Meet the Team

Ronald W. Arends
Email Ronald W. Arends
Principal-owner

Ron Sr. represents the second generation of the family business. Ron joined his father in 1963 when the company was located in the jewelry district of Newark, NJ. For over 49 years he has designed and fabricated custom designs in platinum, gold, and silver. He is a master model maker, carving wax models by hand, and is also an experienced hand engraver. Ron studied diamonds and attained his Graduate Diamond degree in 1972 from the Gemological Institute of America in New York.

Ronald J. Arends
Email Ronald J. Arends
Principal-owner

Ron Jr., along with his brother Chris, represent the third generation of their family business. Ron joined his father during the summers since he was 10 years old, and formally began his career after graduating high school in 1991. Ron then studied diamonds and attained his Graduate Diamond degree in 2002 from the Gemological Institute of America in New York City. Ron is a jewelry designer and models in CAD/CAM, and is also a bench jeweler working in platinum, gold, and silver.

Christopher J. Arends, G.G.
Email Christopher J. Arends, G.G.
Principal-owner

Chris along with his brother Ron represents the third generation of their family's business. He joined the business after completing a Graduate Degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2001. He then continued his studies in gemology and in 2007 attained his Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) degree from the Gemological Institute of America in New York City. Chris is a designer of jewelry and specializes in CAD/CAM modeling and fabrication.

Lynn Holden
Email Lynn Holden
Sales Associate

Lynn began her career in retail jewelry sales in 2001 working in Morristown, NJ. Prior to her start in jewelry sales Lynn owned and operated a small specialty food business. Lynn has worked in fine jewelry and watch sales for 14 years and joined the Aires team in 2011. Lynn specializes in diamond engagement and wedding ring sales, as well as diamond and color stone fashion jewelry.

Christine Rogers
Email Christine Rogers
Sales Associate

Christine specializes in colored gemstone and diamond sales. Her passion for colored gemstones is what attracted her to the industry, and in 2011 she joined our Aires Jewelers family. She has attained an associates degree in Business Administration and is currently studying to become a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America in New York. In 2017, Christine attained her Diamond Graduate degree from the G.I.A. in New York City.

Gilbert Rubio
Email Gilbert Rubio
Bench Jeweler

Gilbert is a master bench jeweler and craftsman. He began learning his trade in Mexico in 1969 where he and his four brothers represented the 4th generation of bench jewelers in his family. In 1982 Gilbert came to the US and opened his own company, first in Baja, California and then in LA. In 1998 he came to NYC and worked with esteemed designers Christian Bernard and Ippolita. In 2000 he opened GA Rubio Jewelers in East Hanover, NJ. In 2007 Gilbert joined the Aires team and specializes in fine jewelry fabrication and diamond and gemstone setting.

Linda Heller
Email Linda Heller
Sales Associate

A native of Boston, Mass, Linda worked in her first jewelry store in 1969. After relocating to New Jersey, and being a client of Aires, she joined the company in 1999 on the other side of the sales counter! Linda works in every aspect of fine jewelry and watch sales as well as customer service and repair.

Jessica Daehnke
Email Jessica Daehnke
Sales Associate

Jessica began her career in the jewelry industry in 1997. Starting out with a corporate jewelry company at a location in Arizona, she has diversified her jewelry experience through opportunities working with jewelers in North Carolina and several different companies in New Jersey. She has earned her A.J.P. (Accredited Jewelry Professional) degree through G.I.A., and has had specialized training regarding timepieces. Jessica gladly joined the ranks of the Aires Jewelers family in April of 2010, and looks forward to enhancing her knowledge as well as sharing her experience each and every day!