b'Jennifer Gandia & Christina Gandia GambaleJennifer Gandia & Christina Gandia Gambale She started at the store in 2003, her entrance into the fine jewelryafter 9/11, the Great Recession of 2007-2009. industry coinciding with the continuing growth of the independentBut these changes happened only because Carlos and Milly designer movement. listened to their daughters and were open to trying new things that Jennifer saw pieces she loved from creators who were her peers,ultimately benefited the business, even when it scared them.women like Melissa Joy Manning and Jamie Joseph. Jennifer remembers talking her parents into opening on Satur-It caused her to have a revelationdayswhich turned out to be a big suc-about fine jewelry: This is a fashioncesswhile Christina recalls the low-lev-product. It was almost like I never putel terror her parents endured when she those things together, she says, havingAs a parent, now Iand Jennifer held a storewide sale to raise grown up with the idea that fine jewelryunderstand just howmoney to bring in new designers. was something one received only as a giftI just remember, I could see the fear for special occasions.much courage it took in their eyes at all of their inventory being By the time Christina joined the busi- for them to trust us just like slashed away. [But] they let us ness in 2007, the sisters were ready to getand to give us room do it and it worked, Christina says. We involved in designer jewelry.to succeed or fail. raised money, we got new jewelry, and it Jennifer and Christina (whod discov- moved us forward.ered Jamie Joseph on her own while work-CHRISTINA GANDIA As a parent, now I understand just how ing in wholesale) leaned into the trend.GAMBALEmuch courage it took for them to trust us It was a sage move for the mid-aughtsand to give us room to succeed or fail. considering the increased weight indepen-dent designers carry in the industry today.The ConstantAnother change the sisters madeAdvocates when they joined the family business was to introduce bridal.Greenwich St. Jewelers was also out ahead of other stores when Selling engagement rings and wedding bands, along with offeringit came to recognizing the need for the jewelry industry to become a selection of lower-priced bridge jewelry, turned out to be key tomore diverse and equitable.helping the store thrive during the crisis that hit not all that longIn fall 2018nearly two years before the murder of George Arches were incorporated throughout the design of the new Greenwich St. Jewelers as a nod to the arch found in the buildings original brickwork, top right. (Photo credit: Tom Sibley)NATIONAL JEWELER 21'