This week’s Piece of the Week comes from Greenwich St. Jewelers, a New York City jeweler whose original location sat less than two blocks from the World Trade Center. Founded in 1976 by Carlos and Milly Gandia, the business—then known as Greenwich Jewelers, was at the center of the 9/11 attacks. The building sustained structural damage, forcing the couple to relocate to Trinity Place while attempting to rebuild their operation in a neighborhood that had largely emptied out.
Rebuilding the Legacy
The Gandia family faced challenges beyond the physical damage. Their daughter Jennifer, then a public relations manager, took a year off to rethink her career after the attacks. She moved to Barcelona, where she found herself analyzing jewelry stores on the street and calling home with ideas for her parents’ business. She eventually returned to Greenwich Jewelers in 2003, using her marketing skills to help Carlos and Milly recover. Jennifer initially told her parents the arrangement would only last a year, but she stayed.
Today, Jennifer co-owns the store with her younger sister, Christina Gandia Gambale. Christina had a similar path, leaving a career in finance to join the family business. In 2022, both women were inducted into the National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame. That same year, they moved the store uptown to a larger, modern space in Tribeca, an expansion that won them the 2023 Gem Award for Retail Excellence.
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The Stardust Ring
Greenwich St. Jewelers works with about two dozen designers and maintains six collections under the “Designed by G. St.” umbrella. The Scattered Sapphire Cigar Band is part of the jeweler’s “Stardust” collection. Crafted in 14-karat yellow gold with a satin finish, the ring features a total of 1.34 carats of flush-set blue sapphires scattered throughout the band. It is designed to work well as a gift for a September birthday or a personal purchase.
Retaining a family business after such a traumatic event requires more than just physical endurance; it demands a shift in vision. Jennifer and Christina transformed a damaged storefront into a modern Tribeca destination, proving that resilience can lead to significant professional growth. The store continues to thrive as a result of their survival and evolution, serving as a symbol of their ability to adapt and overcome adversity.
The ring retails for $3,450 on the Greenwich St. Jewelers website.
