Another year passed before they found the perfect site-a Mediterranean-style two-story building with room for six tenants, including Kimberly & Co. as the anchor, complete with a clock tower to mark the store’s entrance. Then, they spent months searching for the right design company to turn their vision of a tropical jewelry enclave-think Tommy Bahama meets Tiffany & Co.-into reality. Balance Design, an Orlando, Fla.-based manufacturer of custom jewelry showcases and interiors, impressed the couple. After a few concept meetings, Rieger and Johnson OK’d the design plan.

When the 2,000-square-foot store finally has its grand opening on Dec. 1, Rieger and Johnson will stand proudly behind their hand-carved wood cases featuring the Kimberly & Co. three-dimensional palm tree logo. The custom showcases and other furniture, manufactured in South America by the same people who create the furniture used in the offices of the Colombian Senate, cost “well in excess of $150,000,” but Rieger says they’re well worth the money.

With the help of Balance Design, they have created a 250-square-foot private viewing room, where they hope to offset that investment by hiring the wealthy, discerning customers who have flocked to Port St. Lucie in the last decade, making it the fastest growing economy in Florida. Besides one-of-a-kind jewelry, the room will feature its own wine cellar and full bar, stocked with wines, liquors and cappuccino.

“But everyone who walks into the store will be offered a beverage, from coffee to champagne,” Rieger says.

And that’s not all. To make sure their opening combines the right amounts of eccentricity and elegance, they are in the midst of acquiring a Rolls Royce. The luxury sedan will be used for promotional events and customer perks. For example, when someone spends more than $5,000 on an engagement ring, they’ll get to take the car and driver out for a night on the town. During holidays such as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, customers spending more than $500 will have their names placed in a drawing for use of the car and driver.

Rieger and Johnson have pulled other unconventional marketing ideas from James Porte, a New York-based jewelry marketing consultant who advocates the use of gift certificates to reel in new buyers.

“Although the program is designed and has been tested for established stores, we feel it can be somewhat modified to help market our grand opening,” Rieger says. “Each targeted individual will receive a minicatalog along with a $50 gift certificate that can be redeemed at our store, no strings attached.”

What’s more, Kimberly & Co. is making use of its location-just miles away from the New York Mets’ spring training camp-to finagle team signatures for a sterling silver bat that they can raffle off to jewelry-loving baseball fans.