Let’s celebrate May by learning about this month’s birthstone – the emerald. The radiant gemstone ranges in ravishing shades of green, which include blue to yellow undertones. Generally, deep green emeralds are more coveted than diamonds. The name “emerald” was derived from the Greek root “smaragdos”, which literally means “green gemstone”. Some of the earliest people to appreciate emerald were ancient Egyptians who excavated the gemstone near the Red Sea, in a location now known as “Cleopatra’s Mines”. Much like Cleopatra, the most famous fashionista of ancient times, Hollywood’s most glamorous gals, including Angelina Jolie and Elizabeth Taylor, have adorned themselves with emerald jewelry on the red carpet. Jolie famously paired gorgeous teardrop earrings at the 2009 Oscars with a simple black gown. The green really popped against the black dress. Jewelry aficionado Taylor had a stunning suite of emerald and diamond pieces in her $150 million dollar jewelry collection. Many were gifts from husband number five, Richard Burton. Here at Roman Jewelers, we are proud to carry emerald bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants and rings designed by Simon G. His collection includes fashion-forward designs that feature highly saturated gemstones that look magnificent in any setting. A red-carpet earring look, designed by Simon G is pictured above. To learn more about the Simon G. collection at Roman Jewelers, please visithttps://www.romanjewelers.com

The Clark Pink Diamond & Summer Jewelry Alternatives On Tuesday, Christie’s auction house in New York sold a rare 9-carat pink diamond for $15.7 million! The diamond belonged to the estate of philanthropist and reclusive heiress Huguette M. Clark. The cushion-cut ring, known as “The Clark Pink”, set a record for the most valuable pink diamond sold in the United States. Want the same look? Read on… While the beauty of the ring is undeniable, the price tag is a bit much for us non-heiress types. The alternative: rose quartz. This pink-colored crystal is much more abundant and is known as the heart-healing gemstone. Pink quartz is a great stone to add to your jewelry collection while also adding a bit of Summer color to your wardrobe. Italian designer Roberto Coin creates a dazzling pink quartz necklace available at Roman Jewelers! The 18kt white gold piece features a multi-faceted stone set in a 0.10 ct. diamond cap. John Hardy, one of our Sales Staff’s favorite designers, also uses pink quartz in rings, bracelets, and pendants.

For a "Royal Look" we suggest an Oval Sapphire, like this one from Tacori It didn’t start with Kate Middleton, couples have always looked for a meaninful engagement ring as unique as their love, and the trend continues…. many are choosing Sapphires and other stones for engagement rings. A stunningOval Sapphiresits at the center of Kate Middleton’s ring, which was previously Princess Diana’s. Sapphire- represents truth, sincerity and constancy. The ring is encircled with a Halo of diamonds. Sapphires have been prized as great gemstones since 800BC and have beenwornby royalty throughout history. King Solomon wore a sapphire ring, and the British Crown Jewels are full of large blue Sapphires, the mark of prudent and wise rulers. Ever since Prince Charles has given Princess Diana a Sapphire engagement ring, more and more couples have decided to adopt this old tradition to the present day. Sapphire stands for truth, compatibility, commitment, and mutual understanding. A perfect, meaningful choice for engaged couples, and Sapphire is also recommended for a couple’s 5th or 45th anniversaries. The sapphire has for a long time, been identified with chastity, piety, and repentance. It brings wisdom and truth, increases perception and the understanding of justice. It helps find peace of mind and serenity and promotes a life of sincerity, helping preserve one’s innocence while learning life’s truths. Sapphires also are associated with romantic love, representing fidelity and romantic devotion. I it also used for a quest to increase one’s faith, hope, and joy, and to keep thoughts pure and heavenly

Pink Diamonds work for April Birthdays, too! Who is lucky enough to be born in April? If it is you, your birthstone is the diamond. Diamonds symbolize so much: beauty, strength, resilience, purity, and a whole lot of sparkle. Read on to learn more. A Symbol Of Innocence…Though diamonds are revered among minerals for their superior strength and durability, they also are associated with innocence. The diamond’s super-hard structure makes it virtually incorruptible. Its dual strength and purity make it the perfect adornment when worn as jewelry. More Than Wedding Jewelry…In the United States, the diamond is typically associated with the engagement ring. It symbolizes the commitment of matrimony. But the diamond is also a key player in the most stunning jewelry in the world. Its unique structure paired with skilled cutting techniques allow it to refract light in a way that is truly mesmerizing. The April girl is lucky to have the diamond as her signature gem! Religious Significance. The use of diamonds in jewelry and engagement rings is relatively recent compared to its use in religious rituals and customs. In India, diamonds have been regarded as religious icons for over 3,000 years. In the Bible the diamond represented one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and according to the book of Exodus, was used to adorn the garments of the priests serving in the temple. In the book of Jeremiah the diamond was used as a tool and as an instrument of judgment. The World of Colored Diamonds. And remember, not all diamonds are white! While diamond hues are often paler than a colored gemstone, their rarity gives them a sought-after status among jewelry buyers. But, there are black diamonds, chocolate diamonds and the coveted yellow or pink diamonds, most precious of all.

Here are just two of my favorite things; chocolates and chocolate diamonds. Both come in small packages, and both make my everyday-life more enjoyable. What are chocolate diamonds; are they real diamonds? Yes, they are. Most chocolate diamonds come from diamond mines in Australia. They come in different shades of browns, like cognac, cinnamon, brown, and champagne. Champagne colored diamonds are usually lighter in color with a slightly reddish undertone, while the cognac color is warm reddish golden-brown. And just like chocolates, let chocolate diamonds bring you joy and happiness.

