Eclectic and versatile, with more than a dash of fun; people often use these words to describe not only Zina's designs, but also Zina herself. From her earliest days, she was surrounded by varied influences and characterized by her desire for new experiences.
Inspired by her father and surrounded by the artisans in his New York factory, Zina fell in love with design by age twelve. Although she could have entered the family business, she chose a different path and became a teacher in Harlem.
Soon, marriage took her to El Paso, where she encountered an entirely different world. She reacted with characteristic openness. "I looked up and thought, 'Purple Mountains' Majesty!'" she remembers. While in El Paso, Zina worked in the television industry and delighted in the unique opportunities of a border town, including visits to booming Ciudad Juarez.
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After a year of traveling through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy, Zina and her family returned to the U.S. They ultimately settled in Los Angeles, and there something exciting and unexpected happened. Zina reentered the jewelry world, just as inventive designers were beginning to see the possibilities in sterling silver. The artistic instincts that had first emerged during her childhood were still there, made stronger by her adventures.
Throughout her travels, two things had remained constant: Zina loved moving forward and she viewed life with an artist's eye. She used those qualities to create a line of jewelry that was totally fresh and new.
Understanding that the traditional jewelry industry focused on special occasion pieces, Zina envisioned a sterling line that was fashion-forward and accessible. "Women want everyday items for work and dinner," she explains. "Jewelry you can purchase for yourself and that tells the world how you want to be interpreted."
In 1983, Zina founded her business in Beverly Hills offering a retail store and a small line that she sold to other independent jewelers. The business quickly became a destination for dynamic, inventive merchandise. Always offering customers something new and different, Zina expanded her jewelry line to include pieces with diamonds and 18 karat gold.
Today, after 25 years of success in the heart of Beverly Hills, Zina is still going strong. Zina's jewelry can be found at fine specialty retailers and jewelers like Classic Creations in Venice, Florida.
On this page, you can get a taste of Zina’s fresh and exciting sterling silver jewelry. We invite you to come in and see them in person, too. This way, you can truly appreciate the fun flair and quality craftsmanship that goes into each one of her pieces.
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