Martha Stewart Weddings Good Together editorial recently featured Mikimoto's Akoya Special Edition Value set ($3,950). The signature Akoya cultured pearl strand necklace and matching stud earrings perfectly complement a strapless gown and can be enjoyed and passed down? Pearls are classic and still contemporary and probably one of our stores best sellers. Pearls are not only beautiful, but they are facinating. Each pearl is, of course, unique, but what makes each pearl strand different and what are thedifferent types of pearls? Here is a quick lesson on pearls... The wonderful variety in types of pearls adds to their appeal. These gems of the sea will differ in their luster and mysterious colors depending on the type of oyster that produced them. Here is a guide to understanding their beautiful range of appearances: Akoya pearls, are prized for their brilliant luster and rich color, Akoya pearls are a traditional symbol of elegance and beauty. Produced by Japan’s Akoya oysters, they are the most popular of all pearl types. Depending on the size of the oyster, they grow from 3-10mm. Colors range from white, cream and pink to light green, blue and silver South Sea White Cultured Pearls The magnificent, satiny luster of these fantastic white pearls is produced by the silver-lipped South Sea oyster. Their subdued opalescent appearance subtly changes under different light conditions, making them a constant marvel to behold. Harvested in sizes from 9mm up, their shapes range from round, oval or teardrop to free-form baroque. Black South Sea Cultured Pearls The breathtaking color of these naturally black pearls is produced by black-lipped oysters in the waters off Tahiti and Okinawa. Sizes begin at 8mm, in round, oval, teardrop or unique baroque. shapes. While characterized as black, the rich, dark colors actually range from slate grey, silver and pistachio to peacock green and midnight black with overtones of green, rosé or blue. South Sea Golden Cultured Pearls These opulent pearls are produced by the golden-lipped oyster. Their warm, natural golden color is said to be rarer than gold itself. The color palette ranges from light champagne to a very rare, deep gold. This oyster species can also produce richly luminescent white pearls, but the deeper golden colors are the most coveted of all pearls. Harvested in sizes of 9mm and up, in round, oval, teardrop or beautiful baroque shapes. Freshwater Cultured Pearls Produced mostly in the lakes and rivers of China, Freshwater pearls are cultured in a mussel rather than an oyster. Often small in size, as many as ten to fourteen Freshwater pearls can be cultured in one mussel. Perfectly round Freshwater pearls are extremely rare. Conch Pearls These natural pearls are harvested from the Queen conch, a large marine snail with a heavy, lustrous shell which lives in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The highest-quality examples of Conch pearls are characterized by a distinctive "flame structure" that gives the appearance of a fire burning on the surface. Content provided by Mikimoto.

