Gina Martial Clarke is the visionary founder behind the Gina Lumina Collection (GL Collection). With two decades of experience in the entertainment realm, Gina’s journey has now led her to the realm of jewelry, where she aims to redefine industry standards. Partnering with a renowned customized jewelry manufacturer, she brings forth a collection that blends exquisite craftsmanship with modern technology, offering a mesmerizing array of sterling silver and fine jewelry pieces.
But what truly sets the GL Collection apart is its incorporation of lab-grown diamonds and sourced gems, mirroring the brilliance and allure of mined counterparts. The brand is preparing to unveil its exclusive bridal line this Spring. Find out more as Gina shares her passion for innovation and commitment to excellence in the interview below.
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Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the Gina Lumina Collection and what sets it apart from other jewelry brands?
I have been drawn to fashion, jewelry, and beautiful things for quite some time. The Gina Lumina Collection/GL Collection is inspired by sophistication and style that can be crossed over into different tastes.
The sterling silver pieces can be from everyday casual to formal, and the upcoming bridal collection will have a patented lab-grown diamond technology exclusive to our manufacturer. There will be some unique editorial collaborations for the bridal collection launch and those diamond ring sets will be made to order based on select designs and carats.
With your extensive experience in the entertainment industry, how has that influenced your approach to designing and launching your jewelry brand?
Every approach that I take in all of my projects and ventures has an innovative element. As a creator in media and entertainment, I have combined not only my past fashion-related knowledge but also my production experience which also overlaps into my media program involvement, while producing my current content.
I have also worked with networks, a lot of entertainers, fashion and jewelry brands, and vendors. The relationships I maintained led me to the valuable relationships that inspired me to launch my own jewelry brand and be in the position to launch brands for others including entertainers and pro athletes.
The GL Collection combines sterling silver pieces with fine jewelry crafted from precious metals like gold and platinum. What led you to choose this diverse range of materials for your collection?
We had some existing innovative designs with sterling pieces, and we will ultimately introduce more original items. The finer jewelry pieces, particularly bridal ring sets, will be made of white and yellow gold as well as other precious metals, along with the diamonds. We will have customizable options depending on the carats.
Both our finest and causal pieces contain stones/diamond options and can be cross-worn based on the brilliance of the stones. They add a bit of elegance and glam to even the most casual of looks. The variety opens the collection to various styles and personality types regardless of age or gender.
We understand that an exclusive bridal collection with patented lab-grown technology is set to launch soon. What can customers expect from this new addition to the GL Collection?
There is a level of elegance and class with the bridal collection, that combines both tradition with bold glamour. While they can be for weddings, they truly can fit into any special event or occasion including red-carpet appearances. Even the sterling pieces that fall into this category are stunning from larger chandelier earrings to halo studs and cufflinks.
In both the golds and other precious metals, we also have a wide range of tennis and other bracelets, and necklaces that can be for the brides, grooms, marrying parties, gifts for wedding parties, as well as relatives or guests. The price points vary from moderate to high, so however one chooses to celebrate their special occasion, there will be something for most. There will be a few traditionally mined diamond pieces, but the majority of the collection will contain the patented lab-grown diamond technology exclusive to my manufacturing partner, which is a Canadian-owned company.
While one of their major retailing partners will also have some of these diamonds within their collection, the GL Collection will not only be one of the smaller brands to have access to this technology– which offers fewer flaws and a higher brilliance based on this cut, but I will be the only black identifying woman to launch a collection of this technology, which is pretty amazing quite frankly.
In all that I do, I aim to break barriers and leave a mark, especially where representation is concerned, and I think it is highly important to do so in every aspect of the ventures and projects I pursue.
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