Michelle Gay’s career trajectory is the kind of story that turns heads in both the luxury automotive and fine jewelry industries. After more than a decade in the ultra-competitive world of high-end cars, where she worked with royalty and celebrities, Gay walked away from the glossy showroom floors to build something entirely her own: Gold Trip, a contemporary jewelry brand that is already making waves in the U.K. and beyond.
Her journey illustrates a bigger shift happening in luxury—where consumers are increasingly open to innovation, sustainability, and lab-grown diamond jewelry that merges timeless design with modern values.
From Luxury Cars to Jewelry Cases
Gay’s first career chapter was as brand and business manager, later sales and marketing director, at David Brown Automotive, a boutique British automaker founded in 2013. She was part of its growth from a fledgling concept to a respected name, flying across continents to represent ultraluxury cars that could cost seven figures.
But when the company faced financial trouble and changed ownership in 2024, Gay recognized it was time to pivot. She had already registered a jewelry company in 2021—a seed planted by her love for wearable art since childhood.
“I needed something creative, something joyful,” Gay recalls. “Jewelry was always my escape.”
The hand-painted pink enamel ear cuff ($50) gets its sparkle from a single cubic zirconia stone.
The Birth of Gold Trip
Gold Trip launched with the kind of design sensibility only a global luxury veteran could bring. Inspired by her travels, Gay sought affordable demi-fine jewelry that her automotive clients could admire—pieces that looked expensive but were lightweight and practical enough for constant travel.
Now, Gold Trip offers collections in 925 sterling silver plated with 18k gold or rhodium, often accented with freshwater pearls, enamel, semiprecious stones, and cubic zirconia. The brand has expanded into birthstone jewelry and continues to innovate with pieces that balance timelessness with modern edge.
It’s stocked in more than 60 stores, showcased at the Jewellery Show in London, and continues to grow under Gay’s leadership.
Gold Trip recently started making birthstone jewelry, like these December charms ($33 each) with blue topaz–colored CZ, shown on huggie hoop earrings ($47 per pair).
Why Gold Trip Reflects the New Jewelry Market
What makes Gold Trip’s rise noteworthy is how it mirrors a broader movement in fine jewelry. Just as lab-created diamonds are disrupting the century-old mined diamond market, brands like Gold Trip are rewriting rules by prioritizing design accessibility, sustainable sourcing, and everyday luxury.
Consumers today want jewelry that doesn’t just sparkle—they want it to reflect their values. Lab-grown diamond rings, bracelets, and earrings are rapidly gaining traction, and Gold Trip’s focus on creativity and responsible sourcing positions it well for this evolving market.
A Global Vision
Fluent in Mandarin thanks to time spent at Beijing Language & Cultural University, Gay has been able to source materials directly from small family-owned workshops in Asia as well as trusted suppliers in the U.K. This international reach gives her an edge in scaling the brand while maintaining authenticity.
She sums it up simply: “Gold Trip has grown faster than I ever imagined. It’s been an amazing learning experience.”
Michelle Gay’s career reinvention is not just about jewelry—it’s about how the new wave of jewelry brands, especially those embracing lab-grown diamonds, are redefining what modern luxury looks like.