What happened in Vegas is not staying there this time! Our experienced, fashion-forward jewelry buyers are bringing all of their great finds back from the Vegas jewelry show, and our cases will soon be stocked with the latest in jewelry and some new brands. Anyone and everyone in the WORLD who is in the jewelry business was in Las Vegas last week! It is at the two Las Vegas shows where designers and manufacturers show all of their latest jewelry and where insiders talk and learn about new trends and what is going on in the business. The excitement never ends. Here are the top Roman Jewelers’ takeaways from the Las Vegas JCK and Couture shows: Turquoise is Everywhere Beautiful and everywhere. Turquoise is perfect for the Summer and beyond. Turquoise has been an admired ornamental gem for thousands of years as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman. It really does have the right to be called a 'gemstone of the peoples' and it is found in many parts of the world, including the Southwest of the US. We will have some soon! Enamel & Roberto Coin Enamel and yellow gold was a popular choice by many of the shows designers. At the Roberto Coin Salon at Couture, Roman Jewelers purchased from the Chic and Shine collection a beautiful necklace and matching cuff bracelet in off-white enamel and yellow gold. Silver & Scott Kay Silver is a beloved and affordable metal whose popularity just keeps increasing. We’ve seen more silver and diamonds at this Vegas show than ever before. Scott Kay has expanded his line beyond belief with silver, diamonds, and much more. The buyers from Roman Jewelers couldn’t stop! Wait till you see what is coming back from Scott Kay to Flemington. Pearls & Honora Pearls never go out of style. But to be able to do with pearls what Honora has done is truly remarkable. Honora uses freshwater pearls and creates current, affordable jewelry that is fashionable for all ages. Roman Jewelers in Flemington & Bridgewater is pleased to be adding Honora to the list of fine designers in our stores. Drusy Drusy is a little-known (well, until now) tiny quartz crystal that forms on the surface of other stones. Found in all colors, drusy is colorful and bright and is perfect for getting attention if set alone or as part of a design. Scott Kay and Honora both used it in their new jewelry, but Roman Jewelers predicts you will see it on many ladies this Summer and beyond. It is truly stunning and available soon at Roman Jewelers. Warm Colors & Simon G. Simon G. wowed the buyers at Roman Jewelers with a new, soft and warm look. Featuring designs from nature in a softer, earth-toned palette, Simon G. is always a buyer's favorite. Every year, Simon G. continues to evolve and impress buyers with fresh looks and quality beyond compare. Crystal & Chamilia It must be a lot of hard work and dedication that keeps the designers at Chamilia going. They never cease to amaze or disappoint. Chamilia has a new collection of jewelry and charms coming out, including the Sojourn collection. They have also made their partnership with Swarovski official and will continue to expand and develop that portion of their collection.

Restringing Pearls ensures the next generation will enjoy them. A: OF COURSE! Once you've made a investment in a piece of fine jewelry, it deserves to have a beautiful, long and healthy life that brings joy every day. Caring for jewelry will not only extend the life of your jewelry--and ability to pass it down to the next generation--but it is really a very simple thing to protect an important and personal investment. Below are some simple, basic guidelines for the care and cleaning of your fine jewelry: Basic jewelry care tips from Roman Jewelers: Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place. Keep your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments and dividers. If you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper. Don't jumble your jewelry pieces in a drawer or jewelry case. Pieces can scratch each other. Be careful when removing your jewelry to wash your hands. Do not leave your jewelry on the rim of a sink where it can easily slip down the drain. See your jeweler at least once a year to have your jewelry checked for loose prongs, worn mountings, and general wear and tear. Visit your jeweler every six months to have your jewelry professionally cleaned.These services are generally veryinexpensive or free. Be careful with store bought ultrasonic cleaners. Theycan damage some jewelry and prolonged use may loosen gemstones from their mountings.Come in and ask us if an ultrasonic cleaning machine is right for your jewelry wardrobe. Depending on the type of jewelry you have, care must be given to properly maintain it. Roman Jewelers would be happy to provide you with tips on keeping your silver polished, your pearls shiny (just use a damp cloth) and your diamonds sparkling. Stop in and ask.

With the Royal Wedding just days away, the Jewelry Information Center has been keeping the public interested in all things Royal and Jeweled. Royal Families have always understood the importance of jewelry as heirlooms. Here are two of the JIC’s (and our) favorite heirlooms of the British Monarchy. Granny’s Chips Brooch Queen Elizabeth affectionately christened the diamonds in the pictured brooch "Granny's Chips" because they were originally owned by her grandmother, Queen Mary. The "chips" are two large, beautiful diamonds: a 94.4-carat pear-cut stone and a 63.60-carat square-cushion cut diamond. Wouldn't we all like to have heirlooms that size? Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara The Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara—so named because of the Lovers Knots bows incorporated into the design—was an appropriate gift from Queen Elizabeth to Princess Diana on her wedding day. Its origin dates back to 1914, when Queen Mary commissioned the crown jeweler Garrard to create a copy of a tiara owned by her maternal grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel. Will Kate wear this?

