About Valerie Naifeh
Artist. Designer. Entrepreneur.
These words may define Valerie Naifeh, but she is very seldomly held in any one category of greatness. A remarkable woman who strived to become a mogul in the Oklahoma jewelry industry, while staying true to her roots. An Icon, but most of all - a great mother and friend.
Valerie’s roots in jewelry design began with an apprenticeship as a model maker for a local Tulsa jeweler. Today, she is known for her obsession with colored gemstones and her tasteful eye for design. Valerie’s expertise in gems and jewelry has now spanned over a forty-year career.
She was voted Color Stone Magazine’s 2006 Designer of the Year and is the only Oklahoma jewelry artist to be awarded the DeBeers Diamonds Today award twice. She has also made an impact overseas, by placing in the top ten for the Japanese International Pearl Competition.
As a professional, Valerie has achieved accolades and numerous awards. As a woman, she has achieved even more. Pressure to overcome social and economic barriers served as obstacles on her path to becoming a successful entrepreneur, but Valerie Naifeh has never let that slow her down.
Even with all of those accomplishments, the one thing that makes her the proudest is her family. Being humble, she says, is the key to living a fulfilling life.
Valerie's creativity can be felt the moment you enter Naifeh Fine Jewelry. She carefully curates worldly collections of fine jewelry alongside her own highly coveted designs.
Valerie believes in women supporting women, and she is enthusiastic about Oklahoma City's community and women-owned busineses and entrepreneurs.
PHILANTHROPY
Valerie was named one of “Forty under Forty” by the Journal Record in 2002 and was a finalist in 2003 for the Journal Record’s Woman of the Year. Naifeh Fine Jewelry has twice made the Oklahoma City Chamber’s Metro 50 list of fastest-growing companies.
Awards
Valerie has twice won the national DeBeers Diamonds Today Award; in 1990 and 1994, respectively. Valerie also placed in the Japanese International Pearl competition in 1993. The real awards, however, are the smiles and hugs of her clients when they receive their piece of custom designed fine jewelry. Seriously, see for yourself. Put this award winner to work designing something noteworthy for you!