For over 120 years and four generations, the Ballew family has been committed to featuring the highest quality, unmatched selection and exceptional prices. Quality you can see in diamonds, precious stones, gold jewelry and more. Quality you know in names like Ebel, Movado, Cellini, Elini, Fendi and Tag Heuer. As a family-owned and operated business, Ballew Jewelers takes pride in our reputation for integrity, professionalism and value that we have brought to many generations of customers. Quality... Value... Integrity... Personal Service; it's why for over 120 years we have been the right jeweler for the right reasons, and the perfect jeweler for gift buying.
Ballew Jewelers and Reussilles' Jewelers, two of the state's oldest jewelry businesses, were founded just one year apart by two brothers, Alphonse and Leon De La Reussille of Switzerland. The first Reussilles' store, founded by Alphonse De La Reussille in 1885, was purchased by James and Sarah Ballew in 1925 and renamed Ballew Jewelers. Sarah Ballew had been an English teacher and principal of a Junior High School in Red Bank before she took over management of the business in 1930. (Not only was Sarah one of the few women to be running their own business in the 1930's, but she was also the first female Gemologist in the state.) Ballew Jewelers moved to its present location at 5 West Main Street in 1959 from the original store at 13 West Main Street. By the time a stroke forced her to retire around 1970, Sarah had devoted 40 years to the business
James Ballew Jr. began in the business after graduating from Cornell University in 1953 and is one of a few Certified Gemologist-Appraisers in the state. Still active in the business, James has devoted outside time to the town through over 25 years on the Planning Board, participation in Rotary and the Board of Directors of a variety of organizations, including Freehold Area Hospital. John Ballew, James' son, joined the business after graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 1977 with a degree in Business Management, and is the current owner. John has also devoted time and energy to the community, highlighted by 8 years on the Freehold Borough Council, and he is one of the founders of the Special Improvement District in downtown Freehold. Kate Ballew, Johns' daughter has recently accompanied her family in the business. She graduated Seton Hall in 2004 with a degree in Business Management and currently works in the Sea Girt location.
Leon De La Reussille founded Reussilles' Jewelers in 1886 at 12 Broad Street in Red Bank. The 'lollipop' sidewalk clock in front of Reussilles' has been a community landmark since 1902, one-year after the business moved to its present location at 36 Broad Street. Once considered the borough's official timepiece, residents and merchants have set their watches by it for over 90 years. The Ballews' purchased their second Reussilles' store in 1984 and have continued the tradition founded by Leon. In the summer of 2006, John Ballew decided to bring the three stores under one family name. Since acquiring Reussilles in 1984, John had considered the name change, and in September of 2006, the timing was perfect. After a major renovation to the facade of 36 Broad St., the Reussilles sign was replaced with the new Ballew's logo. Complete with modern window space, lighting and exterior design, Ballew's of Red Bank made a natural progression from the past to the present.
Today, Ballew's enjoys a well-earned reputation for quality and integrity. As one of the select few to belong to the American Gem Society, we feel a personal responsibility to our customers. Each store has a full service shop of jewelry repair, hand engraving and pearl restringing, and our Rolex and Ebel certified watch repair shop is located in the Freehold store. Our incomparable inventory ranges from colored stones, cultured pearls and gold jewelry from the basics to the unusual, but always with the quality that has personified our reputation. Diamonds from .05 ct. to 5.00 ct. are always in stock, and as well as an outstanding collection of watches, including Ebel, Movado, Tag Heuer, Fendi, Elini, Swiss Army, Esquire and Pulsar. (See the 'Our Stores' page for a list of the watch collections each store carries.) Finally, our estate and antique jewelry department is highlighted by our annual showings and is constantly changing. Overall the Ballew family and their staff of professionals take pride in providing the finest quality at exceptional prices, and for over 110 years have been the right jeweler for the right reasons.
