SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
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
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Weekly QuizOct 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
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.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
CrimeOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
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.
