Do you remember the movieForrest Gump?For those who do (and perhaps even those who have never seen it) you’ll recall Forrest’s iconic line: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.” I like to think of this line every time I look at pearls, because the same concept applies to them—you never know what you’re going to get. Since pearls are created entirely by nature, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Similarly to opening a box of chocolates, when you open an oyster to find a pearl you never know what you’re going to get. Often, you’ll find a perfectly round pearl. But you’ll also sometimes find a totally irregular pearl—one that’s shaped unlike any other. These kinds of pearls are called Baroque pearls, and (in my opinion) are the most interesting type of pearl. I’m the first to admit that I’m a complete perfectionist. I look for precision in everything I do-- in my everyday work, in the places that I visit, in nature, but most of all in jewelry. When it comes to jewelry design, I like clean lines and perfectly shaped jewels. But, interestingly enough, I am completely fascinated by imperfect Baroque pearls. Not only does their perfect imperfection look stunning in jewelry design, Baroque pearls also have a fascinating history and background. Let’s start with their name—baroque. Even the sound of the word evokes an image of something unique and extravagant. Where exactly does baroque come from? According to various dictionaries,the word originates either from French (where baroque means “irregular shape”) orthe Portugueseword barroco(meaning “irregular pearl”). In English the word “baroque” points to a style in music, architecture, and the arts (known as the Baroque Period) that existed in Europe from the early 17th century to the late 18th century. The period was known for featuring many decorative parts and details in its artwork and architecture. The baroque style was filled with creativity, new art forms, embellishments, and adventure. These elements are also present in Baroque pearl jewelry, making its name very fitting. Today, the attraction of Baroque pearls lies in the very nature of their imperfection. The different shapes and sizes of baroque pearls makes them extremely intriguing and beautiful—not to mention unique—when put together. Baroque pearls allow for unleashed creativity and pure imagination in jewelry design. If you like jewelry that is unique and different, baroque pearl necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets are the choice for you! As with any pearls, the most valuable baroque pearls come from the South Sea and Tahiti. Lucky for designers and jewelry lovers, a high percentage of the pearls harvested in these areas are baroque. Akoya Pearls are the close cousins of South Sea and Tahitian pearls—similar in nature but smaller in size. Akoyapearls aresaltwaterpearls, and the name "Akoya" comes from the oysterthat produces them. That oyster is known as the “akoyaoyster”andis found and farmed mainlyin Japan and China.Akoya pearls arefrequentlywhite or creamincolor, with overtone colors of rose, silver, or cream. The most valuable and cherished pearls are South Sea pearls. As the name implies, these pearlsare found in the warm waters of the South Sea that surroundsAustralia, Indonesia and the Philippines. These pearls are produced by the silver or golden lipped oyster, known as the Pinctada Maxima oyster. Both golden and white South Sea pearls are very rare. Exotic black pearls (which come from the black lipped pearl oyster) are called Tahitian pearls. Like the name suggests, these pearls come from Tahiti, but also several other French Polynesian islands. Though they are often referred to as black pearls, their color can actually vary from light creamy white, to gray, to green, to iridescent peacock, to deep black. Tahitian pearls come in so manydifferent shades and colors that matching them into a finished strand is an enormous task. Quite often, a jeweler has to go throughthousands of loose Tahitian pearls to create a single strand. Pearls can also come from freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds. These pearls are logically called Freshwater Pearls.The majority of cultured freshwater pearls come from China, and (similar to Tahitian pearls) range in color from light shades like soft pink, lavender, peach, and white to dark shades like peacock and black. Even though pearls are intended by nature to be perfectly round, the fact that they sometimes turn out irregular only allows for creativity and distinctiveness in jewelry making. In the world of jewelry-making, where uniformity and perfection are often strived for, Baroque pearls offer a unique take that is beautiful in its own right. Even for someone like me, a perfectionist through and through, the individualityof Baroque pearls is highly appealing because it allows an appreciation for nature’s imperfections. But don’t let me sway you-- what do you think? Do you prefer perfectly round or imperfectly baroque pearls? For more information on beautiful baroque pearls, or to inquire about purchasing your own pearl jewelry, make an appointment with Roman Jewelers today.