Address: 5 W. Main Street Freehold, NJ 07728 Directions (click here) Phone: (732) 462-0136 Fax: (732) 462-2765 Hours: Mon - Thu, Sat (9:30am - 5:30pm) Fri (9:30am - 8pm) Manager: Jackie Coddington Email: fh@ballewjewelers.com "Home of the original," Ballew's of Freehold was founded by Alphonse De La Reussille in 1885, and then purchased by the Ballew family in 1925. Situated in a quaint, three-story turn-of-the-century building highlighted by a blue awning and inlay terrazzo, Ballew's of Freehold features Ebel, Swiss Army, Movado, Pulsar watches, as well as Lladro and Waterford giftware. In addition, our mahogany showcases are overflowing with the latest designs in gold (yellow, white and two-tone) and platinum jewelry; colored stones (emeralds, sapphires and amethysts, as well as more exotic stones like tanzanite, tsavarite and tourmaline); cultured pearls; and a complete line of men's jewelry. Ballew's of Freehold also boasts an on-premises jewelry repair shop, and is the home of our watch repair facilities, complete with Rolex and Ebel certified technicians, personally supervised by James Ballew, one of only seven in NJ Gemologist/Appraisers certified by the American Gemological Society. Ballew's of Freehold has built its reputation by catering to the customer who expects high-quality pieces and a knowledgable sales staff.
36 Broad Street Red Bank, NJ 07701 Directions (click here) Phone: (732) 741-5800 Fax: (732) 741-3076 Hours: Mon-Thu, Sat (9:30am - 5:30pm) Fri (9:30am - 8pm) Manager: Susan Shearer Email: rb@ballewjewelers.com Founded in 1886 by Alphonse De La Reussille of Switzerland, Ballew's of Red Bank, formerly Reussilles', has a long history of distinction in Red Bank. Situated in the heart of town, and highlighted by the 'lollipop' clock at the curb, Ballew's of Red Bank features Ebel, Fendi, Swiss Army, and Movado, as well as Lladro, Waterford giftware, and a full-line of sterling and silver plated gifts. Ballew's of Red Bank's cherry wood interior invites customers to large, turn-of-the-century showcases featuring the latest designs in gold (yellow, white and two-tone) and platinum jewelry; diamond jewelry; colored stones (from the popular to the exotic); cultured pearls and men's jewelry. One of our best kept secrets is our estate collection of pre-owned jewelry and watches, as well as antique and period pieces. Each of the three Ballew stores keeps an estate group, and once a year each store plays host to our estate event, where the entire collection is brought together. The store also boasts an on-premises jewelry repair shop, which specializes in custom designs and hand-engraving. The Ballew name has long been associated with excellence. Not only in fine jewelry, but also in dedication to customer satisfaction
Ballew's: Sea Girt Brook 35 Plaza 2150 Ste. Hwy 35 Sea Girt, NJ 08750 Directions (click here) Phone: (732) 449-2101 Fax: (732) 449-1778 Hours: Mon - Fri (10am - 8:30pm) Sat (10am - 5:30pm) Sun (11am - 5pm) Manager: Marsha Chasinov Email: sg@ballewjewelers.com Though Ballew's of Sea Girt may look a little different than our other two stores, our priority is the same: Customer Service. The newest Ballew Jeweler's, Ballew's of Sea Girt, opened in 1995 in the Brook 35 Shopping Center just north of the Manasquan traffic circle on Route 35. In contrast to Ballew's two elder stores, Ballew's of Freehold and Red Bank, Ballew's of Sea Girt has a contemporary design with an inviting, and comfortable atmosphere. In Ballew's of Sea Girt we highlight gold jewelry, nautical pieces, diamond and colored stone jewelry, estate and antique jewelry along with wedding ring and baby gifts. We also feature Tag Heuer, Ebel, Movado, Fendi, and ESQ watches, as well as Lladro giftware. Whether it's spending time to know our customers, helping them select the perfect piece of jewelry, remounting their diamonds or colored stones, or repairing their jewelry or watches, customer service is thecornerstone that separates Ballew Jewelers from all the rest.
