Thinking about engagement?
Find out why customers have been turning to Kries for help in finding the perfect diamond engagement ring for over 50 years.
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Watch not ticking?
Kries' jeweler, Jerry Jaremenko, provides expert watch restoration and repair. Kries offers battery replacement and waterproofing on most watches.
Kries in the News
Courier News, April 24, 2002
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Tradition is the gemstone of Kries' business
Courier News, Wednesday, April 24, 2002
by Erica Lamberg, Correspondent
In 1985, Jerry Jaremenko found out that when he purchased Kries Jeweler on Main Street in Flemington from the Kries family, who had operated the store since 1946, he was taking over a Hunterdon County tradition. "The smartest thing I did was keep the Kries name and built on their great reputation as fair and honest jewelers," said Jaremenko.
"My goal is to continue to be a hometown jeweler who does everything from selling quality jewelry, to jewelry and watch repair, to repairing clocks," he said.
Much of the inventory of Kries Jeweler is traditional gold and silver jewelry, engagement rings, earrings and men's and ladies' watches. Jaremenko reports that his best watch sellers are Wenger, Seiko and Citizen. "Citizen offers a great five-year warranty that's a great deal," he said.
Jaremenko said much of his business depends on gift-giving occasions. "Jewelry is emotion-related and it's a great way to express how you feel about someone," noted Jaremenko.
Popular items right now include Tiffany-style bracelets and necklaces, diamond earrings and tanzanite jewelry, which is a rare, purple-blue, precious gem.
Another top of the line piece of jewelry is the three-stone anniversary band in which three brilliant diamonds denote past, present and future.
Items cover an average range from one lovely gold bracelet priced around $500 to one-carat diamond studs priced at approximately $3,000. "People have to realize that they are paying for top quality. I will only sell jewelry of the highest quality and I stand behind all my jewelry," said Jaremenko, who added that he does not advertise his business but instead relies on referrals from existing customers. "I take pride in my customer service and my reputation," he said.
Often, Jaremenko gets referrals within families, as with a man who recently purchased an engagement ring at Kries Jeweler because his father had bought his mother's diamond engagement ring in the store 50 years earlier.
Kries Jeweler also offers all types of jewelry repair work for antique clocks. A trained watchmaker, Jaremenko completes most repairs himself. He believes his reputation creates a bond of trust between him and his clients. "Some of my customers drop off repairs and don't even ask for a receipt--that shows what kind of trust my customers and I share," he said.
When people are new to an area, Jaremenko suggests asking a neighbor or a coworker for a recommendation for a jeweler. "You simply can't open a phone book to find jewelry," he cautions. "You need to find a store you can trust with such an important purchase or repair."
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