Designers to Know: Alice Herald

Some designers catch your eye.
Others stay on your mind.

I first discovered Alice Herald’s work in 2024 at The COUTURE Show. It was my second time attending the show, and as anyone who’s been knows, COUTURE is pure madness in the best way possible. So many talented designers, so many conversations to be had and never quite enough time. I like to spend time with designers, to understand not just the jewelry, but the person and the thinking behind it, and that year, I simply didn’t get the chance to meet Alice in person. Still, her work stayed with me.

By the time COUTURE 2025 came around, I knew I simply had to sit down with her properly. I emailed ahead of time and made sure to secure an appointment. When we finally met, there was an instant connection, not only to her pieces, but to Alice herself. She is wicked smart, effortlessly cool and deeply thoughtful. Alice is the kind of designer whose point of view comes through immediately in the work.

Her jewelry is bold and sculptural. Each piece is incredibly detail-oriented, with a presence you feel the moment you pick it up. There is a beautiful heft to her work, a physical and emotional weight that speaks to intention and craftsmanship. Alice works with New Zealand alluvial gold, a material choice that feels as considered as her designs themselves. Nothing is incidental.

What struck me most is how clearly her vision comes through. These are not pieces chasing trends. They are confident, grounded and unapologetically themselves. Jewelry that occupies space, on the body and in the mind. The kind of pieces you return to again and again, discovering something new each time you wear them.

Meeting Alice confirmed what I had already sensed from afar - this is a designer who knows exactly who she is and what she wants to say. And that certainty, that quiet yet bold authority, is what makes her work so compelling.

COVERAGE WORTH READING
For those who’d like to dive deeper, here are a few recent articles featuring Alice Herald.

- "Alice Herald Redefines New Zealand Luxury for an American Audience” by Cait Bazemore, Worth Magazine

- "Digging Deeper” by Annabel Davidson, Vanity Fair

- "Meet the Designers Committed to Making Socially & Environmentally Conscious Jewelry" by Jill Newman, Natural Diamond Council

- "International Accolade for Ring ‘Huge Honour’” by Olivia Caldwell, Otago Daily Times

- "2025 Couture Design Awards Celebrates The Best In Fine Jewelry Design" by Anthony DeMarco, Forbes