David Rotenberg died June 29 at the age of 79. Rotenberg was the owner of David Craig Jewelers in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb. He closed his store and retired two years ago.
Langhorne, Pa.—David Craig Rotenberg, the owner of now-closed David Craig Jewelers in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, died June 29 at the age of 79.
Rotenberg retired in 2023 and closed his store after more than four decades in business.
During that time, he developed a strong connection to his community and was invited to many customers’ weddings.
Rotenberg also gave back to the community through charity work, including working with therapy dogs at St. Mary Medical Center, where he served on the advisory board.
“There are no replacements for quality or integrity,” he said at the time of the store’s closing.
“I live my life by that and I have run the store by that idea as well. We’ve done our best over the years to take care of our community, and their support has allowed us to do the work we love.”
David Rotenberg (center) with employees at David Craig Jewelers (Image courtesy of David Craig Jewelers’ Facebook page, circa 2023)
Rotenberg began working in a jewelry store as a young man, eventually opening his own store in 1980.
At the time, appraisal education was a hot topic in the industry, the company said, and Rotenberg decided to learn more about appraising.
It would become his niche.
Over the years, Rotenberg was called on as an expert for government projects, courtroom cases, and insurance matters involving jewelry appraisal.
He was a Gemological Institute of America graduate gemologist, an American Gem Society certified gemologist, and a triple certified appraiser of personal property in gemology and contemporary and antique jewelry from the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), according to his online obituary.
In 1988, he earned the title of the certified gemologist appraiser from AGS.
In 2017, AGS awarded him the title of CGA emeritus for being an active member for more than 30 years.
“David Craig Rotenberg, ECGA, was a longtime member of the American Gem Society. He was instrumental in creating the AGS Appraisal Forum group on Facebook, providing a space for connection and knowledge sharing among professionals,” AGS CEO Katherine Bodoh said in a statement to National Jeweler.
“He will be missed, but his influence continues to be felt by all who had the privilege of learning from and working alongside him.”
Rotenberg was an active member of AGS for more than 40 years, recertifying his title every year.
He was the former president of the AGS Jewelers Educational Foundation and a former member of the AGS board of directors.
Rotenberg was a past president of the AGS Keystone Guild and a guild speaker, attending several annual Conclave events.
He also was the recipient of the ISA’s Leadership Award.
Rotenberg is survived by his wife Deborah, his son Evan, and his sisters Cynthia Spear and Barbara Vetri.
He was preceded in death by his son Mathew Rotenberg and his sister Phyllis Pine.
Funeral services were held July 3.
Contributions in his memory can be made to the Vetri Community Partnership, a nonprofit that provides nutrition education through cooking to people in Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey.
