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Zadel Jewellery Studio—Creating Treasured Heirlooms that Tell Your Story

Adele and Johan Van Tonder bring an approachable, refreshing energy to the luxury jewellery market, offering beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces for every special moment.

Adele and Johan are story-telling artists. From Zadel Jewellery Studio on Granville Island, they don’t just build jewellery—they translate stories, adventures and expressions of love with custom bespoke designs that speak to your past, present and future.

“We specialize in designing and creating award-winning heirloom quality jewellery pieces to be treasured for a lifetime,” Adele says. “The custom jewellery pieces we design are crafted with your vision and become enchanted heirlooms that tell the story of the loving memories that inspired them.”

A Bold Journey

Adele and Johan Van Tonder | Photo: Zadel Jewellery Studio

Zadel Jewellery was founded in 2012 and is the couple’s passion. Johan is a master goldsmith with 56 years experience and Adele has been honing her craft—making the old new again—for more than 30 years.

Together, they speak a language most interested in fine jewellery aren’t used to hearing. Words like “budget-friendly” and “approachable” are rarely used in the luxury market, but at Zadel, these concepts are foundational to the business.

“The vibe here is fun and bold,” Adele says. “We love to laugh. Recreating a family heirloom or finding the perfect engagement ring is an important decision but it doesn’t have to be daunting. We will address every facet of the decision, including staying budget conscious. It’s all about fostering integrity and building long-term relationships, so we listen to clients and hear what they are saying, rather than telling them what we want them to hear.”

Photo: Zadel Jewellery Studio

This genuine, connected energy is evident in the store, where visitors will not find crystal and marble finishings; instead, they will see jewellery sparkling from within open glass encased in wood, and walls adorned with beautiful West Coast and South African art.

“Our place is luxury, but it is also approachable,” Adele says. “Customers are welcome to stay and look and ask any question they like without judgement. If they are going through a hard time, we support them and the process of putting fresh, new energy into their jewellery.”

Custom Treasures

Photo: Zadel Jewellery Studio

Around 70% of Zadel’s work is custom, bespoke redesign of pieces using the original gold and gemstones. When additional materials are required, the pieces are meticulously handcrafted using Canadian gold, ethically sourced Canadian diamonds, and stunning gemstones native to Canada.

“If I tell you we are going to use your grandpa’s signet ring in your wedding ring, you’re damn right I will,” Adele says. “That is our ethos, and our integrity stands on it.

While they delight in the creative process of redesigning jewellery, the Van Tonders also view this service as a contribution to the health of the planet. “We take great pride in uncovering the value of forgotten items, bringing them back to life to shine again,” Adele says. “In our workshop we use 100% recycled metals.”

Photo: Zadel Jewellery Studio

Zadel also offers engagement rings and other pieces out of the box and ready to ship, but they are not mainstream, cookie-cutter pieces. Seven Canadian jewellery artists display their work in Zadel’s gallery, their specialties spanning from silver to fine European art.

“It’s a menagerie of designers but it melds beautiful custom designs together in our store,” Adele says. “Each piece has a certain joie de vivre you want out of jewellery. When you buy one of these designs, it is the only one like it on the planet.”

Photo: Zadel Jewellery Studio

At Home on Granville Island

When the store’s Granville Island location opened during covid, two things happened. First, the Van Tonders took the risk of their lives. “Everything was shut down,” Adele says. “Granville Island is a tourist destination, but there was no tourism. We had no government help. We were starting from zero.”

Second, the local community saved the day. “We stayed afloat and built our business with the support of our customers here in Vancouver,” Adele says. “If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be here. We are so grateful.”

From there, they began to build an interprovincial client list, and today they serve customers from across the country  and globally. This fall, Zadel moved into a larger premises on Granville Island, from which they will continue their inspiring legacy.

“Everything we have done in our jewellery career has been sentimentally driven and done with intention,” Adele says.  “And it always will be. That is our story.”

Find uniqueness and passion at zadeljewellerystudio.com

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