Roman Jewelers has provided engagement ring shoppers with the best of both worlds. Through our new Ringbuilder software, customers can shop our vast inventory of diamonds and even design (or redesign) their own ring. And, as always, our knowledgeable sales staff will be there every step of the way. Start designing your ring with Ringbuilder It’s Simple Roman Jewelers’ Ringbuilder software brings your engagement ring ideas to life. Use Ringbuilder to choose a diamond from our database of over 38,000 certified diamonds. You won’t find a more extensive diamond inventory anywhere. Once you’ve selected a diamond, place it into a setting—ranging from a classic solitaire to a designer masterpiece. Roman Jewelers offers many more settings in our stores, including designer collections from Tacori, Scott Kay, and Simon G., but Ringbuilder is the perfect place to begin. When you’ve created your concept, visit Roman Jewelers to meet with an engagement ring expert who will help refine your design and ensure it fits your budget. Appointments are recommended and can be made by calling the store directly. It’s Personal Choosing a diamond online is a great way to start, but Roman Jewelers believes that truly holding, comparing, and viewing a diamond under the microscope is essential to becoming an educated buyer. That’s why we recommend beginning with Ringbuilder and then visiting us in-store. We take great pride in educating customers through every step of the diamond buying process. You’ll quickly discover that two diamonds with the same color, clarity, and carat weight are not necessarily equal in value. There is more to diamond quality and brilliance than just the 4 Cs. We often ask our customers which diamond “speaks to them.” It may sound silly, but it’s true—there is a perfect diamond for you and your loved one, and you’ll know it when you see it. It’s the Best of Both Worlds We understand that buying or redesigning an engagement ring is a meaningful and often significant investment. Roman Jewelers provides a powerful online resource to help you explore diamonds, designs, and budgets—an excellent place to begin. Next, meet with our engagement ring experts in-store. You’ll find that a personal diamond experience with one of our sales professionals remains the best way to make one of the most important purchases of your life. Explore Ringbuilder and start designing today

By: Lucy Zimmerman For me, there is nothing more enjoyable than designing new one-of-a-kind jewelry and creating new cooking recipes. The love for original jewelry comes from my Dad, and my passion for cooking comes from my Mom. Both jewelry design and cooking usually begin with inspiration. Sometimes I walk into a supermarket, see rows of bright, colorful vegetables, and decide to make a wonderful vegetable stew—mixing vegetables with spices and a little bit of butter. Jewelry design works the same way. Sometimes I see a stone that takes my breath away and immediately imagine it in a one-of-a-kind ring. Other times, something as simple as a flower inspires me to create a new piece of jewelry. Whatever inspires you, let your imagination run wild and allow it to take you to places you haven’t been before. Just to share with you, here is one of my recent designs. I was fascinated by the beauty of this blue tanzanite—with just a hint of purple—when I first saw it at a jewelry show in Las Vegas. I purchased the stone and began sketching, first imagining it as a pendant, and eventually deciding on a ring. And now, from jewelry to cooking—here is my favorite recipe for Russian Blinis. My Mom taught me how to make these delicious crepes when I was a little girl, and I’m happy to share it with you. Russian Blinis Serve with sour cream, jelly, or sugar. Ingredients 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 eggs 2 cups milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 3 tablespoons vegetable oil Directions In a large mixing bowl, lightly beat eggs, salt, and sugar. Gradually add one cup of milk and whisk together. Add flour and mix well. Slowly add the remaining cup of milk and stir to combine. Add oil and beat until very smooth. Add more milk if needed to achieve a thin batter. Heat a non-oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan. Tilt the pan in a circular motion so the batter coats the surface evenly. Cook for about 1 minute until the bottom is lightly browned. Loosen with a spatula, flip, and cook the other side. Serve hot.

