New Zealand Design Institute – Best Design Awards

I just had to squeeze this one in ahead of our next capsule launch…

The Light My Fire Pinky ring was award the Silver Pin at Australasia’s largest annual showcase of design excellence last Friday!

To be recognised as a top designer amongst my peers is needless to say pretty fantastic!

I designed this pinky ring to showcase my story telling, our craftsmanship and use of New Zealand alluvial gold. The judges were impressed with the design concept, my level of detail and quality of craftsmanship. So she’s done well this year….now I just want a gold one 

Alice x

Discover Light My Fire Pinky

The Light My Fire Pinky ring in Diamond and 18kt New Zealand Gold

Couture Design Awards 2025

The Couture Design Awards are considered the Oscars of the international jewellery world and held once a year at the prestigious Couture show in Las Vegas. 

The gold category was the largest at the show with some insanely beautiful jewels up for the award. We entered the Light My Fire Pinky because it’s not only a very cool new design of mine but it is also crafted entirely in NZ alluvial yellow gold and diamond. The NZ gold being the point we were celebrating and showing off. A career high point and one I’m so incredibly proud of my team for doing so well in. 

There is no ‘i’ in team. I have a vision and keep working it until it sings. This is only the beginning. My CAD team bring my designs into 3d reality then my jewellery team test and tweak through modelling, resins and gold until all moving parts are perfect. Then we assemble, set and polish. It’s a constant conversation between many skilled designers and craftsmen to get the balance right. 

I’m thrilled that the 5 judges who are all at the top of their game saw the work that goes into a piece like this and have since received personal messages from some of them and other people of note saying just this. 

Sharing this with you, many of whom are clients, as I know you too share in the love of bringing a vision to life. This vision is part of a big dream that is ever so slowly coming into being….

Alice x

By Anthony DeMarco for Forbes.

READ HERE

When telling my story and showing my jewels to a new audience for the first time, a question I am often asked is “what are you known for?” or “describe your clients’ jewellery wardrobe”. If I scroll through my photos, mainly jewels dotted with a daughter here and there, I see all these amazing women I’ve helped celebrate over the years. It sounds corny to say it’s a privilege but it truly is. ***photos below I’ve just touched down from a trip to New York and Dallas where I was asked the above questions when visiting both my retailer partners and attending a couple of events. I therefore thought it quite apt as we approach Mother’s Day here in New Zealand, to be that personal stylist and note down the unique jewellery box curation of the typical wonderful woman who wears my jewels. (Feel free to share to any husbands, partners or children needing a helpful hint ) So if you opened one of my client’s jewellery boxes, you may, as time passes, love is celebrated and we build upon a collection, typically find the following curation: A pair of sleeper earrings, namely one from my mini series you can sleep in, do sport in, take the kids to school in, swim in the ocean and never take off. The AH woman is on the move. Possibly a larger pair of ‘event’ or ‘evening’ earrings to stack or glam up the above because she’s pretty bloody stylish. A diamond ring of sorts. These quite often come with a comment like “it needs to fit under a bike glove”. A bespoke right hand ring, sometimes re-purposing gems from inherited jewels or sourcing birthstones for family members. Oh boy we have fun with these. For the super fun jewellery lover, a pinky ring. Have fingers, shall decorate. Necklaces and bracelets: It’s got to be a custom heavy handmade belcher chain or both my AH Tex necklaces and bracelets with the 18kt yellow gold handmade chains would be the most popular, dotted with diamonds, initials or birthstones. Each collection however, is unique just like us and echoes both our daily lives and milestones. So to all you brilliant women, whether you be a mother or not, here’s to celebrating love and life and quite importantly, here’s to celebrating YOU. Alice x

Everyday Diamonds – The Dorics and Piccolos. Wardrobe staples.

Everyday Glam – The Diamond Bunches, your classic yet unique diamond hoop earrings.

Stacks of Love – 21st’s, anniversaries and wedding rings have been celebrated with the Dahlia Bunches Stacker rings.

Pinky-Tastic – The Fabella Pinky is just one example of having fun with the open real estate of a pinky finger.

Diamonds Diamonds – Proudly sourcing only natural diamonds. I love designing showstoppers for them in all shapes and sizes.

Unique Handmade Chains – I custom make these beauties. Not on the website. An essential layer for any jewellery collection.

A Bespoke Ring – Such a favourite of mine, to work with a client in sourcing a gem and creating a piece of art in a jewel.

AH Boxing – Because such beauties need special housing and to travel in style.

My jewels are designed and crafted in New Zealand proudly using traceable New Zealand gold.

Enquire to curate your box.

From New Zealand > New York > Dallas and around the World 

Next stop: The Conservatory in Dallas – a beautiful concept store.  Here’s me above inside the ‘jewellery house’.

Article by Grant Bradley.

Extract below:

“Alice is an artist and the founder of Alice Herald – a luxury brand with a focus on one-of-a-kind, fine jewellery pieces…We asked Alice about her design journey that informs her practice today.” 

Full article here.

Link to FashionNZ article.

Notes from Abroad

A few snippets for you from my recent trip to the USA and UK where I attended the largest industry show and made some fantastic connections for future projects. Precious also to reconnect with current and new suppliers whilst hearing the latest first hand from the top voices in the diamond and jewellery world.

A dash of art and inspirational tourist exploring was enjoyed also.

Alice x

Part One: Vegas – the Shows

Me having a virtual tour of one of my diamond suppliers cutting factories, a state of the art holographic machine to “try on your diamond” and meeting one of the brothers from the Italian family boxing firm who have made all my gorgeous leather and suede displays and boxing for over 12 years.  

Part Two: LA – French 75’s

LA was about catching up on some design work and creating new connections. A client and now wonderful friend as many of you become, hosted a fantastic evening at her house to celebrate women and fine jewels. Hilariously one had studied fashion at Central St Martins and another a similar close connection so the world really isn’t that big is it? I look forward to returning next year to create some special pieces for some of the women.

Part Three: New York – Art and the Art of Diamond Cutting

I essentially absorbed myself in art for 3 days with some meetings dotted in-between. Whilst we do have art and some fantastic architecture in New Zealand, there’s nothing quite like MoMa, The Met and the Guggenheim to spark inspiration for a designer, go and see some classics as well as some new movers and shakers.

Such a highlight was standing alongside some significant diamonds being cut in one of the longest established family sight holder companies in New York. Being able to meet these incredibly skilled craftsmen and see them in action was a true privilege and one I will remember for a long time to come.

Whilst the industry is supporting the African communities from where the diamonds originate in keeping the diamond cutting there before the material is exported, it is lessening the need to maintain skilled cutters in the destinations, so it is sadly becoming a dying art closer to home. That said, really special stones and ones being re-purposed and cut are kept ‘in-house’ and some final facets are saved for when they arrive on our shores closer to their final destination. A very special experience.

A large heart diamond in the process of being cut – waiting to have its cleave and final facets cut. A stunning emerald I found and a very beautiful 20 carat emerald diamond.

Part Four: England – Meetings and a dash of competitive golf

A couple of days with work in London then some blissful time in the beautiful sun drenched British countryside with family and friends to finish off the world tour.

I stopped by the place where it all started – Central Saint Martins – the original buildings now empty as the university has moved to the very modern Kings Cross.

Quite special to sit and contemplate on my return train to the country on quite how busy I’ve been, the jewels I’ve designed and gems I’ve worked with since those days at St Martins. I could never have imagined it. 20 years on and it’s important recognise the journey and to acknowledge the steps taken as well as some of the brilliant people who’ve come along with me.

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