Many of our clients come to us with jewelry they have either inherited or items they no long enjoy wearing due to it being “dated” or not their style. Our jewelers have many combined years of experience and many creative ideas to share to help you create the jewelry you’ve always longed to own. You name it – often starting with a sketch or a picture brought in to us – we can either create the piece entirely by hand or utilize modern technology to make a piece from scratch. We’re delighted to be your custom jeweler!

When you grow up with parents founding and cultivating a family business, in this case a jewelry store, there are many paths your life can take. Fortunately for R.M. Johnson & Sons, Zack Johnson’s passion turned into a career where he could use his talents and creativity to create beautiful handcrafted pieces of jewelry for all to love.

In fact, the creativity began early for Zack at about the age of 7 or 8. Zack and brother Mack spent many an evening at the store so that the family could enjoy dinner together while dad worked late. The many hours he spent observing his dad at the bench inspired him to create a few simple pieces himself. His very proud mom placed a few of these in the store window and Zack began to develop his own followers including two well-known Roanoke philanthropists who purchased those early creations!

It really came as no surprise when Zack decided to come to work full-time in the store at the age of 19. More than one of his teachers predicted he would become an artist as he has always had an eye for design and excelled in classes like ceramics. Many of his pieces are inspired by nature. Zack loves to let the gemstones he chooses to set determine the design of the finished piece and is happiest when his imagination is his only limitation.

View some examples of Zack Johnson's work in the gallery below

We hand-select our beautiful and unusual colored gemstones and diamonds from partners we’ve known for many years and trust. We make it a point to feature a great variety of rare stones as well, like natural, color-change sapphires, peachy Lotus garnets, icy-blue aquamarine, pink, green, blue-green and watermelon tourmaline, and pink and lavender sapphires. One of our favorite gemstones is the Lightening Ridge black opal – perfect when you can’t decide on just one color! We have an amazing collection of these rare beauties in finished pendants, rings and earrings as well as loose gems for you to choose from.

Learn more about John Ford’s Lightening Ridge Collection

R.M. Johnson & Sons is also proud to partner with Master Gem Cutter Roger Dery. Roger has been in the gemstone business since 1981, when his fascination with colored gems began on a three-month journey to India. In the early years, Roger operated as a general colored stone dealer carrying calibrated goods. In 2001, Roger learned to facet and re-faceted his entire inventory.

Roger frequently travels with his wife Ginger and daughter Rachel to East Africa, working directly with artisanal miners to source rough gemstones and contribute to their families, schools and communities. Roger says “ Holistic sourcing™ is the bedrock of our business philosophy, directing our actions and our philanthropy”. This engaging and inspiring family has a passion for colored gems and for giving back. This is exactly why we have chosen to partner with them!

Roger considers himself a purist, admiring the classic cuts. His favorite gemstone is Sapphire, a rich cornflower blue, in an antique cushion. He loves to re-design a classic cut and make it come alive! His desire is to facet fabulous gems that will inspire the creation of heirloom jewelry that will be cherished for generations and it is OUR desire to create that special jewelry for YOU!

Learn more about Roger Dery Gem Design

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