Engagement...Wedding...Anniversary...Birthday. The reasons for choosing a diamond can be countless. No gem better symbolizes commitment, appreciation, and love than a diamond. Its timeless elegance and classic beauty have long connected diamonds to romance. Diamonds, in fact are the universal romantic symbol. Yes, "a diamond is forever," and selecting the right diamond demands particular attention. No two diamonds are alike. The characteristics that dictate a diamond's value cut, color, clarity and carat weight are what make each stone unique. Deciding to buy a diamond is, of course, a very emotional decision. In shopping for the right diamond, you will be faced with a large variety of different shapes, settings and prices. Once you've made the decision to buy one, make sure you know what to look for. Ask questions. Compare stones. Choose the right jeweler. Remember, it's more than just following you heart.
Cutting is of prime importance to the beauty of a diamond. If a diamond is cut too shallow or too deep, or if the stone is too thin or spread, the value is affected. The diamond professionals at Ballew's can show you how, with correct proportions, light will enter the stone and return to the eye as brilliance instead of leaking out the back facets. The slightest deviation from fine cutting standards will rob the diamond of its desired fire and sparkle, and therefore affect value. Whether the shape is round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart, or emerald cut, a diamond's cutting grade is determined by its deviation from an ideal cut, the standard. Ask us to compare an ideal cut diamond to a lesser quality cut so you can see the actual difference. Always remember that fine cutting can offset lesser qualities of color and clarity in a diamond.
Absence of any color in the body of a diamond is considered the rarest quality. Body color is interior color, not the surface rainbow of reflected light. The AGS and the GIA both developed scales to be used in grading color quality. For example, diamonds graded 0 through 4 on the AGS scale, or D through I on the GIA scale, are among the rarest qualities. Stones in the medium category, 5 through 6 or J through L, may exhibit faint yellow to brownish color and have a lesser value. In the lower categories from 7 or M and below, the yellowish or brownish tint may be apparent even to the untrained eye, especially in larger sizes. Our AGS and GIA training and the use of our certified master diamonds are the basis for our accurate color grading.
A flawless grade denotes the absence of internal or external marks when the diamond is viewed under 10X magnification. A flawless diamond is the rarest, and therefore, the most precious clarity grade. We would like you to be comfortable in your understanding of the various grades. Let us show you examples of SI (Slightly Included) and I (Imperfect) grades. Stones are clarity graded taking into consideration the size, nature, location, number and color of the inclusions. In the VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) category the inclusions are "minute" under 10X magnification. in the VS (Very Slightly Included) category the inclusions are "minor" under 10X magnification. In the SI (Slightly Included) category the inclusions are noticeable under 10X magnification. In the I (Imperfect) category, the inclusions are usually visible without magnification, particularly in the I-2 and I-3 levels.
Carat weight is the final factor that decides the value of your diamond. It is a metric system of weight with 100 points to 1 carat (e.g., a three-quarter diamond weighs 75 points or .75 carat). Weight is important, but it is the cutting, color and clarity that determine the per carat price.
Estate Jewelry is any piece or collection of jewelry that was previously owned by someone else. The term "estate" doesn't refer to age or quality, and by definition the piece can be as young as one year, or as old as 99. "Antique" Jewelry, on the other hand, is defined as being one hundred or more years old. The appeal of Estate Jewelry is often the history and unique look of the individual pieces. For instance, a diamond and platinum filigree engagement ring from the early 1900's promises a story of past loves, while a 14kt gold pocket watch from the late 1800's brings us back to the period when a gentleman's timepiece was his pride and joy. Ballew's extensive Estate Collection - from charms and watches, to diamonds and colored stone jewelry - not only celebrates the past, but allows you to own and enjoy a small part of it.
* Up to 90 day layaways are allowed. * Layaways cancelled after 30 days will receive a store credit only. * Overdue layaways are subject to restocking and store credit. (Special exclusions apply.)
Upon request, appraisals will be done at no charge on items purchased. Updates will be done (original appraisal may be required) at any time at no charge.
Many gemstones have traditionally been enhanced to improve appearance, color, clarity, or durability. Most enhancements are permanent and will not change the appearance of your gemstones. We are always available for questions.