As Marilyn Monroe sang, diamonds (and really all fine jewelry) are a girl’s best friend. There’s no better feeling than receiving a beautiful new diamond bracelet, or trying on a pair of birthstone earrings. Here are a few specific reasons why we love fine jewelry. 1. There’s something for every occasion Whether you need something as simple as a gift for your niece’s birthday, or as elaborate as a necklace for your wedding day, there’s a piece of jewelry for you. Fine jewelry comes in a wide variety of styles, colors, and price points, making it appropriate for every occasion and need. 2. It completes any outfit Try to find a piece of clothing that doesn’t go well with simple diamond studs—it’s nearly impossible. Fine jewelry adds the finishing touch to any look. Universal pieces like diamond earrings or pearl strands complement almost anything, while more elaborate jewelry can enhance even the most complex outfits. 3. It reflects the wearer Perhaps the best part of fine jewelry is how it showcases personal style. Whether you’re wearing a custom-designed engagement ring or a simple bangle, the jewelry you choose reflects who you are. 4. It can be as formal as you want Most fine jewelry can be dressed up or down. Pearl studs, for example, can be worn casually, professionally, or formally—making fine jewelry incredibly versatile. 5. It’s customizable Whether you’re designing a new custom piece, renovating antique family jewelry, or engraving an existing piece, fine jewelry can be uniquely yours. Customization makes each piece as special as the person wearing it. 6. If it breaks, you can fix it Unlike many items, fine jewelry doesn’t need to be replaced when damaged. You can take broken pieces to a jewelry repair shop and restore them to like-new condition. 7. Each piece has a personal meaning and story While this is especially true for custom designs, every piece of fine jewelry tells a story. Fine jewelry isn’t just an accessory—it’s a memory. 8. It’s universal Jewelry is worn across all cultures and languages. Fine jewelry is a universal symbol of beauty and connection that transcends borders. 9. It commemorates life’s special moments Engagement rings, wedding bands, and anniversary bands celebrate life’s most meaningful milestones. Each piece serves as a lasting reminder of the moment it represents. 10. It becomes a part of you Jewelry you wear regularly becomes part of your signature look—and eventually, part of who you are. Over time, it feels less like an accessory and more like a personal extension. To inquire about fine jewelry of your own, contact us at our Bridgewater or Flemington locations. Contact information is available here.

when it comes to buying an engagement ring. Between the diamond, setting, band, and other details, there are countless options. And sometimes, the right combination of these options just can’t be found. Custom engagement rings are usually for those who can’t find what they want in a display case or those who just want to create something original. The custom ring-making process allows a customer to work side-by-side with a skilled jewelry team to design and create a jewelry piece that has everything they are looking for. First, one of our designers will meet with the clients to discuss what they are looking for in their custom engagement ring. This designer will then sketch a draft of the potential ring, and edit it according to the customer’s feedback and critique. Once the drawing is finalized, it is sent to a digital model maker, who translates the design into a 3-D, computerized version. From there, we create a wax model to be approved by the customer, cast the ring, and set it with diamonds to create the finished product. Not only does custom jewelry design allow you to get exactly what you want from a ring stylistically, but it also gives an engagement ring greater meaning and purpose. Custom jewelry design lets you bring your own story and personality to your engagement ring, to create something that represents you rather than the company it was purchased from. The magic of a custom engagement ring is that it is as unique as the relationship it commemorates, something that cannot be said for a regular store-bought ring. For more information on custom engagement rings, or to inquire about making your own custom engagement ring, visit Roman Jewelers.

The best designer watches are all about luxury and sophistication. Because of quality, attention to detail, and precision with which the best designer watches are made, they last a lifetime and usually are passed to the next generation. In the world of watches, complexity and price go hand in hand. So the more you are willing to pay for a watch, the more choices you’ll have. And believe us, there is an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to some of the best watches, from around the world. When you are ready to treat yourself,  (a designer watches is the ultimate treat) there are a few considerations. First, decide on your budget. Then think about if you will wear the watch for special occasions, work, or, perhaps, sports activities. Think of your style; do you prefer a high-tech gadget or a traditional elegant watch? Quartz or mechanical? Digital or analog or, maybe, a combination of the two? One thing for certain; when you buy one of the best designer watches, you are buying the highest quality materials, craftsmanship, precision, and, with it, prestige. If budget is a strong consideration, but you still want one of the best designer watches, consider a quartz watch. As a matter of fact, the majority of watches being manufactured today are quartz. Quartz technology allows for extremely accurate measure of time, as the quartz crystal within a watch is powered by the watch’s battery. Quartz watches have a pretty simple mechanism compared to a mechanical watch. A mechanical watch movement is a piece of art in itself. Most of the world’s best designer watches are mechanical watches. Mechanical watches are also known as windup watches. These watches keep accurate time by using a spring mechanism and are battery free. In these watches, the energy is stored in a spring. That spring can be either wound up automatically or by hand. From the spring, the energy is transferred to a series of gears, pins, wheels, pivots, and teeth. The mechanisms are complicated and it takes a long time to produce these watches, thus making them much more expensive compared to quartz watches. Roman Jewelers is your source for the best designer watches, including many prestigious Swiss brands. Stop at Roman Jewelers and see for yourself the best of the best in designer watches. Try them on, get a feel, find your style, and enjoy!

[vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="647"][vc_column width="3/4"]Sketch The custom designed jewelry process begins with a sketch. However, before we even start sketching the piece for you, we would like to get know you, since the custom jewelry design is all about you! Whether you are interested in custom designed jewelry for an engagement ring or a wedding band, earrings or pendant, bracelet, or any other piece of jewelry, we will discuss the piece and give you ideas for the design. Then, we will sketch the piece for you and, don’t worry, we will keep sketching until we hear, “That is exactly what I had in mind!” After that, we can begin your custom jewelry design process.[vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="646"][vc_column width="3/4"]Selecting Diamonds For Your Custom Designed Jewelry Diamonds are quite often important parts of our customers’ custom jewelry designs.  Therefore, selecting and matching diamonds are important steps in the custom jewelry design process. We will educate you on the quality of the diamonds and will select diamonds to fit the design perfectly. We can also use diamonds or colored stones from the piece(s) of jewelry that you are planning to re-purpose. If there are not enough diamonds in the piece(s) you are re-purposing, we will carefully match additional diamonds to the ones in your existing pieces. That is what custom designed jewelry is all about; you have unlimited freedom, creativity, and flexibility to design the jewelry of your dreams! Selecting diamonds for your custom designed jewelry can be a time-consuming. However, it is such an important step that we happily spend as much time as necessary to assure that we make the right selection. [vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="648"][vc_column width="3/4"]Creating a Model Depending on the design, we will either have our model maker create the model by carving it by hand from a block of wax, or we will create a model using a computerized methods of jewelry design called CAD. Before we proceed to the next step, you are always invited to the store to see and approve the wax model. Seeing a prototype of the piece that was transformed from a sketch into a wax model will give you a very good idea of what the finished piece will look like. And, it is always exciting to see the first three-dimensional version of your design! Let’s take a look at how the model maker creates the piece in CAD.[vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="644"][vc_column width="3/4"]CAD Process CAD is just one of the many steps that takes place in the custom designed jewelry process. CAD stands for Computer Aided Design. The CAD software allows a designer to create models and prototypes of one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry with a help of computer jewelry design software. CAD is a program in which the creative process meets the technical knowledge required to design every piece of jewelry. The CAD designer needs to envision the piece and bring it to life using the computer jewelry design software. It is fascinating to watch the CAD designer add every element of the design to the model on the computer screen. For example, if he is designing a custom engagement ring, you might first see the shank, and then a box for a center stone placed on top of the shank. Next, you would see stones being added to the shank. And on and on, until every element of your custom designed jewelry is transferred to the screen.[vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="710"][vc_column width="3/4"]Rendering of Custom Designed Jewelry Next, the piece has to be re-created as a three-dimensional model. Every element and space allotted for each stone has to be precise. It is this computerized model that will be cut out of wax later in the process, and so our designers are extremely meticulous! [vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="645"][vc_column width="3/4"]Casting and Finishing Once the wax model is completed and approved by you, the wax is then cast in the metal of your choice: gold, platinum, or silver. We polish and set the diamonds into the setting, and then… your beautiful piece is complete. Now it can be enjoyed for generations to come!

Custom jewelry design is a truly exciting journey. At Roman Jewelers we like to say that “custom jewelry equals inspiration”. Before a piece of custom designed jewelry comes to life, there is always a special person or occasion that inspires such an exceptional, meaningful piece. Rather than purchasing one you saw on your best friend’s finger, in a magazine being worn by a celebrity, or a trendy design that seems to be in every jewelry store, you could have a ring that is completely unique. An engagement ring that is custom designed just for you is your ring, with your story. One day, you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren about how your custom made jewelry came to life--the visions and inspirations throughout the design process, and the love that led you to that special design. A special moment in life deserves special jewelry, to commemorate it and create a story. It is our privilege to lead you through the exciting process of custom jewelry design and through the experience of owning custom made jewelry. We hope you are inspired to go “the custom way.” We do not take lightly your trust in our ability to create a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. We promise, you won’t be disappointed.

