CrimeFeb 05, 2025
‘The Timepiece Gentleman’ Sentenced to 5-Plus Years Behind Bars Luxury watch dealer Anthony Farrer pleaded guilty late last year to defrauding clients in a scheme with Ponzi-type elements.
IndependentsJul 28, 2021
Estelle Hedaya, Full of Life and Loved by All, Laid to Rest
The funeral for Hedaya, the final victim identified in the Surfside condo collapse, took place Tuesday in her native Brooklyn.
Estelle Hedaya, 54, was identified Monday as the final victim of the June 24 condo collapse in Surfside, Florida. This photo, posted to her Facebook page, was taken in Las Vegas during the CBG show in June.
New York—Beloved industry executive Estelle Hedaya was laid to rest Tuesday in Brooklyn, bringing some closure to family and friends who’ve waited weeks for word on her fate.
Hedaya, 54, was one of the victims of the condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, in late June and was the last to be identified. Her younger brother, Ikey Hedaya, confirmed the identification of her remains to the Associated Press Monday.
Services took place Tuesday morning, with mourners filling the Magen David Synagogue in the borough’s Bensonhurst neighborhood.
A Brooklyn native, Hedaya spent her career in jewelry, working for companies including Dinaro Creations, World Trade Jewelers, and Continental Buying Group/Preferred Jewelers International, where she served as director of operations for the past six years.
Those who knew Hedaya remember her as a happy, positive, and outgoing woman who was dedicated to her friends and family, her Jewish faith, and her job in an industry she loved.
April Scorcia, who worked with Hedaya for seven years at World Trade Jewelers, remembered the fun they would have working side-by-side in the office, and navigating airports, rooming together, and staying up late into the night talking on business trips.
It was during these trips, Scorcia said, that Hedaya introduced her to reality TV via “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” Her commentary on the show was “hilarious,” Scorcia remembers.
When the opportunity arose for Hedaya to leave her native New York and move to Miami to work for CBG, Scorcia encouraged her to take it.
It turned out to be a good move. In Miami, Hedaya seemingly hit her stride.
She excelled at her job, made new friends, and, recently, got into a new fitness routine and bought a new car—a red Lexus—all the while chronicling her adventures in her blog, Follow the Toes.
CBG President Andie Weinman said she hired Hedaya with the idea that she would one day succeed her at CBG, and Hedaya was embracing the challenge.
She was “unbelievable” at getting suppliers and retailers together, Weinman said, and was taking on more responsibility at each CBG show, including the recently concluded—and by all accounts successful—show in Las Vegas.
“She was my right arm,” Weinman wrote in an email to National Jeweler Tuesday. “I will miss her.”
Both Weinman and Scorcia said they had never seen Hedaya happier, and her positivity was infectious.
“Estelle never had a bad thing to say about anyone, ever,” Scorcia said.
“Even in bad times, she always found the bright side. She was such a good-feeling catalyst for everyone around her … I will miss her so.”
The Champlain Towers South in Surfside, a small beach community adjacent to Miami, collapsed in the middle of the night on June 24. Hedaya lived on the sixth floor of the condo building.
A total of 98 people were killed in the collapse.
Over the last month, CBG owner Joe Murphy has been sharing developments in the search for Hedaya via Facebook almost daily, with each post attracting hundreds of likes and comments from members of the jewelry industry.
The team at CBG/Preferred Jewelers also created a gift fund in her name at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
As of Wednesday morning, the donation total was approaching $95,000.
In a July 25 Facebook post, Murphy noted that Hedaya’s memorial fund accounts for one of the largest online donations made to St. Jude all year.
“Our girl just continues to do amazing things,” he wrote. “Love her and miss her.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
FinancialsFeb 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Double-Digit Growth After Strong Holiday SeasonIn its full-year results, the retailer shared its 2025 outlook and an update on the global rollout of its lab-grown diamond collection.
TrendsFeb 05, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Feeling Fabulous in FebruaryCelebrate February birthstones and the gem shows in Arizona this month with a versatile stone like amethyst.
Brought to you by
3 Ways to Capitalize on America’s Newfound Love of Colored GemsColored stones are stepping into a jewelry spotlight typically reserved for diamonds—are you ready to sell color?
