Fair & Events

Tiffany & Co. and CFDA Elevate Emerging Talent with Second Jewelry Designer Award and New Scholar Award

A close-up shot of a Tiffany & Co. jewelry design. - nationaljeweler.com

Tiffany & Co. and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have announced the launch of the second cycle of the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award. Building on the success of its inaugural year, this prestigious program continues its commitment to nurturing and elevating the next generation of American jewelry designers. The 2026-2027 cycle also introduces a significant expansion: the Tiffany x CFDA Jewelry Design Scholar Award, offering a $25,000 scholarship and a summer internship for an early-career jewelry design student.

A Program Rooted in Craft and Vision

The Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award is designed to provide selected applicants with a comprehensive, multi-week mentorship and immersive learning experience. This program centers on craft and material exploration at Tiffany & Co.’s facilities in New York City. Finalists will engage in a design challenge, tasked with producing a collection of three to five pieces. The culmination of the program will be an award ceremony held at Tiffany & Co.’s iconic Fifth Avenue flagship, The Landmark, where the finalists will present their creations to a distinguished selection committee.

The winner of the Jewelry Designer Award will receive a $50,000 grant and a one-year fellowship with the Tiffany Design team. This year, the fellowship recipient will be compensated $100,000 subject to withholdings for the 12-month assignment commencing Spring 2027 in New York City.

Introducing the Tiffany x CFDA Jewelry Design Scholar Award

The newly established Tiffany x CFDA Jewelry Design Scholar Award aims to deepen the partnership’s investment in the full spectrum of a designer’s career. This award provides an early-career jewelry design student with a $25,000 scholarship and a valuable summer internship within the Tiffany Design department. This initiative expands the program’s reach beyond emerging designers to include students at the very beginning of their creative journeys.

Distinguished Selection Committee

The 2026-2027 selection committee comprises esteemed figures from the jewelry, fashion, and art worlds. Notably, Jameel Mohammed, the inaugural recipient of the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award and a fellow on the Tiffany Design team since April 2025, will serve as a member. His participation highlights the program’s dedication to community and mentorship.

Other members of the 2026-2027 Selection Committee include:

Nathalie Verdeille, Senior Vice President and Chief Artistic Officer at Tiffany & Co.
Rajni Jacques, Fashion Creative Director and Global Brand Strategist
Gabrielle Union, Actress, Producer, and Bestselling Author
Bethann Hardison, CFDA Board Member and Advocate
Frank Everett, Vice Chairman of Jewelry at Sotheby’s
Karla Martinez de Salas, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue Mexico & Latin America
Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge, Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Lynn Yaeger, Writer

Program Details and Application Process

Applications for the 2026 Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award program are open from May 11, 2026, to June 1, 2026. Prospective participants must be legal residents of the United States, 18 years of age or older, and eligible to work in the U.S.

The application process requires both an online submission, including a resume, portfolio, and answers to specific questions via video, and a virtual interview. Applications will not be considered complete until both components are submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 1, 2026. Finalists are expected to fully engage in all aspects of the award program, which includes in-person sessions in New York City and virtual touchpoints throughout October 2026 to January 2027. The award ceremony is scheduled for February 3, 2027.

More information regarding the Tiffany x CFDA Jewelry Design Scholar Award will be available on the CFDA website on May 14. For program details, terms, and application submission, interested individuals are directed to visit the Tiffany & Co. website.

Commitment to Future Talent

Nathalie Verdeille of Tiffany & Co. expressed excitement for the second cycle, stating, “We are excited to announce the second cycle of the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award, underscoring the house’s longstanding commitment to creativity, craft, and championing the next generation of emerging talent.”

Steven Kolb, CEO and President of the CFDA, added, “The Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award marks a meaningful expansion of what this program represents—not just for emerging designers, but for students at the very start of their creative journey. At the CFDA, we believe that creativity is the driving force behind American fashion, and this award is a testament to that shared belief.”