Tiffany & Co. and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have selected five finalists for the second Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
The finalists are: Angelo Jones, Aaron Mak, Christine Olowonira, Haley Kim, and Ivi Kyratzi. The winner will receive a $50,000 grant and a one-year fellowship on the Tiffany & Co. design team, working directly with the jewelry company, its leadership, and mentors.The award seeks to champion the next generation of creative talent, expanding access and opportunity within the jewelry design industry, Tiffany said in a Nov. 10 statement.
The five finalists will participate in a design challenge using Tiffany’s archival jewelry as the inspiration. The recipient will be announced at a special award ceremony in spring 2027.
Some background on the finalists:
Angelo Jones is a New York City–based jewelry designer and the founder of KRSN, which specializes in handcrafted unisex jewelry. He is a 2017 graduate of Parsons School of Design. He has held roles at MJJ Brilliant as a product development manager and Swivel as a lead designer. One of his most intriguing pieces at KRSN is his Panthera, a ring that comes apart to reveal two interlocking rings and the cat’s open jaw, complete with a series of sharp teeth. His work often features unique inlays and animal imagery, including boas and crocodiles.
Aaron Mak is best known as a New York City–based womenswear and footwear designer. He has worked at iconic brands such as Gabriela Hearst, where he was an associate designer for three years; Thom Browne, where he was a special projects assistant and menswear design assistant; Jimmy Choo; and Narciso Rodriguez. Mak graduated from the Parsons School of Design in 2020 with degrees in fashion design and economics.
Christine Olowonira is the founder of Cocoerow, a fine jewelry brand known for its sculptural pieces and limited editions. The company is named after Kokoro, the Yoruba word for the ant, according to its website. (“Small things carry the greatest power. The ant carries many times its weight and moves mountains when united,” the site says.) A first generation Nigerian-American artist and designer who believes in cultural storytelling and contemporary design, Olowonira has worked at ateliers including Valentino, Celine, Oscar de la Renta, and Loewe. One of her most interesting jewelry pieces is a tennis bracelet made from gemstones in the form of ants.
Haley Kim describes herself on her LinkedIn profile as a designer who “blends refined craftsmanship with technology,” noting her expertise in computer-aided design. Her most recent role has been with Effy Jewelry as one of its CAD designers. She also has worked at Holden as one of its jewelry designers from 2022 to 2024. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in metal and jewelry arts from Temple University in 2022 and a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in 2025.
Ivi Kyratzi is the founder and creative director of Ivi Los Angeles. The fine jewelry brand’s mission statement is to create heirlooms that celebrate Italian craftsmanship with a Hollywood spirit (her mentor is based in Arezzo, Italy). The Cyprus native previously served as a jewelry design consultant for Angona and had a fashion design internship at Yigal Azrouël. She has a bachelor’s degree in 2010 from Nottingham University and an associate of arts and sciences from Parsons School of Design in 2012. She also was a Fashion Trust U.S. 2026 Award finalist.
The first Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award recipient, Khiry founder and creative director Jameel Mohammed, recently completed his one-year fellowship. He also served on the selection committee that determined these five finalists. Mohammed debuted his Afrofuturist luxury brand Khiry in 2016.
In May, Tiffany and CFDA said the award’s inaugural year proved so successful they wanted to continue it and added a new $25,000 scholarship and summer internship in Tiffany’s design department for a jewelry design student.
Top: Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Design Award finalists Christine Olowonira, Angelo Jones, Ivi Kyratzi, Aaron Mak, and Haley Kim (photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.)
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