Dominique Fox treasures a delicate pink pearl bracelet with a tiny locket that she received when she was just six months old. More than a piece of jewelry, it is a cherished keepsake filled with memories.
The bracelet was designed by Margie Cedrone of Margie Cedrone Artisan Jeweler in Haddon Township, and the connection they forged has continued for decades.
In fact, when Fox was preparing for her September 2024 wedding, she and her husband went to Cedrone to create her engagement ring and help design the jewelry she would wear on one of the most important days of her life.
“For me, working with Margie goes back to having absolute trust in her and her workmanship,” Fox said. “She deeply cares about all of her customers, and that cements their loyalty. We spent time brainstorming all of my wedding jewelry, and I knew I was getting the utmost quality for the price point I was seeking.”
Fox says she frequently recommends Cedrone to friends, especially those shopping for engagement rings.
“You feel like you are working with a true partner,” she said. “She creates relationships and one-of-a-kind designs. It is way more than just a transaction. Working with Margie is the best.”
As Fox and countless other customers can attest, Margie Cedrone Artisan Jeweler has been a trusted name in fine jewelry for nearly 40 years.
Specializing in custom-made diamond jewelry, Cedrone is among the few jewelers in the region who still focus heavily on creating tailor-made pieces. Her clients come from throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, the Main Line, Shore communities, and even South Florida.
Cedrone’s journey in the jewelry business began in 1981 when she started working for a wholesale jewelry company on Philadelphia’s famed Jewelers’ Row.
According to Cedrone, working on Sansom Street as a teenager was a lesson in perseverance and determination. During her five years there, she learned every aspect of the industry, from purchasing and evaluating diamonds and gemstones to designing fine jewelry.
“My friends and I would rent a spot, and I fell into the ideal career,” she recalled. “I designed a lot of necklaces while taking courses through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and developed a reputation as a pearl expert. I have always had a true passion for creating one-of-a-kind jewelry.”
After completing additional GIA coursework focused on gemstones, pearls, and restringing techniques, Cedrone opened her own Sansom Street shop in 1988. It was also a challenging period in her personal life.
Her son, Christian Gatto, was battling Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, often causing muscle weakness and paralysis. Fortunately, with treatment, most patients recover fully.
In April 2017, after the building housing her longtime shop was sold and converted into condominiums, Cedrone relocated her business to Haddon Township in Westmont, where it remains today as an appointment-only studio.
Her son, now 23 and fully recovered, plays an active role in the business, especially in marketing and social media, which is helping to attract a new generation of clients. “My son is growing the business in a new way for the next generation,” Cedrone said proudly.
She also works alongside experienced jewelry professionals, including two jewelry mechanics, Tina Schille and Aaron Noah, who add another dimension to the quality and service her shop provides.
Together, the team shares a passion for creating jewelry that is beautiful, meaningful, and built to last. They take time to understand each client’s vision, working collaboratively to create pieces that reflect personal stories and milestones.
Whether a customer is seeking a statement piece, an everyday favorite, or a custom engagement ring, Cedrone strives to create jewelry that perfectly fits the wearer. The shop also offers a curated selection of ready-to-wear pieces and specializes in jewelry redesigns, diamonds, pearls, and custom creations. Overall, she says she is creating more rings than ever for both men and women.
When she is not meeting with clients or designing jewelry, Cedrone enjoys spending time with her two-year-old granddaughter, Santina.
“It’s lovely and exhausting,” she said with a laugh. “We go to the park, tumbling classes, and all kinds of fun toddler activities. She keeps me on my toes!”
A Haddon Township resident for 27 years, Cedrone appreciates the community’s vibrant atmosphere, walkable downtown, restaurants, and local businesses.
One of the major trends she sees today is customers bringing in inherited jewelry and family heirlooms and asking her to transform it into something they can wear and enjoy.
Recently, a longtime customer brought in a pendant that had belonged to her late mother. Cedrone redesigned it into a ring that honored the original piece while giving it a fresh new life.
Marissa Fortuna, a co-owner of Pout Aesthetics in Sicklerville, has been a loyal customer for more than two decades. Cedrone designed her engagement ring, wedding band, and numerous other treasured pieces over the years.
“I know when I work with Margie, I will get better quality and pricing than anywhere else,” Fortuna said. “I know that Margie is going to do the best work possible because she creates truly beautiful pieces. We have worked so closely over the years that I call her my honorary aunt.”
Fortuna says she recommends Cedrone whenever she has the opportunity. “I would much rather have a custom, one-of-a-kind piece,” she said.
“It’s easy to walk into a jewelry store where someone simply wants to sell you the most expensive item. Margie treats everyone like family. I love that she takes her time with customers. Every piece she creates has emotion and meaning behind it.”
One of Fortuna’s favorite possessions is her grandmother’s engagement ring, which Cedrone redesigned and modernized while preserving its sentimental value. “I love wearing it,” she said. “It still carries all of those memories and meaning.”
According to Cedrone, jewelry is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, particularly layered looks and personalized pieces.
“Wearing more jewelry is very popular right now,” she said. “If I feel someone should keep a piece exactly as it is, I will tell them. But many customers bring in jewelry that has been sitting in drawers or safety deposit boxes for years, and we transform those pieces into something they can enjoy again.”
Because redesigning inherited jewelry can be emotional, Cedrone approaches each project carefully.
“We take photographs of everything and move slowly, usually one piece at a time,” she said. “I am thrilled when clients fall in love with their newly crafted jewelry.”
Asked what advice she would offer aspiring entrepreneurs, Cedrone’s answer is simple. “Have a passion for it, work hard, stay humble, and always do a great job.”
After more than four decades in the jewelry business, that philosophy continues to guide her every day.
“I think about my clients all the time, and that motivates me,” she said. “I have been doing this for 40 years, so it means a lot to me.”
The greatest reward, she says, comes from hearing from satisfied customers — many of whom have stayed in touch.
“I know I have to pay attention and make sure I accommodate them so they can proudly wear pieces connected to their loved ones,” Cedrone said. “I put my intuition, my mind, and my heart into each and every design.”
