What Does Made in Canada Really Mean for Jewellery
The jewellery story you are about to read might leave you a little heartbroken. But there is a bright side.
If you are like a lot of proud Canadians you instinctively check where something is made and, when given the choice, you opt for made in Canada. Because we want to keep more Canadian dollars in Canada. But when it comes to jewellery, and especially engagement rings, the picture is far more complicated than it looks.
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I'm Kate Hubley, your Canadian Diamond Expert and creator of VIVE engagement rings and wedding bands, 100% designed and made in Montreal, Canada. Here I share what every Canadian should know before buying an engagement ring, and why it matters. |
Canadian Brands No Longer Canadian Owned
A lot of the jewellery stores we traditionally think of as Canadian — the ones in every mall, the ones we grew up with, the iconic legacy brands we associate with luxury — are no longer Canadian-owned. Just like The Bay. Just like Tim Hortons. They still carry the Canadian cachet, but they have been acquired by foreign stakeholders.
Moreover, these jewellery stores are not filling their jewellery showcases with made in Canada jewellery. Most of what they sell you is manufactured overseas or south of the border.
Does Designed in Canada Mean Made in Canada?
No. It does not.
A phenomenon is quietly spreading across the industry: beautiful showrooms where you sit down with a sales representative and browse ring designs you can customize. What most shoppers don't know is that those designs are being produced using AI tools at manufacturing facilities offshore, and the finished ring is dropshipped to Canada.
Technically, it is designed in Canada because the customer is in Canada. But the 3D model and the finished ring are made overseas.
The same holds true for online engagement ring brands that appear in Canadian Google searches. Most are not based in Canada, even if they have a .ca domain and display prices in Canadian dollars.
Why Buying Canadian Jewellery Matters
The Canadian jewellery industry is worth an estimated $3.6 billion a year. If the stores are not Canadian-owned and the rings are not made in Canada, a significant portion of that $3.6 billion is leaving the Canadian economy rather than supporting skilled Canadian jobs.
How to Find Out If a Jewellery Brand is Canadian-Owned
This is public record. So...
Start with Google. Search "Who owns [company name]?" or "Who is the major shareholder of [company name]?" and you will find answers quickly.
Some will be reassuring. Others will be disappointing.
Then go further. Search "Where are [company name]'s manufacturing facilities?" and "Does [company name] carry enagement rings and jewellery made in Canada?" For shoppers who value made in Canada, that research will help guide your purchase decisions.
If you're here reading this blog, chances are you've already figured out that I'm Canadian. But VIVE is a brand-new line, so I still have a lot of work to do to make sure people can find us when they're searching for Canadian-made engagement rings and wedding bands.
Where to Buy Made-in-Canada Engagement Rings
If buying Canadian is important to you, I invite you to explore the VIVE collection of engagement rings and wedding bands, designed and made right here in Canada.
You can also discover our selection of Canadian diamonds. Yes, Canadian diamonds. They are among the most carefully tracked diamonds in the world and are mined in Canada's North under some of the world's strictest environmental and labour standards.
I'm on a mission to build a strong Canadian jewellery brand and help keep high-end jewellery creation thriving here in Canada—one ring at a time.
Have questions about diamonds, engagement rings or jewellery in Canada? Ask me. Just reach out at kate@k8jewelry.com — I read every message personally.
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