G Marie Luxuries Named One of America’s Coolest Jewelry Stores
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2026
Virginia Beach fine jewelry destination earns national recognition from INSTORE Magazine for its curated approach to jewelry, personal service and one-of-a-kind luxury experience
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — G Marie Luxuries, an independent fine jewelry destination known for bringing exceptional designers, rare gemstones and a highly personalized shopping experience to Virginia Beach, has been named a 2026 finalist in INSTORE Magazine’s America’s Coolest Jewelry Stores competition.
G Marie Luxuries earned a top-five finish in the competition’s Small Cool division, placing the Virginia Beach boutique among a select group of independent jewelers from across North America.
For founder Gale Marie, the recognition reflects a philosophy that has shaped G Marie from the beginning: fine jewelry should be experienced as art.
A former art gallery owner and developer, Gale has translated her lifelong love of art, design and collecting into a distinctly curatorial approach to fine jewelry. She personally searches through the work of hundreds of jewelers, building relationships with acclaimed designers and selecting pieces for their artistry, craftsmanship and ability to tell a story.
Those relationships also give G Marie clients access to extraordinary pieces and opportunities that extend beyond a traditional jewelry store, including rare and one-of-a-kind designs, special orders and collaborations with designers to create pieces specifically for individual clients.
“Every year we feel privileged to bring our readers the best of the best in our industry,” said Trace Shelton, INSTORE’s editor-in-chief. “We look for qualities like a comfortable and unique shopping experience, innovative marketing and top-notch client service. G Marie Luxuries has all of those and more.”
The Cool Stores competition evaluates retailers on their interior and exterior design, store story, marketing, online presence and overall individuality.
A Team Built Around Expertise and Connection
Gale works alongside Jewelry Expert Carla Carter, a GIA Graduate Gemologist, Applied Jewelry Professional and AGS Certified Gemologist with more than 25 years of fine jewelry experience. Carla travels internationally to source jewelry and gemstones and maintains relationships with designers, master lapidaries and gemstone and diamond dealers. She also provides professional jewelry appraisals for clients.
Judy Cowling, G Marie’s Designer + Client Specialist, brings another artistic perspective to the team. A William & Mary graduate with a Fine Art degree, Judy built a career spanning decorative arts, interior design and architectural design, and even designed the G Marie boutique itself. Today, she combines that eye for design with a highly personal approach to helping clients discover jewelry that speaks to them.
Together, the team has created an experience centered less on simply selling jewelry and more on building relationships with collectors and helping clients discover pieces that become part of their own stories.
Beyond the Jewelry Case
G Marie’s services extend well beyond its curated designer collections. The boutique offers custom fine jewelry design, working with award-winning designers and master artisans to create modern heirlooms or reimagine jewelry clients already own. Clients are guided from the initial concept and design development through craftsmanship and final presentation.
G Marie also offers professional jewelry appraisals for insurance replacement purposes, providing clients with detailed documentation, current market knowledge and gemological expertise to help properly protect valuable pieces.
Private in-person and virtual appointments, personal styling, gifting guidance and white-glove delivery further allow the team to customize the experience around each client.
This Fall: Experience the World of Alex Sepkus
The national recognition comes as G Marie prepares for one of its signature fall experiences. On September 9 and 10 from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., the Virginia Beach showroom will host The World of Alex Sepkus, featuring an exceptional collection from the celebrated designer, including rare and one-of-a-kind designs available to experience during the special event.
The trunk show is representative of what has made G Marie a destination for jewelry lovers: opportunities to experience extraordinary work in person, discover designers on a deeper level and connect with experts who understand the artistry behind each piece.
Nearly 50 stores participated in INSTORE’s 25th annual Cool Stores competition. First-place stores in the Small Cool and Big Cool divisions will be featured in the magazine’s September issue, while finalists will be spotlighted as monthly Cool Stores in INSTORE issues from October 2026 through July 2027.
To explore G Marie Luxuries, its upcoming events or schedule a private appointment, visit GMarie.com.
About G Marie Luxuries
G Marie Luxuries is an intimate fine jewelry boutique in Virginia Beach, Virginia, specializing in distinctive jewelry from award-winning designers and artisans around the world. Founded by Gale Marie, the boutique approaches jewelry through the lens of art and curation, personally selecting pieces for their craftsmanship, beauty and individuality. G Marie offers designer and one-of-a-kind fine jewelry, rare gemstones, custom jewelry design, professional appraisals, concierge services and private in-person and virtual shopping experiences. The Virginia Beach showroom is located at 2861 Lynnhaven Drive, Suite 110-A.
About INSTORE Magazine
INSTORE Magazine helps North America’s independently owned jewelry store owners improve by providing them with smart ideas they can put directly into action each and every month and daily online at instoremag.com. INSTORE is published by SmartWork Media, which also publishes INVISION, PETS+, VMSD, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, BIG PICTURE and SCREEN PRINTING magazines, as well as their respective websites and events — IRDC, EyeInnovate and JA New York.
