If you forced Carolyn Gang, SU alumna and president of Seiden Gang, an upscale jewelry company featured in stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, to identify one reason she became a jewelry entrepreneur, she might say gold. In 1980, gold cost $800 an ounce (today the price stands at about $732), and people wanted a big look with out having to pay big dollars. She began making and selling hollow, beaded bracelets to her friends at the local country clubs and offices. The bracelets sold well, and word of Carolyn's designs spread. That success taught her a lesson and prompted her to go into the gold business. Diamonds, art, real estate, and other manufactured items require a buyer. Not gold. Just melt and sell.
Carolyn grew up in New Rochelle, New York in an upper-middle-class family. Her father had his own accounting practice, and she developed an interest in business as a youngster. She came to Syracuse University as a history major with the intent of becoming a teacher. “The expectation that parents, at least mine, had for daughters rather than sons was to be a teacher or a nurse, get married and have children,” she says. “My brother was supposed to go into my father's business.”
After graduating from Syracuse in three and a half years, Carolyn received her master's degree in education at Bank Street College in New York. Despite her degree, Carolyn knew the structure and routine of teaching held little appeal.
After two sons and a divorce, Carolyn decided to start a new business in her home of Scarsdale, N.Y. “I wanted to be somebody other than my father's daughter, my husband's wife, and my children's mother. I needed to have my own identity,” she says. “I wanted to be financially independent and not have to rely on someone else financially, as I had been doing all my life.”
Carolyn takes her inspiration from motifs and designs of past cultures and civilizations, particularly the ancient Greeks. She says her days spent designing and crafting jewelry feel more like fun than work. Her Love of Life collection features pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings. All pieces are made with 18K gold and precious stones, including diamonds. The exquisite Love of Life ring in 18K yellow gold with diamond enhancements adds sparkle to any outfit ($4,545, http://store.jrdunn.com/seiden-gang-jewelry-s/965.htm). The Classic Life’s Circle Small enhancer in 18K gold with diamonds on a leather cord scream sophistication and style when worn to work or out on the town ($2,925, http://store.jrdunn.com/seiden-gang-jewelry-s/965.htm).
Carolyn spends a great deal of her time working on advertising and sales and travels all over the United States, particularly to New York City, for jewelry shows. Carolyn loves the fact that she can start trends with her jewelry, but she considers her pieces timeless. “My jewelry is classic,” she says. “It will last forever.” And if you drop $2,400 for a ring or $20K for a necklace, it better be (Seidengang.com).
