About Allison Claire
About Our Founder, Allison Claire
Allison Claire is a fine jewelry designer originally from San Diego, California, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. She founded her namesake brand, Allison Claire, on May 20, 2016, building it entirely from the ground up. What started as a bold idea with no funding or experience has grown into a respected name in fine jewelry.
For nearly a decade, Allison designed Officially Licensed Collegiate Fine Jewelry, creating elegant pieces for universities including the University of Washington, Washington State University, Gonzaga, the University of Alabama, the University of Oklahoma, and even the iconic Rose Bowl. Her work also extended into the world of professional sports, with custom fine jewelry designed for the Chicago Bulls, Seattle Storm, Chicago Blackhawks, and Los Angeles Lakers, among others.
Allison’s path to fine jewelry was far from conventional. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an FBI agent—not a jewelry designer. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington and went on to receive her M.S. in Homeland Security at San Diego State University. Creative pursuits didn’t come naturally, and she still jokes that she can’t draw to save her life. But as a devoted Washington Huskies fan, she longed for a more refined, professional way to represent her alma mater—something beyond the typical hoodies and baseball caps.
A true Pisces and a natural daydreamer, Allison began to imagine the iconic UW “W” sparkling in diamonds. With no background in design, no industry connections, and just $100 in her bank account, she was undeterred—even when her parents and others doubted her. When the University of Washington initially declined her licensing request, Washington State University—UW’s biggest interstate rival—offered her a chance.
Allison took it.
She found a local casting house and created her first WSU Fine Jewelry Collection. That Thanksgiving, instead of traveling home to San Diego to be with her family, she boarded a 16-seat plane to Pullman, Washington to set up a pop-up for Apple Cup, carrying just 21 sterling silver WSU pendants. She had never sold a piece of jewelry in her life—but by the end of the game, she had sold out completely.
Eventually, UW granted her a license, and her vision became a thriving business with pop-ups at almost all University of Washington home football games.
This year, Allison completed her Diamond Diploma from the prestigious Gemological Institute of America (GIA) campus in New York. While her collegiate chapter has come to a close, she has chosen to pivot toward a new era—designing original collections that reflect her personal vision, creativity, and love of diamonds gemstones.
Allison Claire’s journey is a story of resilience, reinvention, and a fierce belief in possibility. She is now focused on building a new and unique timeless fine jewelry brand, one sparkling piece at a time.