Irene Neuwirth is proudly returning as a sponsor for the 2023-2024 season at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP), and will present one of her coveted, bespoke Pet Portrait Necklaces as part of the awards ceremony for the upcoming $1 Million Coachella Cup, set for Saturday, December 2, during the first week of Desert Holiday.
Irene is a renowned fine jewelry designer with flagship boutiques in Los Angeles and New York, as well as an avid competitor at DIHP. This award is the first of two she will create as part of her sponsorship during the 2023-2024 season, the second being presented at the close of the season for the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular during Desert Circuit 10.
“I am so excited to support DHIP in the Coachella Cup,” said Neuwirth. “What could be better than bringing together my two passions – jewelry and horses?”
The bespoke Pet Portraits are a favorite of many and have become a design signature of Irene’s collection. The process of creating each carving is unique and the finished piece is completely one of a kind; Irene works with an artist in Germany who carves the crystal quartz and then hand-paints each portrait in relief. Once they are back in Los Angeles, they are set on abalone, Mother of Pearl or opal and 18k gold, finished with diamond pave or colored stones. Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, and Brie Larson are among the collectors of these one-of-a-kind treasures.
“We couldn’t be more excited to provide this signature custom piece to the winner of the inaugural Coachella Cup,” remarked Steve Hankin, President and CEO of DIHP. “Irene has been an incredible competitor and supporter over the years at DIHP and forming this partnership – with her brand joining us as part of the biggest event of the year – is a perfect fit.”
In its third year hosting the Finals for the Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) tour, 2023 is the kick-off year of the $1 Million CSI5* Coachella Cup Grand Prix, presented by Brown Advisory. The class, which is the only million-dollar FEI grand prix in the United States, will serve as the individual final for the 2023 MLSJ season and will feature six of the top 20 riders in the world.
About Irene Neuwirth
Irene Neuwirth is an independent, fine jewelry company based in Los Angeles. Founded in 2003 by designer Irene Neuwirth, the company has emerged as a leading jewelry brand, recognized by Irene’s whimsical yet ultra-fine design sensibility. The jewelry has generated tremendous editorial attention and is worn by some of the most beautiful women in the world, including Ruth Negga, Brie Larson, Julianne Moore, Charlize Theron, Zoe Saldana, Sarah Paulson and Reese Witherspoon. In 2014, Irene opened her flagship store on Melrose Place in West Hollywood. The jewel box space was designed by Pam Shamshiri and marked the first time Irene’s vision was realized in a full brand experience. In December of 2022, Irene opened a second flagship on Madison Ave, a fantastical ode to magical surrealism filled with the one of a kinds she is so highly regarded for. Today the collection can be found at leading boutiques across the globe, as well as at Capitol + Irene Neuwirth at the Brentwood Country Mart.
About Desert International Horse Park
With nearly 1.6 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering multiple weeks of world-class equestrian competition from October through March, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA, to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.