About

A GIA Graduate Gemologist at the Bench — Not Behind a Counter

Daniel A Jewellery is a family-owned jewellery store at Baseline and Wharncliffe in London, Ontario. We opened in 1999, moved into our first full storefront in 2005, and have been on Wharncliffe Road South since 2020. In that time Londoners have brought us their engagement rings, family heirlooms, broken chains and "impossible" repairs — because everything here is done on-site, by the same hands.

Meet Daniel

Daniel apprenticed under master jewellery craftsmen in both Canada and the United States before opening his own workshop. He holds the Graduate Gemologist diploma from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) — the most respected credential in gemology — which means every diamond he grades, every appraisal he signs, and every stone he sets is backed by formal training, not guesswork.

Today he combines classical goldsmithing with modern technology: laser welding for repairs traditional soldering can't safely touch, CAD design for custom pieces, and laser engraving for personalization. Ninety percent of the inventory in the store is made in-house, and we will design the ring you want and handcraft it in as little as three days.

Why Other Jewellers Send Us Their Repairs

Most jewellery stores in London outsource their repair work — pieces get shipped to a third-party workshop, and you wait weeks. At Daniel A Jewellery, a goldsmith is on the premises at all times. Your piece never leaves the building, most repairs are done the same day, and the difficult jobs other stores turn away — hollow chains, antiques, repairs next to heat-sensitive stones — are our specialty. Other jewellery stores trust us with their complex repairs; you can too.

What We Do

Jewellery repair and restoration, ring sizing, chain repair, laser welding, certified jewellery appraisals, custom jewellery design and manufacturing, engagement rings with natural and lab-grown diamonds, laser engraving, permanent jewellery, eyeglass frame repair, watch battery replacement, and gold buying — all in-store at 467 Wharncliffe Road South, Unit 3, London, Ontario.

Visit us: Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday 9:30 AM–4:00 PM, closed Sunday. Call (519) 660-8383 or walk in — no appointment needed.

FAQs: Store Policies

Do you offer refunds?

No, we don't do cash refunds. What we do offer is an exchange or store credit within 30 days of purchase, on unworn items in original condition, with your receipt. Bring it in and we'll look after you.

This doesn't affect your rights if something is faulty or isn't what we told you it was. If a piece has a genuine problem, that's on us and we'll make it right.

Why exchange only, and not refunds?

The honest answer: roughly 90% of what's in our cases was designed and made here, one piece at a time, at our own bench. We're not pulling stock from a catalogue in a dozen sizes and sending the unsold ones back. A refund on a piece that took days of bench time isn't something a shop this size can absorb.

An exchange or a store credit means you still walk away with something you love. And frankly, we'd rather spend the time up front making sure you choose the right piece than process a return later.

What is the exchange window and what condition does the piece need to be in?

Thirty days from the date of purchase. The piece needs to be unworn and in its original condition, and you'll need your receipt. Sizing, wear, engraving or alteration after purchase means we can no longer exchange it.

What can't be exchanged at all?

Four categories, and we'll always tell you before you buy:

• Custom and made-to-order pieces. Designed and built for you specifically. There's no second customer for a one-off.
• Engraved or personalised items. Once your names or dates are on it, it isn't resellable.
• Permanent jewellery. Welded on by nature, so there's nothing to return.
• Pierced earrings. Hygiene, same as every other jewellery store.

Do you take a deposit on custom work?

Yes. The amount depends on the job, because it covers real costs we commit to before you ever see the finished piece: metal, stones, casting and bench time. We'll tell you the deposit and what it covers before anything starts, and nothing gets ordered or cut until you've approved the design.

Do I have to pay in full before you start a custom piece?

No. A deposit gets the work moving, and the balance is due when the piece is finished and you're happy with it.

FAQs: Repairs

Are repairs actually done in the store?

Yes. Every repair is done on site, at our own bench, by a GIA Graduate Gemologist with over 45 years of experience. Nothing gets shipped out to a third-party trade shop and nothing leaves the building.

