Events & AwardsOct 05, 2022
Steven Kaiser to Receive Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award Events & AwardsOct 17, 2022
Octave Jewelry Chosen as Winner of 2022 Halstead Grant
Helmed by designer Ope Omojola, Octave embraces color and combines sharp geometric lines with organic shapes.
Ope Omojola, the designer behind Octave Jewelry, is the winner of the 2022 Halstead Grant, taking home a $7,500 cash grant and $1,000 in jewelry supplies, among other prizes. Omojola makes her jewelry in Brooklyn, New York.
Prescott, Ariz.—Octave Jewelry, a brand that combines organic shapes with sharp geometric lines, is the winner of the 2022 Halstead Grant, supplier Halstead Bead announced last week.
Ope Omojola, who was born in Nigeria and currently lives and works in New York City, is the designer of Octave Jewelry.
Omojola started her jewelry-making career by taking a weeknight class on jewelry making at the 92nd Street Y in New York.
Her work marries her interest in anthropology—specifically, how individuals communicate through dress and adornment—with her lifelong creative practice of prioritizing material, color, and movement.
The result is a bold and colorful collection that combines hand-cut stones with lampwork glass and sterling silver details.
“Ope is a rare creative talent,” said Hilary Halstead Scott, Halstead president and founder of its grant.
“She masterfully combines lapidary stone cutting, hot glass working, and metalsmithing skills to create a bold, fashion-forward jewelry collection. We were thrilled to see such an innovative combination of materials and techniques.”
As the winner of the grant, Omojola receives $7,500 cash plus $1,000 in jewelry supplies; a trip to Prescott, Arizona, where Halstead Bead is headquartered; features in Halstead print publications; detailed feedback from the grant judging committee; and a signature trophy.
She said: “I’m so honored to be this year’s Halstead Grant recipient. The application process was the culmination of months of rethinking what running a business meant to me.
“It’s incredibly validating to have explained my vision and see it supported in such a tangible way, and I'm so excited to continue to move toward my goals. Thanks to the Halstead team for the support, and such wonderfully detailed feedback.”
Related stories will be right here …
Ope Omojola, who was born in Nigeria and currently lives and works in New York City, is the designer of Octave Jewelry.
Omojola started her jewelry-making career by taking a weeknight class on jewelry making at the 92nd Street Y in New York.
Her work marries her interest in anthropology—specifically, how individuals communicate through dress and adornment—with her lifelong creative practice of prioritizing material, color, and movement.
The result is a bold and colorful collection that combines hand-cut stones with lampwork glass and sterling silver details.
“Ope is a rare creative talent,” said Hilary Halstead Scott, Halstead president and founder of its grant.
“She masterfully combines lapidary stone cutting, hot glass working, and metalsmithing skills to create a bold, fashion-forward jewelry collection. We were thrilled to see such an innovative combination of materials and techniques.”
As the winner of the grant, Omojola receives $7,500 cash plus $1,000 in jewelry supplies; a trip to Prescott, Arizona, where Halstead Bead is headquartered; features in Halstead print publications; detailed feedback from the grant judging committee; and a signature trophy.
She said: “I’m so honored to be this year’s Halstead Grant recipient. The application process was the culmination of months of rethinking what running a business meant to me.
“It’s incredibly validating to have explained my vision and see it supported in such a tangible way, and I'm so excited to continue to move toward my goals. Thanks to the Halstead team for the support, and such wonderfully detailed feedback.”
The Halstead Grant also awards cash prizes to finalists and semi-finalists, $500 and $250 each, respectively.
The 2022 finalists are: Caitlin Albritton Jewelry, Stellar Metal Jewelry, and Phantasm Jewelry.
The semi-finalists are: Katelyn Elyse Jewelry, Jennifer Metesh Studios, Earthbound Silver, 9th Generation, Benjamin Ripley Jewelry, and Mae & Lang Jewels.
Pieces from both the finalists and semi-finalists are pictured below.
Launched in 2006 by Halstead Bead, the Halstead Grant was created to help kick-start the careers of emerging silver jewelry designers and promote new talent and creativity in the jewelry industry.
In order to apply, designers must answer questions about their business plan, including marketing, competitive analysis, finances and production capacity, in addition to providing pictures of their jewelry.
Calls for entries for the 2023 Halstead Grant will begin in January.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CrimeJun 18, 2025
7 Men Indicted in $100M Brinks Jewelry HeistThe heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
AuctionsJun 18, 2025
Historic ‘Marie-Thérèse Pink’ Diamond Fetches $14M at Christie’sThe 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.
EditorsJun 18, 2025
Q&A: Caryl Capeci Dives Into Cruise Jewelry ShoppingThe Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
AuctionsJun 18, 2025
16th-Century ‘Gresham Grasshopper’ Ring Sells for $56KThe historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.
Weekly QuizJun 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsJun 18, 2025
Kirk Kara Celebrates 135 Years With New JewelsTo mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.
SourcingJun 18, 2025
Gemfields Sells 36-Carat Rough RubyThe gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
TechnologyJun 18, 2025
Alex Brown Named President of Smithee GroupFounder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.
EditorsJun 17, 2025
The Best New Jewelry from Couture 2025, Part 1Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.
ColumnistsJun 17, 2025
Peter Smith: Is Your Comp Plan a Hiring Hindrance?If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.
AuctionsJun 17, 2025
Colored Gemstones, Signed Jewels Shine in Sotheby’s High Jewelry SaleThe top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Amanda Gizzi Gets a Promotion at JAGizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Kering Names Automotive Exec as Its New CEOLuca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.
EditorsJun 16, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Mining, Tariffs, and the Energy of Las VegasFollowing visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.
IndependentsJun 16, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Launches Commitment Campaign Celebrating LGBTQ+ CouplesThe “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos Joins Tiffany & Co.The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Catbird Names WNBA Star Nyara Sabally as Its New Brand AmbassadorThe New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.
CollectionsJun 13, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s Pear EarringsTake a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.
EditorsJun 12, 2025
15 Questions With Jewelry Photographer Ella SophieThe California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Vintage Patek Philippe From the ‘50s Sells for $4M at Sotheby’s Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Former De Beers Exec Celine Assimon Joins BonhamsAssimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.
EditorsJun 11, 2025
Q&A: Al Cook on Differentiating Natural Diamonds, Traceability, and TariffsThe De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”
MajorsJun 11, 2025
Pandora Bets on Las Vegas for First North American FlagshipThe Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.
GradingJun 11, 2025
Tiffany Stevens Exits IGI, Lab Appoints New Board LeaderIndustry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.
Events & AwardsJun 11, 2025
Kering Announces Winners of Sustainability-Focused AwardThe winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.
SourcingJun 10, 2025
De Beers Turns to Brown, Yellow Diamonds for New ‘Beacon’“Ombré Desert Diamonds” will emphasize cream-, champagne-, and brown-colored diamonds, shades that set natural stones apart from lab grown.
