Zendaya's Engagement Ring Designer Is About to Be a Household Name

Ahead of this year's Golden Globes bets were made on what awards would be won and what outfits would be worn. But no one was ready for the moment that would inevitably steal the spotlight entirely: Zendaya nonchalantly announcing her engagement to Tom Holland without saying a single word.

Instead, the actress, who was nominated for her role as Tashi Donaldson in Challengers, stepped out in a custom orange Louis Vuitton gown and a large bezel-set east-west diamond on a thin gold band by British jewelry designer Jessica McCormack.

Within minutes, the entire internet was collectively, for lack of a better term, freaking out. Within hours, girls on TikTok were trying to spread the gospel of McCormack's rings, hoping it would land on their boyfriend's FYP. The designer, who is already well known across Europe, was quickly becoming a household name amongst her new American fans. And her fanbase is only just beginning, considering the designer just opened a store in New York on Madison Ave this past May.

The two-floor store is set in a Beaux-Arts building from 1879, featuring everything from engagement rings guaranteed to break the internet (again) to 20 carat oval cut diamond pendant necklaces set in McCormack's signature torque.

Below, we sat down with McCormack to discuss the big opening, what sets her pieces apart from the rest, and her philosophy on truly living in your jewelry.

Q: How exactly did you decide to go into jewelry?

Jessica McCormack: Both my upbringing and my time at Sotheby’s have had a profound impact on how I approach design. As an auctioneer, my father introduced me to the world of art and antiques from a young age, which gave me an early appreciation for beautiful things, whether old or new. While at Sotheby’s, I had the rare opportunity of handling some of the world’s most famous jewellery collections – pieces from the 1920s by Cartier and Lalique, as well as multiple crown jewels. That exposure was not only creatively inspiring but also showed me the incredible level of craftsmanship that is possible in jewelry design. I began designing in a small studio in Clerkenwell, alongside a handful of craftspeople – some of whom are still with me 17 years later.