SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
IndependentsNov 25, 2025
Pearl Stringer Margaret Hoisik Dies
She is remembered as an artist who loved her craft and was devoted to her faith, her friends, and her family.
Margaret Hoisik, who worked for decades as a pearl stringer for Tiffany & Co. and Cartier before starting her own business, died on Nov. 11.
New York—Margaret “Maggie” Hoisik, a pearl stringer who worked for luxury jewelry brands, died surrounded by her family on Nov. 11.
Hoisik was born in New York City in 1936 and spent most of her life working in midtown Manhattan as a pearl stringer.
In high school, she did a work-study program at Tiffany & Co., where she first learned the craft while assisting in the pearl stringing department.
After 22 years with the jeweler, she went to work at Cartier, where she spent around a decade before starting her own pearl stringing business.
In 2016, she retired at 80 years old.
She was proud of her craft and regarded her work friends as family too, according to her online obituary.
She also loved to crochet, particularly blankets, hats, cardigans, and other baby gifts.
Hoisik enjoyed teaching her nieces how to crochet and string pearls.
While everyone relished the lessons, not many “mastered the crafts” in the way she did, the obituary said.
Hoisik was a devout Catholic, and daily prayer was important to her.
She always looked at the positive side of life and never talked badly about anyone, her obituary said.
She was a good listener and loyal friend who never judged and frequently checked in on her loved ones.
Hoisik had a deep love of family. She never married but was very involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews, all of whom she treated as her own.
In an Instagram post, one of her grandnieces wrote, “Maggie was loving, before anything else. She stayed home from college to make jewelry which she sold to help pay for my grandmother’s schooling fees.”
Hoisik enjoyed family gatherings and was very involved around the holidays, from putting batteries into Christmas decorations to preparing Easter baskets and handing out candy at Halloween.
She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, always sending a card and making a personal phone call on the day. She kept the family together, her obituary said.
Later in her life, Hoisik moved to City Island with her mother to be closer to her cousins.
In recent years, she moved to Yorktown Heights to be closer to her sister, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Anthony Hoisik, and her brother Paul Michael “Mickey” Hoisik.
She is survived by her sister Mary and brother-in-law Kevin, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Hoisik was born in New York City in 1936 and spent most of her life working in midtown Manhattan as a pearl stringer.
In high school, she did a work-study program at Tiffany & Co., where she first learned the craft while assisting in the pearl stringing department.
After 22 years with the jeweler, she went to work at Cartier, where she spent around a decade before starting her own pearl stringing business.
In 2016, she retired at 80 years old.
She was proud of her craft and regarded her work friends as family too, according to her online obituary.
She also loved to crochet, particularly blankets, hats, cardigans, and other baby gifts.
Hoisik enjoyed teaching her nieces how to crochet and string pearls.
While everyone relished the lessons, not many “mastered the crafts” in the way she did, the obituary said.
Hoisik was a devout Catholic, and daily prayer was important to her.
She always looked at the positive side of life and never talked badly about anyone, her obituary said.
She was a good listener and loyal friend who never judged and frequently checked in on her loved ones.
Hoisik had a deep love of family. She never married but was very involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews, all of whom she treated as her own.
In an Instagram post, one of her grandnieces wrote, “Maggie was loving, before anything else. She stayed home from college to make jewelry which she sold to help pay for my grandmother’s schooling fees.”
Hoisik enjoyed family gatherings and was very involved around the holidays, from putting batteries into Christmas decorations to preparing Easter baskets and handing out candy at Halloween.
She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, always sending a card and making a personal phone call on the day. She kept the family together, her obituary said.
Later in her life, Hoisik moved to City Island with her mother to be closer to her cousins.
In recent years, she moved to Yorktown Heights to be closer to her sister, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Anthony Hoisik, and her brother Paul Michael “Mickey” Hoisik.
She is survived by her sister Mary and brother-in-law Kevin, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Color Range This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Botswana’s President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is RecoveringPresident Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”
CollectionsSep 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Holiday Book Is ‘A Living Archive’ The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Gemfields Posts $98.5M Loss, Writes Down Value of Ruby MineIts Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.
SurveysSep 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls to 12-Year Low in SeptemberThose surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.
Events & AwardsSep 30, 2026
Jewelers of America, JA New York to Host Networking EventThe event will take place on the evening of Oct. 26 in New York City.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
Dionne Warwick’s Jewelry Goes Up for AuctionOnline bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.
Events & AwardsSep 29, 2026
Matt Stuller to Receive 2027 Gem Award for Lifetime AchievementThe founder and executive chairman of Stuller Inc. is being honored for his impact on the jewelry industry at the 25th annual Gem Awards.
ColumnistsSep 29, 2026
Your Holiday Marketing Has a Bridal Blind SpotDecember is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction Wednesday.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
De Beers London Drops Water-Inspired High Jewelry Collection“Vibrations” features several firsts for De Beers’ high jewelry, including the use of chalcedony and diamonds sourced from artisanal miners.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
Jessica McCormack Turns to Classic Motif for New CollectionThe “Bows” collection features three interpretations of the bow motif designed with Georgian and Victorian influences.
Events & AwardsSep 28, 2026
Guy Borenstein, Troy Underwood Among the Professionals Honored at AGS Conclave 2026The American Gem Society recognized industry members, one Guild, and a law enforcement official for their contributions to jewelry.
FinancialsSep 28, 2026
Instappraise, Jewelers Mutual Look to Simplify Jewelry InsuranceThrough a new system integration, customers can now receive instant personal jewelry insurance quotes at the time of appraisal.
WatchesSep 25, 2026
Smaller Rolex Watches Showing Strength on Secondary Market, Data ShowsFive of the 10 fastest-appreciating Rolex models on Bob’s Watches were Datejust 31 or Lady Datejust watches.
MajorsSep 25, 2026
Sherwood Family Buys Back Daniel’s Jewelers from Private EquityThe Sherwood family and AJS Creations CEO Tejas Shah purchased the jewelry chain back from Palladium Equity Partners.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2026
Brilliant Earth Collabs with Elizabeth Taylor Estate on Jewelry Collection“The Elizabeth Taylor Collection” uses lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in contemporary designs inspired by the icon.
TrendsSep 25, 2026
A Peek at Taylor Swift’s Game-Day DiamondsThe artist wore Dana Rebecca Designs’ marquise diamond-set gold hoops at the Chiefs game last Sunday. Now they’re our Piece of the Week.