If you are in the market for an unusual ring, have an idea for something different and spectacular but don’t know where to start—read on to find out why going the custom way may be right for you. By Lucy Zimmerman 1. Use “old” to make “new” Did you inherit an engagement ring from your grandmother or a diamond wedding band from another woman in your family? The “old” pieces carry a lot of sentimental value. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to re-use these diamonds in your own ring? Work with your designer to incorporate the stones into a new engagement ring. Your ring will not only be unique, but will also carry a part of the special women in your family. 2. You love your friend’s engagement ring, but don’t want to be a copycat You don’t have to be. Talk to a jewelry designer about the ring you admire and describe what you like about it. Is it the simplicity, intricate filigree details, or the bold mix of white and yellow gold? Think style, and you’ll end up with a ring where every detail is you. 3. You don’t want a traditional engagement ring—you’re a trendsetter The plain Tiffany-style ring isn’t for you. Maybe a three-stone ring? Still not right? If you’ve visited countless jewelry stores and haven’t found “the one,” it’s time to talk to a designer. Describe your vision and sketch your ideas. Any detail helps your designer bring your dream ring to life. 4. You want to remember how the ring was made You want to be involved at every step—from sketch to wax model to casting and stone selection. Custom designing isn’t just a process; it’s a journey. 5. You love what Hollywood actresses wear Celebrity rings are stunning—but not always realistic. A good designer can help you substitute stones, scale designs, and adjust details to stay within budget while keeping the look you love. 6. Details only known to you Want a hidden ruby, initials, or special date inside your ring? A skilled designer can place personal details in the gallery—keeping them meaningful and private. 7. You love period jewelry, but not estate pieces Whether it’s Art Deco geometry or Edwardian lace-like elegance, tell your designer the era you love. They’ll guide the design to reflect that period beautifully. 8. You know a jeweler whose work you admire A great jewelry designer is like a trusted doctor. If you’ve found one—stick with them. 9. Use your artistic abilities If you can sketch your dream ring, even better. An experienced designer will refine your idea and ensure the design is structurally sound. 10. You have no idea what you want That’s perfectly normal. Visit stores, try on rings, browse magazines, and take notes. A good designer will help combine the elements you love into one perfect ring. Author: Lucy Zimmerman is a fourth-generation jewelry designer at Roman Jewelers in Flemington & Bridgewater Commons Mall, New Jersey. For more information about Roman Jewelers and custom design work, visit: https://www.romanjewelers.com/design-your-own-ring/choose-your-style

No, you won't find Imperial Faberge Easter Eggs at Roman Jewelers! The Easter Eggs designed and crafted by the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Faberge are extraordinary objects of art given by the last two Russian czars to their czarinas as Easter gifts. The eggs are masterpieces through which the history of Russia at the end of the 19th century through the Great Russian Revolution of 1917 could be told. They tell a fascinating story of love, privilege, beauty, and the downfall of a Russian dynasty. Faberge's Imperial Easter Eggs are the pinnacle of the jeweler’s art. Every jeweler dreams of achieving the level of craftsmanship that Carl Faberge was able to achieve. As jewelry designers, we can only strive to reach higher and higher levels in the work that we produce. We can study Faberge’s work and learn from his phenomenal craftsmanship. And we can love, and we can tell of our love with special words, special gifts and, yes, with a gift of an Easter Egg.

Personal and Beautiful Custom Designed Earrings from Roman Jewelers Whose initials are DJM? They belong to one of the customers of Roman Jewelers. Her husband asked us to make a pair of unique, one-of-a-kind custom cluster diamond earrings for her, but with a caveat: he wanted to incorporate her initials into the design. He also wanted a classic look, along with a cluster of diamonds set so closely together that they would appear as one large round diamond. How does a custom jewelry designer satisfy both requests—a classic cluster of diamonds comprising a circle of diamonds and three initials, all in one design? Is it even possible? For an experienced jeweler familiar with custom design challenges, it absolutely is. And here is the solution we came up with. The front of the earring is a cluster of diamonds set using a technique we call “invisible setting.” With this technique, the diamonds are set extremely close to each other, with prongs visible only on the outer circumference of the earring. If you look very closely at the image, you truly cannot see prongs between the diamonds in the center. Now for the interesting part. Turn the earring upside-down and look at the back. Do you see the three initials engraved on the reverse side? We cut the initials directly into the metal on the back of the earring. These initials represent the first letters of the first, middle, and last name of the wife of the gentleman who ordered these earrings. But to us, they also carry a hidden message: “I love you. I want you to have a truly unique piece of jewelry. These were made especially for you, and only with you in mind. Wear them in good health.”