The proposal worked for Alyssa and Rohan, a wonderful couple we had the pleasure of meeting Popping the question this Valentine’s Day? If so, hopefully you’ve already found the perfect ring!  Now, you need to come up with the perfect proposal….one that you will be able to talk about for years and years and to future generations.   Here are some proposal ideas based on the winners of the Top Ten Ultimate Proposal Contest sponsored by the Jewelry Information Council. Take these ideas and make them your own: If your girlfriend loves puzzles and surprises, have her decode a secret message to open up a lock that reveals an engagement ring inside! If you are in a long distance relationship and want to shake up the commute, coordinate a proposal 10,000 feet in the air! Surprise your girlfriend by showing up on her flight. You can even get the flight attendants involved! Break the news by popping the question with a cover article in your local or university paper. If you travel for work, take your girlfriend on your next “business” trip. Take a detour in a city with a special meeting and surprise her with a ring! Send your girlfriend on a surprise trip with clues along the way to the place where you met. Don’t forget the passport and flight itinerary! Looking for adventure? Surprise her by digging up a strategically placed buried treasure. When you open the chest, present her with the ring! Ask your beloved to marry you at a sentimental place such as where your parents or grandparents met. Pass down the love of your parents or grandparents by giving her a family heirloom ring. Coordinate with help from friends and family and incorporate her favorite pastime, such as sailing, for the ultimate proposal. Lead your girlfriend through an intricate scavenger hunt to a candlelit proposal in the park. The crowd that gathers will cheer when she says yes! If you’re on the creative side, craft hand-made boxes that show scenes of importance times in your relationship. The boxes should be able to fit inside one another like a Russian matryoshka doll. The smallest box should reveal the proposal scene!

Fashionable Bracelets and Luxurious packaging make LAGOS the Perfect Gift Everyone has that “impossible to shop for” friend, girlfriend, sister, aunt who seems to have everything and always looks impeccably dressed. Don’t let holiday shopping stress you out. Smart gifting ideas take a little thought as well as an understanding of their personal style. Browse our picks for each kind of woman in your life: For the Extrovert: She’s outgoing. She’d laughs a lot. She loves being the center of attention. For her it’s the bigger, the better. A cocktail ring in bold stones like Abalone Doublet or Chariote Doublet that feature a pavé diamond setting and Caviar beading will flatter her statement style. For the Classic and Understated: She’s chic and refined, where a tailored white button down and a pair of black pants is the uniform of choice. She’d rather be strolling along the Seine than anywhere else and her subtle style evokes a relaxed sensibility. A Caviar Gold Link Necklace will work with everything in her wardrobe and will become her must-wear piece. For the Modern Gypset: For the free spirit on your list, colors and stones are the clear choice and the more the merrier. She doesn’t shy away from mixing, matching and layering her pieces together to hone her spontaneous style. A series of Sterling Silver Bangles with Maya Beaded Bracelets in stunning shades of lapis, moss agate & golden obsidian are the perfect gift pieces for this unique Bohemian. For the Fashion Icon: She’s always ahead of the curve with a wardrobe that centers around top trends and intrinsic styling. She’s chic and in-the-know. For her, a Black Caviar Bracelet with Diamonds with the Long Caviar Forever Necklace will match her runway ready look.

Roman Jewelers Annual Bridal Event is this weekend Roman Jewelers is hosting the bridal event of the year this weekend at both the Bridgewater & Flemington store locations. Find out why it is the absolute best time to buy your engagement ring. Roman Jewelers in Flemington will be holding a Bridal Event this Saturday from 11 am – 5 pm at their location at 39 State Route 12. The next day, the event will be held at the Bridgewater store at 500 Commons Way, across from the Bridgewater mall. Regardless of which day you chose to attend, here is what Roman Jewelers has going on: Hundreds of engagement ring settings to choose from—for this event only, Roman Jewelers will have expanded inventory from many of their designers including Gabriel & Co., Simon G., Tacori, Aspiri and more. Expanded inventory of loose diamonds at the best prices—Roman Jewelers will have loose diamonds available starting at ½ caret and going up, and up, and up. With additional diamond inventory for this weekend only, there will be a diamond as unique as your relationship—from modest to magnificent. Interest Free Financing—it is the best time to buy an engagement ring. With the holidays around the corner, buy this weekend and pay your purchase off for up to a year if you qualify. Lots of fun—There will be an amazing, perfect, 9 caret diamond at the store—a one of a kind beauty to try on and have some fun with on social media at #ringselfie. For information about the bridal event or to make an appointment, call the Flemington store at (908) 782-8240 or the Bridgewater store at (908) 575-1242.