Stepping into Van Yperen Jewellers on West 10th Avenue is like delving into the busy but orderly mind of an eternally inspired artist. All manner of jewelry and objects d’art populate the shop, while artisans can be spied hand-forging pieces to life behind a large glass window panel.
It’s been this way for 50 years, since Willy Van Yperen – a jewelry designer who headlined two solo shows at the Vancouver Art Gallery – established Van Yperen Jewellers to serve the needs of Vancouverites seeking one-of-a-kind pieces that stand the test of time.
“Here, we really chase the art,” says current owner Rob Van Yperen, Willy’s son. Inspiration for jewelry is everywhere, according to Van Yperen: in nature, on the roads – even in displays at hardware stores. “That’s me, and my dad was the same thing. I don’t know if I could do it another way.”
One quality that Van Yperen says sets his store apart, is its firm stance on what it means to be one-of-a-kind. “When you get something from us, it is definitely one-of-a kind. Even if I make another ring that’s supposed to be the same, like an award ring, on purpose I do not keep track of dimensions or anything like that,” says Van Yperen.
This is especially poignant in the case of wedding bands. “To me, having been married for 40 years, I think, ‘If you’re going to get married and you’re going to commit and you’re going to build a life together, why not build something that nobody else has?’”
Many of Van Yperen’s customers ask him to dismantle cherished heirloom jewelry and reassemble it into something new and equally meaningful. “I’ve built a lot of things in my career, and I think I can safely say, ‘Something I’ve made will last a thousand years,’” says Van Yperen. “What a job I’ve got!”
