Kia Schwan

Kia Schwan is an independent high jewelry Maison based in New York City, founded by Kia Schwaninger, a designer who specializes in creating unique, one of a kind pieces for private clients. Known for her decades of experience designing at some of the world’s leading high jewelry brands, Kia’s eye for exquisite craftsmanship, color, proportion and stone artistry have made her bespoke creations a must-have for those in the know.

Raised in Switzerland, Kia’s love and deep fascination for jewelry started in early childhood andflourished into her high school years, when she apprenticed in a jewelry design studio during her studiesabroad in Quito, Ecuador. The honing of her design and rendering skills continued in earnest at theRhode Island School of Design, where she received a BFA in Jewelry & Metals. Kia eventually landed inNew York City, where she apprenticed at Tiffany & Co., and found her way to Place Vendôme, Paris, where she would spend 10 years designing high jewelry for Van Cleef & Arpels. After a few years in Paris,the Maison sent Kia to New York, to lead design and custom orders in their US workshop. In 2016, Kiajoined Harry Winston as Design Director, where she oversaw the development of new high jewelry collections

Knowing that custom high jewelry was her talent and calling, Kia launched her eponymous brand, Kia Schwan, in 2020. Starting small, Kia began designing custom pieces for friends. Her Swiss eye for detail and perfection, high jewelry expertise and artist’s intuition for sculptural design and color, made her creations an almost instant hit among the most discerning of jewelry clients.“All of the pieces I make are deeply personal custom pieces for my clients. I feel honored that they trustme with their stories, I love getting to collaborate with them and be part of their lives for a little bit,while we create a jewel of their dreams.”