Roman Jewelers Wedding Winners Photographed by Transposure Fine Art Photography Do-gooders say, “I do.” Congratulations to James & Marah Silvestri! This past week, the winners of the Roman Jewelers Wedding contest were married. After raising more than $20,000 for Special Olympics New Jersey and winning the charity contest last fall, the couple celebrated their nuptials at the Villa at Mountain Lakes in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, courtesy of Frungillo Catering. Guests danced the night away to musical entertainment by Craig Scott Entertainment, which even included a Michael Jackson impersonator who amazed and delighted attendees. In addition to the contest sponsorship and wedding rings donated by Roman Jewelers of Flemington and Bridgewater, the generous contributions of all the Romantic Partners were widely noted and admired. The floral arrangements perfectly complemented the venue, Marah looked stunning in her gown by Donna Morello, and the couple’s video preview has already gone viral. The couple graciously took time during the festivities to thank Roman & Sophie Shor, owners of Roman Jewelers. The groom shared that without the Roman Jewelers Wedding contest, the wedding—especially on such a short timeline—would never have been possible. According to Sophie Shor, owner of Roman Jewelers, “The Romantic Partners are the businesses that truly care about our communities. I’m not going to be shy about telling everyone I know to shop at their establishments. They are charitable businesses offering only the finest products.” The couple also generously made a donation to Special Olympics New Jersey in honor of each guest and shared how their involvement with the charity changed their lives forever. The Romantic Partners who made this magical evening possible include: The Villa at Mountain Lakes – www.Frungillo.com Conroy’s Creations – www.ConroysCreations.com Transposure Fine Art Photography – www.Transposure.com Hilton Waikoloa Village – www.HiltonWaikoloaVillage.com, www.waikoloabeachresort.com Opulent Events – www.OpulentEvents.net Donna Morello Wedding Gowns – www.MariageCouture.com Mikimoto – www.mikimotoamerica.com Craig Scott Entertainment – www.craigscott.com NJ Limo Bus & Limousine – www.NewJerseyLimoBus.com LeMedSpa – www.LeMedSpaBucks.com Occasions – Absolute Media Productions – www.AbsoluteMediaProductions.com Printech – www.Prin-Tech.com Dieci Lifestyle Salon & Spa – www.DieciSpa.com Dress for Success – 973-857-7068 Enjou Chocolat – www.EnjouChocolat.com

Roman Jewelers Named in Best of Weddings 2011 Roman Jewelers is pleased to announce that they have been selected as a 2011 winner of The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section in The Knot North/Central NJ magazine and on TheKnot.com—the leading wedding resource trusted most by brides. The award is based on customer reviews and nominations, along with evaluations of products and services by The Knot experts. One review from customer Katherine Schiavone said, “Sandy is the best thing that ever happened to Roman Jewelers. I had something very specific that I wanted for my wedding band and she found it! I receive so many compliments on my ring and it is all because of Sandy! If you go to Romans, ask for Sandy—she works Saturday and Sunday. You will walk away happy!” Knot representative Nikole Spangler added that brides especially enjoy seeing Roman Jewelers carry highly sought-after bridal jewelry brands such as Tacori and Simon G. “We are thrilled about this and would like to thank all of our amazing brides and grooms for the nomination. We will continue to do our best to make every bride and groom happy—whether we design a custom piece for them or they choose from our vast inventory,” the team shared.

Red Garnet Rings by Marco Bicego This red garnet ring is designed by Marco Bicego and available at Roman Jewelers. As Aquarius’ zodiac stone and the second wedding anniversary gem, garnet provides a versatile family of affordable gems that can be enjoyed year-round. But, probably, the garnet is known mostly as January’s birthstone. A Family of Gems Garnet is actually the group name for a family of gemstones that come in almost every color. They’re beautiful, durable, and most garnets are very affordable. The name “garnet” comes from the Roman word granatus, meaning “seed,” because the gems were thought to resemble pomegranate seeds. The m

