Meet the Designer Behind the Royals' Most Iconic Jewels

May 02, 2025 Komal Das Off-white Banner

Kiki McDonough realized her success when she saw a woman wearing her earrings at a football match. This was the start of her 40-year jewellery journey

[{"selector":"#anim-fe57b0d5-6fe3-4888-8123-2ee598d85ccc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-549e26d9-ccf2-42c5-bd52-760fb9d690ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7d53586-9861-4b98-8496-87b8e9e3b88a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c686f47-7d09-42a4-80c7-c7d2f497245f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

McDonough, now 70, will soon celebrate the 40th anniversary of her jewellery brand, known for colorful, feminine, and royal-approved designs

[{"selector":"#anim-bf93de2c-de65-46f9-9614-44dbc0f2d576 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42995e75-d872-40be-881f-a42ae1b06e75","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5254ac36-5f6f-4a18-8709-b536ac8fe080","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4e7a01a-9778-4d36-824d-e934374db054","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

Her journey began in the 1980s, designing jewellery for a boutique in Mayfair, inspired by her father’s expertise in Georgian jewellery

[{"selector":"#anim-2d6be3d9-7ceb-431c-8426-39a1a805d34d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d5572b3-7b99-4dc7-8e95-0cff83ef0d0e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0298af5b-0072-408a-9ada-5d85d34d8784","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc541ed6-8618-4572-8ddc-b033bbfc78a4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

McDonough’s breakthrough came with heart-shaped crystal earrings, leading her to open her own boutique. Royalty soon took notice, including Princess Diana

[{"selector":"#anim-870becd8-a179-4923-8f38-bbc9962c1b16 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d436057-a214-46f6-8079-92f24ce674b8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c36f15e5-1e4f-40c0-8acd-993814f32798","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47e57f90-e14a-4b1e-bce5-3f32eb36024a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

Diana’s amethyst and pearl earrings, worn at the White House in 1990, became iconic, making McDonough a household name in royal circles

[{"selector":"#anim-cc06fa91-46fd-481c-a92d-c70df5e551a5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-571f2b3a-7f38-4d59-aca2-c0c284e89e2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97ad11a5-bc62-4e76-9cb6-7c221f7e30fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-311e2b72-98cb-4f87-ac6f-01926b9719f3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

McDonough’s philosophy focuses on jewellery that makes the wearer feel beautiful, regardless of fleeting trends. She has overcome multiple challenges to maintain this

[{"selector":"#anim-aaa47fd4-664e-4feb-b30f-35527fc2957e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ee1c348-9d55-455b-9e29-22944ab23cec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72840273-f6c0-465b-aebb-2bdfd67008c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cca3e228-d89c-4312-891b-fa7069bfe603","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

For her brand’s 40th anniversary, McDonough is launching the “Retrospective Collection,” featuring classic designs and new pieces with her favorite gemstones

[{"selector":"#anim-41bed4ba-747b-4d88-b8a4-f93345bf1010 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eec1ca7c-5148-4199-bba0-f37181c90de0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08c13ca6-4b1d-49b5-a622-e71b8422fd12","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b663806-db7f-4ac4-ae2b-39a1fb1698d8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

McDonough, still full of ideas, is working on a ballet-inspired collection and has a playful retirement plan to watch ballet at the Royal Opera House

[{"selector":"#anim-ebdb395a-1360-4c29-9799-864b9d512f6b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83c5c85f-33b7-467e-be94-dec2456cc3fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1dda8a30-68c3-4810-ad49-bffe1511abc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d2ba588-d6d1-4020-a96b-a6c0cb170d4a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Off-white Banner

Read More China’s Self-Driving Bus: A Glimpse into the Future of Urban Transport Qatar’s Rotating Eco-Floating Hotel: A Luxury First Cannes 2025: What Happens When Stars Break the New Dress Code? Sussan Ley: The First Woman to Lead Australia’s Liberal Party