Have discretionary $5 to $10 million dollars? If you do, get an airplane ticket to Geneva, Switzerland and attend the Sotheby’s auction on May 17. The emerald and diamond tiara will be offered at an auction there. The tiara was created with 11 pear-shaped rare Colombian emeralds that collectively weigh over 500 carats. The emeralds are thought to have been included in the personal collection of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, before the tiara was created for Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck circa 1900. I don’t think any of you will be ready to jump on that offering. So for now, enjoy the picture. It is truly a magnificent piece of jewelry.

Yesterday, we lost Elizabeth Taylor—a legendary actress famed for her beauty, her charitable endeavors, and her many love affairs. One of her most famous love affairs was with jewelry itself. In 2002, she wrote a book entitled My Love Affair with Jewelry, sharing lavish photographs and stories from her extraordinary jewelry collection. The book reveals how deeply passionate she was about jewelry—not only for owning and wearing it, but for its natural beauty, ancient history, and emotional significance. Many pieces in her remarkable collection were historic treasures, including the Shah Jehan Diamond and the famous La Peregrina pearl. She also owned what became known as the Taylor-Burton Diamond. Elizabeth Taylor’s Shah Jehan Diamond is an 88.7-carat yellow diamond discovered in India around 1450 and given in 1621 to Queen Mumtāz, the favorite wife of Shah Jehan. The gem is inscribed in Parsee with the words “Love Is Everlasting.” A diamond seemingly taken from a storybook, it appeared and disappeared throughout history until Richard Burton gifted it to Elizabeth Taylor on her fortieth birthday. “I would have liked to buy the Taj Mahal for Elizabeth,” Burton once joked, “but it would have cost too much to transport it.” Thus, it became known as the Taj Mahal Diamond. Another extraordinary gem in Elizabeth Taylor’s collection was the La Peregrina pearl—a large, pear-shaped white pearl and the largest ever discovered. Found in 1513 in the Gulf of Panama, its history is as remarkable as its beauty. The pearl became part of the Spanish Crown Jewels under King Ferdinand V and later passed to King Charles V. In 1556, it was gifted to Queen Mary I of England, who was often depicted wearing it in portraits. After her death, the pearl returned to Spain, remaining there for 250 years. In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte captured Spain and carried the pearl with him, earning it the name “La Peregrina”—the Wanderer. Over the centuries, it traveled between Spain, France, and England before Richard Burton purchased it for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. Elizabeth wore the pearl often, including in several films she starred in with Burton. She famously recounted a moment when her dog accidentally swallowed the pearl—fortunately, it was recovered unharmed. In 1968, Richard Burton purchased a flawless 69-carat diamond for Elizabeth, originally known as the Cartier Diamond after Cartier paid a record $1,050,000 at auction. Burton bought the stone the following day and renamed it the Taylor-Burton Diamond. Elizabeth first wore the pear-shaped diamond publicly at Princess Grace’s 40th birthday party in Monaco. In 1978, she sold the diamond to fund the construction of a hospital in Botswana. In her book, Elizabeth shared a humorous story involving Lucille Ball, who once tried on the famous diamond while Liz and Richard were visiting the set of The Lucy Show. The ring got stuck, causing momentary panic before it was finally removed amid laughter. Elizabeth Taylor’s love for jewelry was unmatched, but her philosophy about ownership was even more remarkable. She once said: “I don’t believe I own any of my jewelry. I believe that I am their custodian—here to enjoy them, to give them the best treatment in the world, to watch after their safety, and to love them.” She also reflected: “Nobody ever owns anything this beautiful. We are only the guardians.” Putting it all in perspective, Elizabeth once remarked: “You can’t cry on a diamond’s shoulder, and diamonds won’t keep you warm at night. But they’re sure fun when the sun shines.”

