Designer
For acclaimed jewelry designer Kristin Hanson artistic inspiration has no limit. Her studies began under the private guidance of master goldsmith Harold O’Connor and later at a contemporary jewelry school in of Florence, Italy. Upon her return to the United States, Kristin worked directly with master diamond setters and jewelers in the famed NYC Diamond District. and launched her first public collection at Bergdorf Goodman.
For two decades Kristin has worked to refine her craft of preserving classical European goldsmith techniques, an intricate practice in which each piece is created by hand. Her creative philosophy embodies contemporary signature forms carefully designed to accentuate the innate beauty of rare natural color diamonds, of which she is a specialist.
Kristin’s meticulous and thoughtful approach to selecting the diamonds and exotic gems that she features in her designs is unmatched. Her exclusive access to incredibly rare and precious Argyle Pink Diamonds, which are sourced from a conflict-free mine in Australia, makes her work highly sought after by investors and collectors alike. Each piece that Kristin designs and expertly crafts showcases the natural splendor of these precious materials.
In 2016 Kristin was hired by Oscar de la Renta to help the company launch its first jewelry collection. She has since collaborated with Rio Tinto Diamonds, and her work has been featured extensively in Swarovski’s marketing campaigns and books. Her work has been showcased in shows around the world.
For over a decade, Kristin has shared her expertise as an educator nurturing the work of promising young talent. From 2006-2017, she led the Kristin Hanson School of Jewelry Design out of her Tribeca Atelier, which operated as the largest jewelry school in the US at the time. Kristin is currently working on production of online video classes from her Hudson Valley studio, IJEWL.
Kristin’s transformative designs have won her critical acclaim, including: the coveted Couture Design Award in 2007 as well as the esteemed Platinum Fashion Innovation Award in 2015 by Platinum Guild International. In 2011, Kristin was honored with the VIV Magnificent Woman Humanitarian Award, a leading women’s luxury and lifestyle brand for her work as an educator. In 2022, Kristin's Argyle Leaf ring won the InStore, Retailers Choice award and second place in color diamond jewelry, featured at the Couture show in Las Vegas.
Her impressive portfolio of work has garnered international distinction, with features in Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar China and W Magazine among many other publications. Kristin Hanson Jewelry is sold at select Neiman Marcus stores and a number of independent jewelry retailers. She also works directly with private clients on custom heirloom and bridal designs.
Kristin Hanson’s Finery is now open in historic Rhinebeck, NY. Stop by and say hello.
41 E Market Street, Suite 2
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Weds - Sun, 11am - 5pm
(845) 516-5001