That matters more than it sounds. When a jeweller sends your ring away, they can't tell you what was actually done to it, and they can't watch a heat-sensitive stone while it's under the torch.

Do you guarantee your repair work?

Yes. Our workmanship is guaranteed. If a repair we performed fails, bring it back and we'll make it right.

That covers our work. It doesn't cover new damage, an unrelated part of the piece giving out, or ordinary wear over the years, and we'll always tell you honestly which one we're looking at.

Will you repair jewellery I didn't buy from you?

Yes, and most of what comes across the bench is exactly that. You don't need to have bought it here, and you don't need to explain where it came from.

Do other jewellers really send you their repairs?

They do. When a job involves laser welding near a heat-sensitive stone, an antique piece that can't be replaced, or a repair that another shop won't attempt, it often ends up here.

How long does a repair take?

It depends entirely on the job. Watch batteries are usually done while you wait. Straightforward ring sizing is often same-day. Restoration work, stone setting, and anything involving custom fabrication takes longer.

We'll give you a realistic timeframe when we quote the work, and we'd rather tell you a week and deliver in four days than the other way round.

Do you charge to look at a repair?

No. Quotes are free and there's no obligation. Bring the piece in and we'll tell you what's wrong with it, what it takes to fix, and what it costs, before you decide anything.

Can you fix a ring that another jeweller said couldn't be repaired?

Often, yes. Laser welding makes repairs possible that a torch can't touch: work right beside set stones, on fine chains, on antiques, and on pieces where heat would destroy the stone or the finish. It's worth a second opinion before you give up on a piece.

FAQs: Appraisals

Do you do insurance appraisals?

Yes. Appraisals are written on site by a GIA Graduate Gemologist and include the metal, the stones, measurements, setting details and condition, along with a value appropriate to the purpose of the appraisal.

Does the appraisal say whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown?

Always. Every appraisal we write states the origin of the stone explicitly. An appraisal that doesn't tell you which kind of diamond you own isn't doing its job, and it can leave you paying insurance premiums on a value your insurer will never pay out.

How often should an appraisal be updated?

Periodically, because values move. Precious metal prices change constantly, and lab-grown diamond replacement values in particular have fallen significantly in recent years. An out-of-date appraisal can leave you either over-insured or under-insured.

FAQs: Custom Design and Diamonds

Can I design my own piece?

Yes, and it's most of what we do. We'll work from a sketch, a photo, a description, or a rough idea you can't quite articulate yet. You'll see a design before anything is made, and the piece is built here, on site.

Can I use my own diamond, or an heirloom piece?

Yes. Resetting an existing stone or repurposing an inherited piece is frequently better value than buying new, and it keeps something with history in the family. Bring it in and we'll tell you honestly what you have and what it could become.

Do you sell both lab-grown and natural diamonds?

Both, and we'll tell you plainly which one we'd buy in your situation and why. Every stone is disclosed in writing, and the origin goes on the appraisal.

Do you buy gold?

Yes. Bring it in and we'll test and weigh it in front of you, and give you a price based on the live market.

FAQs: Visiting the Store

Do I need an appointment?

No. Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours. For custom design consultations and appraisals, booking ahead means you get uninterrupted time at the bench rather than waiting while we finish with someone else.

Where are you located?

467 Wharncliffe Road South, Unit 3, London, Ontario N6J 2M9. Phone (519) 660-8383.

What are your hours?

Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Saturday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Closed Sunday.

Do you replace watch batteries?

Yes, usually while you wait, on most brands, and we reseal the case properly afterwards to protect its water resistance. A lot of shops skip that last step.

Do you repair eyeglasses?

Yes. Laser welding handles frame repairs that solder can't, including titanium and pieces too fine to work on with a torch.

Do you do permanent jewellery?

Yes, in-store. Chains and bracelets welded to fit, no clasp.

How long have you been in business?

Daniel A Jewellery has been serving London, Ontario since 2005, and Daniel has been at the bench for over 45 years.