An appraisal is not an all inclusive document; rather, there are many specific types of appraisals suited for different needs. The five most common types of appraisals are:
Appropriate for a client who wishes to insure their gems, jewelry, watches and silverware against damage, loss or theft, with the appraisal reflecting the retail cost to replace any of the items in 'like quality' or new condition. It is the most detailed type, and usually includes a picture of the item(s).
To determine the fair market value of items of jewelry, gems, watches and silverware for the purpose of state and federal estate tax liability. The definition of fair market value as set forth in the Internal Revenue code is as follows: "The price(s) at which this item(s) would change hands between a willing buyer and willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell and each having the relevant facts" (i.e., the price in the market place in which this item(s) are most commonly sold to the public).
The values and descriptions are based on the information received from the customer in as much detail as possible. The item is 'presumed,' and has never been viewed by the appraiser. The information contained here, however, gives an accurate enough view to make the valuation possible.
The item(s) are listed with enough description to identify the piece to the client with price(s) which represent a formal offer of purchase by Ballew's or Reussilles'.
The item(s) are listed with enough of a description to identify the item to the client with price(s) that realistically represent the fair market value of the item(s). Similar to an Estate Appraisal, but best used for distribution of pieces of jewelry without a death being involved. In any appraisal, there are a few important points to keep in mind: Any appraisal report is an opinion and valuation of the characteristics of the appraised articles, and not a guarantee of values, since opinions may reasonably vary as to characteristics and values; Weights and measurements for mounted stones are approximate, unless otherwise noted. All estimated weights have been determined by measurement and formula; We recommend that you give a Photostat copy of your appraisal to your insurance company and keep the original along with any pictures in a safe place; We also recommend that you have the jewelry you regularly wear checked every 6 to 12 months. We would be pleased to clean and check your pieces of jewelry as a free service; Ballew's will update your appraisal at a fee of $5.00 per article, with a minimum of $25.00, provided the update is performed within 5 years of the date of the original appraisal. Pieces of jewelry purchased through us will be updated without charge; If you do have a loss, most policies give the insurance company the option of paying you in cash for the damage incurred, or replacing the article with `like quality'. You should state that it must be replaced with exactly the same quality as described in the appraisal. Make it clear that you want to have it checked by a Certified Gemologist Appraiser to verify that it is exactly the same quality. Finally, for our clients' convenience, Ballew Jewelers has assembled a list of important appraisal-related questions that you should ask your insurance agent.
Each of our stores has a jewelry repair shop on premises which does a wide range of jobs. From basic chain soldering and ring sizing to the creation of intricate platinum wire work, we can do it all. Ballew's specializes in custom remounting, whether using the customer's stones in an existing piece, planning a new creation or selecting from a wide selection of semi mountings, our sales staff can help you in the design, and our shop staff can create a unique piece. Creations start with a sketch, followed by a wax replica that can be cast in gold or platinum, giving the customer a wide degree of design input. As you can imagine, prices vary, but free estimates are always the rule. In addition, Ballew's offers two types of engraving: Machine engraving services are a great way to personalize a piece or commemorate a special occasion. Trophy and Presentation pieces can start a legacy or continue a tradition. Ask us for ideas; Hand engraving is a so-called 'lost art', but it's still practiced every day at Ballew's. This extra touch is always appreciated whether matching a monogram, or family crest.
Master watch repair services are performed by our certified repairmen who work on a wide range of wristwatches and pocket watches: from high-grade quartz movements like Piaget, Corum and Ebel, to high-grade mechanical movements like Rolex and Patek Phillipe. Our watchmakers are certified by Rolex and Ebel, and continuously update their education and expertise with technical seminars from a wide-range of watch manufacturers. We have a large repair shop, with diagnostic and water testing equipment and a full wall of replacement parts. Vintage wristwatches and pocket watches pose different challenges, mainly on the availability of replacement parts, but we pride ourselves on the expertise of our watchmakers. Estimates, when required, are always free for in-store repairs, and most battery replacements can be done while you wait.