CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
IndependentsJun 25, 2021
CBG’s Estelle Hedaya Among Those Missing in Miami Building Collapse
Hedaya, the director of operations for Continental Buying Group and Preferred Jewelers International, lives in the Champlain Towers South.
Estelle Hedaya is a resident of the Surfside, Florida condominum building that partially collapsed early Thursday morning. A beloved industry veteran, Hedaya is the director of operations for Continental Buying Group and Preferred Jewelers International. (Photo courtesy of Estelle Hedaya/Facebook)
Surfside, Florida—Estelle Hedaya, a beloved member of the Continental Buying Group and Preferred Jewelers International teams, is among those unaccounted for following the partial collapse of a beachfront condominium in Surfside, Florida.
The ocean-facing wing of the 12-story Champlain Towers South collapsed around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.
About 55 of the building’s 136 units came down, The New York Times reported, trapping hundreds of people inside, many of whom were likely asleep at the time of the collapse.
Hedaya is one of the building’s residents.
Originally from Queens, Hedaya worked in the jewelry industry in her native New York for years before relocating to Florida to take the job with CBG about six years ago.
She is the director of operations for both CBG and Preferred Jewelers International, working with many suppliers and retailers.
CBG shared the news that Hedaya is among the missing via social media Thursday morning, posting on Instagram, “Please pray for our Estelle … We are devastated, but hopeful she will be found and safe.”
The posting was met with an outpouring of prayers and well wishes from members of the jewelry industry, and friends also flooded Hedaya’s Facebook page with messages of support and prayers.
“Estelle was my succession plan and was right on track,” CBG President Andie Weinman told National Jeweler via email on Friday.
“We just had our show in Vegas and had never seen her as happy and thriving in her career. She is exceptional working with this organization.”
As of Friday morning, the number of those unaccounted for had risen to 159 from 99, authorities said in a press conference.
The number of people accounted for stands at 120 while four have been confirmed dead.
Officials emphasized Friday that the operation is still is a search-and-rescue mission.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade County’s urban search and rescue team are using dogs, sonar, and cameras to search through the rubble via the parking garage located beneath the building.
“We still have hope we will find people alive,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.
Two funds have been set up to support those impacted by the building collapse, SupportSurfside.org and The Chesed Fund, organized by The Shul of Bar Harbour.
More on Independents
The Latest
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
Weekly QuizNov 13, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
‘Mellon Blue’ Diamond Sells for $7M Less Than It Did a Decade AgoA buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
