Plan. Vanhess includes a 2-year manufacturing warranty plus a lifetime care plan with free resizing, cleaning, and prong tightening every 4–6 months for as long as you own the piece. Over a decade of wear, that gap tends to matter more than the sticker price.
Start your custom design with Mehran
Free consultation at our Coquitlam showroom (2929 Barnet Hwy) or by video call — no obligation.
See our custom process Book a consultationFrequently asked questions
Is Vanhess more expensive than Mejuri?
At the entry level, yes. Mejuri starts around $38–$50 CAD for everyday vermeil or silver pieces, and Vanhess gift pieces start around $200. On custom engagement rings the picture is closer: Mejuri bridal runs from about $138 up to around $5,500, while Vanhess customs typically sit in the $2,500–$15,000 range — but Vanhess pieces are fully bespoke, fully solid gold, and include lifetime care, which changes the value math.
Does Mejuri offer custom engagement rings?
No. Mejuri's model is in-house-designed catalogue pieces, not bespoke. You choose from their bridal collection in stock configurations; they do not offer a true custom design service where you bring an idea or a stone and work with a jeweller to create something one-of-a-kind. If custom is the requirement, Mejuri is not set up for it.
Can I design a Mejuri-style piece in solid 18k at Vanhess?
Yes. If you love a clean, minimalist Mejuri aesthetic but want the piece built in solid 18k gold rather than vermeil or 14k, that is exactly the kind of brief Mehran handles daily. Bring screenshots, Pinterest boards, or a specific reference and Vanhess will design and handcraft your version from scratch in the Coquitlam studio over roughly 4–6 weeks.
Is Mejuri gold vermeil the same as solid gold?
No. Gold vermeil is a thick gold layer (Mejuri uses 2.5 microns of 18k over sterling silver, which is genuinely thicker than industry minimum) but the core metal is still silver. Solid 14k or 18k gold is gold all the way through. Vermeil is excellent value for everyday pieces and can last years with care, but it is not an heirloom-grade material and will eventually wear through the plating.
Can I turn a Mejuri heirloom piece into something new at Vanhess?
Yes. Vanhess offers heirloom redesign — we can reset stones from an existing piece into a new custom design. If it is a vermeil Mejuri piece, the gold layer itself generally cannot be recycled into a new solid-gold ring, but any diamonds or coloured stones from it absolutely can be reset. Bring the piece in and Mehran will assess what is workable.
Does Mejuri have a Coquitlam store?
No. Mejuri's Metro Vancouver presence is a single retail store in Kitsilano at 2166 W 4th Ave. There is no Coquitlam, Port Moody, or Tri-Cities Mejuri location. If you live east of Vancouver proper and want in-person service, Vanhess's Coquitlam studio at 2929 Barnet Hwy is usually the more convenient walk-in.
How long does a Vanhess custom design take compared to buying from Mejuri?
A Mejuri catalogue piece ships in days and a Kitsilano in-store purchase is same-day. A Vanhess custom design typically takes 4–6 weeks from consultation to finished piece — consultation, material selection, CAD or design concepts, your approval, then bench work. If you need a milestone piece on a deadline, plan backwards from the date and start the conversation early.