Apr 3, 2008

Friendly NeighborsBy Ryan StrankoZWire.com

Ed Iadarola, owner of Drew Edward’s Jewelers, has a lot to celebrate.

This past October, his jewelry store celebrated its 10-year anniversary. This past February, he opened The Flower Shop.

Mr. Iadarola started working part time in the jewelry business, when he was 15, sweeping and cleaning glass at a store in Waterbury. He became interesting in watching watchmakers work and repair watches, so he learned the trade and became a watchmaker for five years.

Mr. Iadarola would go to New York with his boss and watch jewelers repair jewelry. He decided he would buy his own equipment and become a jewelry repairer.

While attending Central Connecticut State University, where he earned his degree in accounting, he continued to work at a jewelry store. He graduated from CCSU and got a job at a local accounting firm.

Mr. Iadarola still enjoyed the jewelry business and continued to work weekends doing repairs. He decided he would leave the field of accounting at the age of 25 and start a trade shop out of his home.

For the next 18 years, Mr. Iadarola picked up jewelry and repaired it, from homes all over the state.

He then opened his own jewelry store.

Mr. Iadarola makes approximately 95 percent of the jewelry he sells, and he learned the craft all on his own. He has his own line of watches that he designs and sells at the store.

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