MajorsFeb 05, 2025
DCA Promotes Kristen Scheetz to Director of Education, MembershipScheetz has been with the nonprofit since 2007.
Weekly QuizJan 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingFeb 04, 2025
New Deal With Botswana Is Done, De Beers Confirms The agreement will allocate an increasing proportion of the country’s rough diamonds to the government of Botswana over the next decade.
Events & AwardsFeb 04, 2025
Van Cleef & Arpels’ Astronomy-Inspired Jewelry to Land at AMNH“Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry From the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels,” opens April 11 at the American Museum of Natural History.
Brought to you by
3 New Year’s Resolutions for Jewelry Lovers The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
SurveysFeb 04, 2025
Valentine’s Day Jewelry Spending Forecast to Hit Record High, Says NRFThose celebrating Valentine’s Day this year are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion on jewels, flowers, candy, and more.
EditorsFeb 03, 2025
Best Jewelry Moments From the 2025 Grammy Awards From Lady Gaga’s 1930s Tiffany & Co. necklace to Taylor Swift’s “T,” Michelle Graff recaps the night’s most memorable jewelry looks.
MajorsFeb 03, 2025
Qurate to Close HSN’s Florida HQ Amid RestructuringLayoffs will reportedly start next month as HSN plans to move into QVC’s location in Pennsylvania.
EditorsFeb 03, 2025
Q&A: 5 Jewelry Designers on Shopping the 2025 Tucson Gem ShowsA group of creatives talked to Associate Editor Lauren McLemore about their approach to the annual Tucson gem, mineral, and fossil shows.
AuctionsJan 31, 2025
Elizabeth Taylor’s Diamond Bracelet Outshines Estimate at U.K. AuctionThe auction also featured the sale of a Cartier necklace made when Egyptomania was sweeping Great Britain.
CollectionsJan 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: Lalaounis’ Good Luck Charm for 2025The “Blossom Rosette” blooms with love, beauty, and hope for the year ahead.
Events & AwardsJan 31, 2025
Facets of Fire Has a Diamond Challenge for RetailersFor every jeweler who tries their luck, the company will make a donation to Jewelers for Children.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
WJA Chapter Leaders Resign as Fallout From DEI Remarks SnowballsThe boards of at least five chapters have resigned in response to controversial statements the WJA national board president made last month.
Policies & IssuesJan 30, 2025
RJC Executive Director Melanie Grant Is Stepping Down An experienced jewelry writer and curator, Grant led the organization for two years.
CollectionsJan 30, 2025
Pharrell Williams Brings Tahitian Pearls to His New Tiffany & Co. CollectionFive new designs were added, all donning Tahitian cultured pearls and spear-like trident motifs, along with the new “Titan” setting.
Events & AwardsJan 30, 2025
Registration Open for Converge 2025The inaugural event is being co-hosted by the American Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York Elects 5 New MembersJewelers of America’s Annie Doresca and AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. are among the new members.
CollectionsJan 29, 2025
Boucheron’s High Jewelry Takes the Form of ‘Untamed Nature’The jeweler’s latest high jewelry collection looks into the Boucheron archives to create a “living encyclopedia of high jewelry.”
FinancialsJan 29, 2025
LVMH Watch, Jewelry Sales End the Year DownWatch and jewelry sales slipped 3 percent in 2024, though the luxury conglomerate did see business pick up in the fourth quarter.
MajorsJan 29, 2025
Chanel Names New General Manager of Watches, Fine Jewelry for USOlivier Kessler-Gay will take over the role on March 3.
SurveysJan 29, 2025
Consumer Confidence Slips for Second Consecutive Month It hit a four-month low in January due to concerns about the job market, though consumers remain bullish about the stock market.
Events & AwardsJan 29, 2025
Chris Ploof To Teach Mokume Gane at AJSThe jewelry designer and master metalsmith will present on the ancient Japanese metalworking technique at the Atlanta Jewelry Show in March.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
WFDB Joins Efforts to Promote Natural Diamonds With New CampaignThe “Moments” social media campaign emphasizes the emotional ties between natural diamonds and life’s special milestones.
CollectionsJan 28, 2025
Bliss Lau Celebrates the Intricate Mosaic of Identity in New CollectionThe versatile “As We Are” collection features 14 pieces with interlocking designs allowing for 27 different looks worn around the body.