Christmas and New Year’s are the most popular times to get engaged, and many “guys” came into Roman Jewelers to do their shopping this year. So far, we don’t have any requests for returns, so the proposals must have gone well! Furthermore, the rings must have been well received by the ladies—which is fabulous news. Maybe all of those hints paid off! But really, his hard work, research, and decision to team up with a Roman Jewelers sales consultant ensured a great choice and a happy fiancée. So, here’s the report on what was hot in Central Jersey! The flurry of engagement ring purchases in our stores seemed to align with fashion trends reported by national trade magazines and celebrity news—a return to more traditional, albeit quite large, colorless or near-colorless diamonds. Here in Central New Jersey, we found that the average center diamond purchased this season was slightly larger than 1 carat. Most of the diamonds sold were round, but radiant cuts appealed to many and came in as the second most popular choice. Cushion cuts also remained popular, along with pavé and halo settings. White gold was by far the metal of choice. Many of our customers selected Tacori, Scott Kay, and Simon G. settings because they loved the designer aesthetic and admired the fine detail and craftsmanship of these sought-after designs. Other couples opted for a custom-designed look. With custom designers on staff and a team of full-time jewelers at both our Flemington and Bridgewater locations, custom design is often the first—and only—choice for couples seeking something truly unique. Here’s to 2011, many happy couples, and lots of sparkle!

For a "Royal Look" we suggest an Oval Sapphire, like this one from Tacori. It's official: Prince William and fiancée Kate Middleton will be married! In true romantic fashion, William proposed with an heirloom ring, none other than the ring his late mother Princess Diana wore. A stunning Oval Sapphire sits at the center—representing truth, sincerity, and constancy—and is framed with a halo of diamonds. Sapphires have been prized as great gemstones since 800 BC and have been worn by 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 gave Princess Diana a sapphire engagement ring, more couples have adopted this beautiful tradition. Sapphire stands for truth, compatibility, commitment, and mutual understanding. It is a perfect, meaningful choice for engaged couples, and is also recommended for a couple’s 5th or 45th anniversaries. The sapphire has long been associated with chastity, piety, and repentance. It brings wisdom and truth, increases perception and understanding of justice, helps find peace of mind and serenity, and promotes a life of sincerity—helping preserve one’s innocence while learning life’s truths. Sapphires are also associated with romantic love, representing fidelity and devotion. It is also used in quests to increase faith, hope, and joy, and to keep thoughts pure and heavenly.

The winner of the Roman Jewelers Wedding Contest, presented by New Jersey Bride, will be announced on October 7 at 6:30 PM at Roman Jewelers’ Renaissance Plaza in Flemington. Sponsored by Roman Jewelers of Flemington and Bridgewater, the contest will award a free luxury wedding to the couple who most successfully completed their “good deed plan”—the ideas and goals they set in August to conduct the most effective fundraising and awareness campaign for a local charity. Since August 2nd, finalist couples have been raising money and awareness for local charities, including: America’s Grow-a-Row Anderson House The ARC of Hunterdon Hunterdon Art Museum Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Jersey Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity SAFE in Hunterdon Special Olympics New Jersey Woodlands Wildlife Refuge From selling decorated wooden bears to hosting wiffle ball tournaments, dinners, luncheons, comedy nights, and benefit concerts, the couples have gone above and beyond. According to Sophie Shor, co-owner of Roman Jewelers, “They are amazing, hard-working, and dedicated philanthropis

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 Guest Blogger: Sandy Heimberg What a joy it is to choose an engagement ring! What a happy event—one of life’s defining moments. Or so you might think. “Oh, really?” you say. “It’s also scary, stressful, and very expensive.” My answer? It doesn’t have to be—if you do it in the way that’s best for you and your intended. Advice on buying an engagement ring Know your budget First and foremost, know your budget. The right jeweler will work within it and never push you to overextend yourself. They’ll also discuss a payment plan that fits your lifestyle. Decide how much of a surprise you want Consider whether it makes sense to choose both the setting and the center diamond yourself. Only you know if your fiancée has something specific in mind. If she does, it may be better to let her select a few settings from which you can ultimately choose. She may also want to designate her preferred diamond shape and metal choice. You can then return to the store later to complete the purchase—without her knowing the financial details. Choose the right jeweler The right jeweler will clearly explain what’s covered regarding repairs, stone loss, resizing, and refinishing. Choose wisely—interview jewelers to find the best fit for you. Your jeweler should act as your educator and guide throughout the process. All your questions should be answered, and you should be encouraged to view diamonds under a microscope to understand their unique “fingerprints.” Compare stones. Every diamond has its own personality. Above all, your jeweler should make you feel like the most important client in the world—because you are, regardless of your budget. You’ll feel the stress melt away once you realize you’re working with a patient, knowledgeable professional whose goal is to make you comfortable and thrilled with your final purchase. Feel a little better now? Good—go out and make that engagement ring purchase with confidence! Congratulations!

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.