When it was announced that Mish Tworkowski, one of the country’s most talented and exciting fine jewelry designers, would receive the 2022 Swan Ball Award, all agreed that he was more than deserving of the prestigious honor. A longtime supporter of Cheekwood, he has been the official Swan Ball jeweler twice — last in 2017 — and has attended as a guest many times. His love for the historic estate was evident during the pandemic, when he offered 28 one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces in a virtual auction and sale, with a generous portion of the proceeds going to the Ball.

This year, Mish and his partner, Joseph Singer, hosted the grand opening of his flagship boutique and design studio in Palm Beach, where they now reside. Fortunately, they still come to Nashville a few times each year to visit old friends, such as Swan Ball co-chair Mary Catherine McClellan. It turns out the love Nashville has for Mish is reciprocal. We learned just how much when the engaging jeweler chatted with us about who introduced him to Cheekwood, his new Palm Beach store and more.

Congratulations on receiving this year’s Swan Award! What was your reaction when you got the news?

I was asked for the [2021] Swan Ball, and I was so blown away because Mary Catherine and Elizabeth Nichols asked for a conference call, and I remember this so clearly, [thinking], “Oh, my god, this is so interesting. So much fun.” Then, all of a sudden, they started saying all of these wonderful things that I’ve done and how much Nashville loves me, and I’m like, “Oh, my god, where is this going?” And when they asked me, I actually became completely teary-eyed. I couldn’t even speak for a few minutes. It’s so unexpected. I had been to several Swan Balls, and I realized the kind of people they give them to. One year, I sat next to Carolina Herrera when she got it, never imagining that I would actually be getting up there to accept it one year as well. So, I was overwhelmed and humbled and moved because it’s such a lifetime achievement. ... Needless to say, I was walking on clouds for months after that.

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How did you first get involved with Cheekwood?

Trisha Frist. I met her in New York. We became great friends, and one day, she said, “I want you to come to Nashville.” And I remember so clearly, we got in her little convertible, and we drove all over Nashville. And she brought me to Cheekwood, [one of] her special places in Nashville. That must [have been] between 15 or 20 years ago.

What do you find special about the Swan Ball?

The wonderful tradition of the Swan Ball, coupled with Nashville being such a wonderful place and filled with so many wonderful people who still love [and respect] things that are beautiful. I think that is carried through every year, and I hope it goes on forever. I also think that’s a big testament to all the people in Nashville, which is one of the reasons I love them so much, is that Nashville is a place with great taste. People love beautiful things. They entertain beautifully. They have a great warmth. They’re proud of their city. They’re proud of their homes. All of that comes through clearly in everything that the Swan Ball does. And I always say the ladies in Nashville have it completely right. The Swan Ball committee should be running the country because they really do everything perfectly, with great sensitivity and love and intelligence and care and don’t want a lot of praise for it. They’re doing it for all the right reasons. So, that would be such a wonderful path for all of us to be on.

How would you describe your new store?

I think of it as next-generation Palm Beach, in a way — tradition with a punch. I don’t want to say it’s more sophisticated than traditional Palm Beach, because that’s not true, but I feel like it’s Palm Beach with a bit of a European flair. There’s a great sophistication, and we picked bright, unusual colors. We took those things that you love about Palm Beach — bright color, bringing the outside in, pattern — and tweaked it a little bit to make it more “Mish,” for lack of a better word.

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You’ve been very generous to Cheekwood in the past. What other causes are important to you, and what drives your philanthropic interest?

Both Joseph and I feel very fortunate that we are in the position to be philanthropic, and besides our personal causes, we love to support causes that are very dear to friends. That’s very important for us to be able to give back to people [we] really love. … I’m on the board of the New York Botanical Garden. I’m a big gardener, so I love all aspects of gardening. And I love that most botanical gardens have a big educational component, whether it’s children’s education or just teaching science and all those things that are important to life on the planet. I’m also on the board of the Palm Beach Preservation Foundation, and they also have a very big cultural component to [preserve] the incredible design [of Palm Beach].

In addition to creating gorgeous jewelry, you’re known for your extraordinary style. Have you thought about how you’re going to dress up your tails for the Swan Ball?

I want to have [my tails] made. Mary Catherine and I have been having conversations about this. [Her husband,] David, actually went to [The Oxford Shop] to have his made. I’m going to call him. I’m told I have plenty of time to do it. And then, I have to think about it. I’ll probably wear my favorite pair of cuff links. Obviously, white tie is meant to be rather traditional, so I will be very respectful of that.

Photographs courtesy of Mish Tworkowski and by Carmel Brantley