Custom-designed tanzanite pendant by Roman Jewelers of Flemington and Bridgewater, NJ Would you like to own an heirloom gemstone? If so, Tanzanite may be the perfect choice. Tanzanite can be purchased today, but it is estimated that it will only be mined for another 10 to 15 years. Beyond our generation, this extraordinary gemstone will only be available through inheritance or auctions—making it an ideal option for a custom-designed heirloom piece. Tanzanite is found in only one place on Earth: the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This rare gemstone is admired for its exquisite blend of purple, blue, and violet hues. Strong blue and blue-violet tones are often enhanced by flashes of red radiating from within the stone, making tanzanite truly irresistible. Tanzanite gemstones range in color from deep royal blue to lighter shades of periwinkle. Although the stone was formed approximately 585 million years ago, it was not officially “discovered” until 1967. Today, tanzanite appeals equally to gemstone collectors and to those seeking a custom-designed piece that is rare, unique, and deeply meaningful. Our custom jewelry designers at Roman Jewelers often refer to tanzanite as a dream stone. Tanzanite pairs beautifully with platinum, white gold, and yellow gold, and its vibrant color complements all skin tones. You truly can’t go wrong with tanzanite—it is a beautiful, brilliant, and exceptionally rare gemstone. If you already own a tanzanite and would like it set into a stunning, one-of-a-kind design, we would be delighted to create something special just for you. It is a piece you will cherish for years to come—and one you will be proud to pass on to the next generation.

Why Not Recycle? The Art of Restyling Your Jewelry In these times, every fashion (and environmentally) conscious girl is looking for savvy solutions to keep her jewelry current! So, why not recycle? Or, as we say in the jewelry business, "restyle." Just check your jewelry box and look at all those "old" jewelry pieces: A brooch given to you by your mother with beautiful cabochon corals but a broken clasp. A cocktail ring with a large emerald inherited from your grandmother that feels outdated. Those cluster pearl earrings you used to love "back in the day." Some of these pieces are deeply sentimental; they are part of your life and your memories. Others contain valuable metals and stones that are simply too precious to sell. What do you do with them? "The answer is quite simple: restyle. Bring those unused and unworn pieces back to life." Most often, people restyle their jewelry for two reasons: sentimental and financial. The truth is, both are the best reasons! A jewelry designer can advise you on the best path forward. Sometimes, a simple fix and a professional polish will make a piece sparkle with new life. In other cases, the old piece may be taken apart to create a brand-new design using your original metals and stones. You’d be surprised what a little fashion redesigning can do. Best of all, it is a relatively inexpensive way to spruce up your wardrobe and make those "old" fashions feel brand new again.

Restoring Old Family Jewels for the Holidays: Flemington Jewelry Store Turning Old Treasures into Meaningful Gifts (November 29, 2006 – Flemington, NJ) Finding the perfect gift this holiday season may be no further than a peek into your jewelry box. Perhaps you have an old heirloom piece of jewelry passed down from a relative that is awaiting new life. Roman Jewelers in Flemington is transforming sentimental pieces from the past into beautiful, meaningful treasures through custom redesign. Jess Gebauer, a bench jeweler at Roman Jewelers, lost her grandmother when she was in the second grade. When she was given her grandmother’s engagement ring, she knew she wanted to wear it on the special day when her now-husband asked her to marry him. “The ring meant so much to me. I wore the original for quite some time, but then decided I wanted to make it my own and still have the grandmother I loved so much be a part of it,” said Gebauer. She removed the original stones and custom-designed a new setting to create a ring that reflected her personal style. “Every time I look at my ring, it makes me feel so good because I turned it into something that I love so much, and yet I know my grandmother is such a part of it. It is so sentimental and meaningful to me.” Gebauer wasn’t finished. She then took the original setting, reset it with a sapphire in the center and two diamonds on the sides, and gave it to her mother as a birthday gift. “I was able to give this ring that meant so much to all of us two new lives. Now my mom can pass hers on to her grandchildren, and I can do the same,” she added. Many others are choosing to do the same. Recently widowed, Sandy Heimberg of Branchburg had her engagement ring redesigned. “My ring meant so much to me because of all the memories I had with my husband Jeff, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it after I lost him. I sat with a designer who completely changed its look while keeping the original stone. It’s not only beautiful, but it allows me to have my husband with me every day,” said Heimberg. Heimberg also had a tie tack that originally belonged to her husband’s grandfather transformed into a unique pendant, which she now wears as a necklace. “I know if Jeff were here to see these beautiful pieces of jewelry, he would be so proud. They are not only amazing to look at, but they are incredibly meaningful,” she said. Roman Jewelers is a family-owned and operated jewelry store with locations in Flemington and the Bridgewater Commons Shopping Mall in Bridgewater. Roman Jewelers specializes in custom jewelry design, fine jewelry including diamond and bridal jewelry, and offers a wide selection of Swiss watches. For more information, call 908-782-8240 or visit www.Romanjewelers.com.