1990
During all these adventures, Ralph had earned the nickname ‘Indiana Stones’ and as a play on that, Ralph started producing newsletters for his clients called ‘Romancing the Stone’. In 1990, Ralph put out an invitation to join him on a trip to Brazil, and more than 20 people opted in! Ralph took the group all over Brazil, hitting many of the key tourist areas and visiting 2 separate mines. Iguazu Falls, Rio, Sao Paulo, Ouro Preto, Bello Horizonte, to name a few, made this a once in a lifetime trip, never to be repeated!
Another change in 1990 was the decision to move the store to Manulife Place in downtown Edmonton, beginning the long relationship VJ has with Manulife.
1990
During all these adventures, Ralph had earned the nickname ‘Indiana Stones’ and as a play on that, Ralph started producing newsletters for his clients called ‘Romancing the Stone’. In 1990, Ralph put out an invitation to join him on a trip to Brazil, and more than 20 people opted in! Ralph took the group all over Brazil, hitting many of the key tourist areas and visiting 2 separate mines. Iguazu Falls, Rio, Sao Paulo, Ouro Preto, Bello Horizonte, to name a few, made this a once in a lifetime trip, never to be repeated!
Another change in 1990 was the decision to move the store to Manulife Place in downtown Edmonton, beginning the long relationship VJ has with Manulife.
1991
Finally, the research trip was arranged for the diamond market study Ralph had been commissioned with. For four weeks, Ralph and Klaus flew all around the world and DeBeers allowed them access to private areas, some of which even their site holders were not allowed to go.
In London, they toured the DeBeer’s CSO (Central Selling Organization). An ex-British MI6 agent watched their every move as they learned how DeBeers assorted, valued, and sold their diamonds to their highly curated site holders. Their assortment process was highly complex and the secrets shared only with a privileged few.
In Antwerp, full access was granted to the Diamond Bourse. Founded in 1531, this was among the earliest formal commodity exchanges in Europe and set the framework for how diamond parcels could be securely traded. This is where diamond dealers would grade, trade, and store their diamond supplies. Extremely secure, access was only granted to carefully selected members and their special guests.
From the Mumbai cutting industry to the Israeli Diamond Bourse in Tel Aviv, to Davy Lapa’s massive factory in Johannesburg, Ralph and Klaus were invited behind the scenes. They met the Chairman of DeBeers in Johannesburg, then DeBeers flew them to multiple sites within South Africa. In Botswana, they toured DeBeers’ massive 160-hecatare Orapa mine, were invited to stay at Orapa House (where all dignitaries stayed), and were then treated to an overnight safari!
From Botswana, they flew to Venetia, a mine in South Africa. They learned about the Namibia boats and harvesting diamonds from the ocean floor.
It was during this life-changing trip that Ralph met many people who were either at the time, or would eventually become, some of the most influential people in the diamond industry, including Nicky Oppenheimer. These connections would become very valuable to Ralph in the years to come and would pave the way for the future of Vandenbergs Jewellers.
1992
Diamonds were discovered in the Northwest Territories in November 1991. (Sadly, NOT in Alberta). Having made significant connections at this point, Ralph dove in on the ground floor. He got very involved in acting as a facilitator between some of the Junior Mining Companies and DeBeers.
Eventually, the dust would settle and there would be 3 mines established in the NWT. The largest, Ekati, was run by BHP, then Diavek (Rio Tinto), and Gahcho Kue (Mountain Province/DeBeers). Ralph was working with Mountain Province. This relationship took Ralph back and forth to the London DeBeers office several times.
Meanwhile, things had opened up in Russia since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Rumours of large quantities of rough were circulating, so off went Ralph to Russia to test the waters. Ralph had dinner with Russia’s #2 man under Boris Yeltzen. After dinner, this man took him down a dark street to a door underneath a single pendant lamp (think Humphrey Bogart film). Inside, he revealed a suitcase full of large uncut rough diamonds. Very cloak and dagger!
1992
Diamonds were discovered in the Northwest Territories in November 1991. (Sadly, NOT in Alberta). Having made significant connections at this point, Ralph dove in on the ground floor. He got very involved in acting as a facilitator between some of the Junior Mining Companies and DeBeers.
Eventually, the dust would settle and there would be 3 mines established in the NWT. The largest, Ekati, was run by BHP, then Diavek (Rio Tinto), and Gahcho Kue (Mountain Province/DeBeers). Ralph was working with Mountain Province. This relationship took Ralph back and forth to the London DeBeers office several times.
Meanwhile, things had opened up in Russia since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Rumours of large quantities of rough were circulating, so off went Ralph to Russia to test the waters. Ralph had dinner with Russia’s #2 man under Boris Yeltzen. After dinner, this man took him down a dark street to a door underneath a single pendant lamp (think Humphrey Bogart film). Inside, he revealed a suitcase full of large uncut rough diamonds. Very cloak and dagger!
1993
When one of the Junior Mining companies Ralph had been working with became interested in a diamond play in Russia, they asked him to go back. More adventures ensued, most involving his guide, a tank sergeant with the Russian army.
1994
By this time, Ralph’s marriage had sadly come to an end but had blessed him with three beautiful children. Granted primary custody, Ralph shifted his focus to raising his kids and growing Vandenbergs Jewellers.
1998
Ralph’s strong friendship with Davy Lapa continued. Davy was quietly working on revolutionary technology that could analyze the brilliance of a diamond in real time.
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