Sophie Shor from Roman Jewelers Teaches Students about Diamonds A diamond is the most valuable gem on earth and yet, it is made out of the same mineral as the graphite in a pencil…carbon. This interesting fact along with several others were offered earlier this month for third grade students at the Whitehouse School in Readington and the Hunterdon Care Center in Flemington. The presentation appeals to all ages and is currently being offered as part of a community outreach program by Roman Jewelers. Sophie Shor, Vice President of Roman Jewelers, presented the information. “No matter your age, everyone is fascinated by the science of diamonds. Not only did they learn about where diamonds come from and the chemical composition of a diamond, but it was invigorating to watch everyone’s eyes light up as I showed them how light travels through a diamond. They couldn’t wait to hear more about one of the most precious things on our earth.” “For the older folks, every diamond has a story and a memory. What better way to engage an audience then with a story that they can connect to, but also learn from,” Shor says. The jeweler also provides a presentation on Fabergé Eggs, which ties in to the Shor’s family story. Like Fabergé, the Shor family has been making jewelry for many generations, both here in the United States and in Russia. “This presentation captivates audiences--not only because of the rich history behind the eggs, but also because of the information about the detail and creation of the art,” says Shor. The program offered by Roman Jewelers is an effort to provide the community with the opportunity to learn first-hand about the professionals in the jewelry business and the vast information they possess. It can be adapted for students of all ages or adults. Anyone interested in having the program presented in their school or organization can contact program coordinator Lauren Baker, who will also be helping with the presentations at 908-782-8240. Roman Jewelers is a family owned and operated 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

Every girl should sparkle on St. Patrick's Day with Jewelry from Roberto Coin Aren’t we all Irish on St. Patrick’s Day? Even if you really are not....we all like to follow a tradition of wearing green clothes that day. And what fun it is! A green dress and a pair of green shoes. Or a green blouse and a green scarf. The possibilities of dressing in green are endless. But what about accessories? Remember, you need to wear something shiny and sparkly that day to attract a leprechaun, that little Irish man who, if caught, will tell you where he buried his big pot of gold. If you really would like to see a leprechaun, I suggest you were a lot of yellow gold that day. There is no better combination than wearing green clothes accessorized with shiny gold, polished to perfection. Put on your favorite yellow gold hoop earrings, a bracelet, or a necklace from Roberto Coin. Roberto Coin yellow gold jewelry will compliment your choices of green clothes just perfectly. Of course you could wear jewelry with green colored stones like emeralds, jade, or green tourmalines. They will certainly look appropriate for that fun-filled day. So get dressed, put your beautiful jewelry on , and enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day. www.romanjewelers.com

Spring has arrived at Roman Jewelers We haven't had too much of a "winter" here in New Jersey and Daylight saving time is right around the corner. What does this mean at Roman Jewelers? Time to get our jewelry wardrobes ready for Spring. The season calls for bright colors to transition us from the dreary and cold months. And, Spring is also synonymous with renewal and re-growth. And, we do have a lovely piece in our Flemington store that will truly symbolize this. This beautiful butterfly pendant from well-known designer Gregg Ruth immediately made us think warm thoughts. The artist who created this piece of diamond jewelry made it delicate and light, just as the real butterflies are. The designer artfully incorporated petals and flowers into the design and brought the feeling of new life and new beginnings. The pendant is light and airy which the designer achieved by using thin wires and smaller size diamonds. It is made in 18K white gold with sixty-seven .76 cts. of bezel-set diamonds carefully attached to a wire-lattice. We think this is the perfect accessory to welcome Spring and shed the winter blues. Available only at our Flemington location.

Tanzanite Ring, custom designed by Roman Jewelers Yes, we are very proud of this tanzanite ring that was custom designed and made in our shop at Roman Jewelers last month. One of our customers presented us with a challenge of creating a custom designed ring for her with a tanzanite she purchased while on a trip to Africa. A little bit of history. Tanzanite was first discovered by man in 1967 when an enormous grassfire swept the land below Kilimanjaro clear. In its rough natural state tanzanite is a brownish color. Before the fire broke out the stones looked unattractive and were hardly noticeable. After the grassfire had burnt the land and heated the stones, they turned a bright, glittering violet-blue. Today, gem-quality tanzanites have become one of the world’s most sought after stones. As beautiful as tanzanite stones are, they also present a challenge to a jeweler working with it. Natural tanzanite rates 6.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness (the scale rates the scratch-resistant properties of various gemstones and minerals, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest). That means that the jeweler has to be very careful while working with the gem, and especially when applying pressure to the stone while pressing the prongs that hold the stone in place. The stunning ring that you are looking at is a result of a team work of talented jewelers and designers at Roman Jewelers. The ring was designed by Allyson Berlen, the model created by Roman Ustaev, and the ring finished by our master jewelers. The ring is made in 14K white gold, with 158 round diamonds weighing 1.37 cts., iIn total. The beautiful center stone is gem-quality cushion cut tanzanite weighing 29.98 cts, of fine deep saturated vivid purple-blue. “Designing and making a ring of this caliber is a challenge and an honor,” says Allyson Berlen. “It gives me a tremendous pleasure of making one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry that I know will be passed from one generation to the next.”