Every customer that wants a custom design comes in with an idea of what they are trying to accomplish—from the simplest hint like, “I want it to look like something my Grandma would wear,” to elaborate and detailed descriptions of exactly what they envision. Sometimes, customers see something they like in a magazine and want Roman Jewelers to recreate it with different touches or different stones. In the end, they choose custom because only a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry will do. “Custom design starts with the customer,” says Allyson Quaglia, jewelry design expert and Director of Sales at Roman Jewelers. Allyson, along with co-owner and 4th generation jewelry designer Lucy Zimmerman, carry on the tradition of custom design at Roman Jewelers in Bridgewater and Flemington, NJ. Allyson describes a recent situation where a customer wanted to use colored stones from several family heirlooms and also wanted to match an existing pair of earrings. It may sound challenging, but the customer worked with Allyson from start to finish, and together they brought the idea to life. Allyson starts the process by getting an idea of the customer’s style. She walks with the customer around Roman Jewelers, looks at pieces in the cases, and gathers information on preferences—traditional or modern looks, or even something a bit art deco. Often, they discuss techniques incorporated into certain jewelry pieces, like engraving versus millgrain, and the type of finish or polish they prefer. The next step is a quick sketch. The designers at Roman Jewelers are experts at putting pencil to paper right in front of the customer and showing concepts within minutes. Once the customer approves the look, the sketch is created as a 3D CAD drawing and reviewed again. After approval of the CAD drawing, an actual wax model is made, and the customer comes in to see it. Time and care are given at every step so there are no surprises—only amazement. Once the wax is approved, a mold is created and the jewelry is cast. After casting, the final finishing touches are done by an in-house bench jeweler. The piece is cleaned, pre-polished, and stones are set if applicable. Fine detail finishing then continues depending on the complexity of the design. Customers often enjoy returning to see the final setting or polishing of their custom-designed work of art. “That is precisely what it is: a work of art,” adds Allyson. “It is something cherished, memorable, and personal—a piece that can be worn and enjoyed for a lifetime, and beyond.” More information about custom design at Roman Jewelers can be found at https://www.romanjewelers.com/page/custom-jewelry.html

SK Cobalt Available at Roman Jewelers, Flemington Next week, Roman Jewelers will be adding the SK Cobalt collection of men’s wedding bands to their collection. Scott Kay, creator of the line, calls cobalt “the most superior contemporary metal known to man.” According to his company, the cobalt used in creating the rings, BioBlu 27, is by far the most sophisticated, safe, white, hypoallergenic, 100% solid, scratch-resistant, and luxurious cobalt alloy in the world. SK Cobalt jewelry and cobalt bands evoke strength, masculinity, and personal style. Dana Venezia, Flemington’s assistant store manager, agrees, saying, “I love it, and I think our customers are going to love it because it is an amazing alternative to gold, platinum, or palladium at a friendly price point. It is made in the USA, which makes me proud to sell it.” BioBlu™ 27, while previously used for the production of finely crafted surgical tools, is now being used for the first time in the crafting of cobalt jewelry.SK Cobalt is proudly created, engineered, and designed into the finest cobalt bands in the United States of America. The SK Cobalt Collection of wedding bands represents Strength, Beauty, and Love that cannot be tarnished. Throughout history, women have passed down wedding rings as family heirlooms from generation to generation, from mother to son to daughter-in-law, with pride. The SK Cobalt Collection is designed to start a new tradition of heirlooms: SK Cobalt wedding rings will be passed from father to son to grandson, from generation to generation, with pride. The SK Cobalt wedding band collection consists of eight styles, each representing qualities found in a groom-to-be: Troy Collection – Strength, Courage, Battles fought for Love Braid Collection – Strong Bonds, Lives Intertwined, Strength of Love Prime Collection – Pride, Love, Strength Unity Collection – Dependable, Steady, Lasting Century Collection – Lasting Love, Trust Devout Collection – Commitment, Enthusiasm, Devotion Code Collection – Belief, Principle, Values Native Collection – Strength of Character, Natural Love