On a festive April evening in the Alamo City, cowboys and fashionistas gathered to celebrate a collaboration forged between two Texas icons. The King Ranch X Clint Orms Collection consists of seven distinct pieces, each hand-rendered by the Lone Star State’s most illustrious silversmith and engraver. No two items are exactly alike in this limited-edition collection, which includes two hatpins, two belt buckles, two money clips, and a scarf slide. Dozens of friends and fans descended on King Ranch Saddle Shop’s Pearl outpost for a sneak peek at the partnership’s sublime results.

AT THE PEARL. Clayton Orms, Clint Orms, Cardo Kleberg.

“The Texas heritage of King Ranch is so important to the United States, and keeping King Ranch going is a real testimony to a family that has a lot of grit and drive,” says Clint Orms, whose signature hand-cut scrollwork echoes venerable Western engraving patterns. “We wanted these very substantial pieces to reflect King Ranch’s tradition of doing everything first-class.”

Orms and his son, Clayton, found ample inspiration on the South Texas landmark, which dates from 1853. Renowned as the birthplace of American ranching (and perennially featured in the Land Report 100), King Ranch developed America’s first beef cattle breed, the Santa Gertrudis.

Born on King Ranch in 1920, a deep-red bull named Monkey (pictured above) is honored as the foundation sire. The original American cattle breed is prized for its heat tolerance and efficient production of high-quality beef.

More than a century later, Orms rendered Monkey in sterling silver for a hatpin, a belt buckle, and a money clip.

“Dad and I went back and forth to get that figure right, making constant improvements,” says Clayton, who serves as president of Kerrville-based Clint Orms Engravers and Silversmiths.

“It took many tries, but we feel like our Monkey embodies the pride of King Ranch,” he says.

METICULOUS RENDERING. Orms made countless revisions while crafting the sterling collection.

King Ranch’s distinctive Running W brand, which was first registered in 1869, adorns the other elements in the collection, which include an oval scarf slide of generous proportions. Prices range from $300 to $1,750.

“This collaboration is a natural extension of what both King Ranch and Clint Orms represent,” according to Donna Colaco, who heads the King Ranch Saddle Shop.

“Each piece honors the values that define King Ranch — stewardship, tradition, and craftsmanship — while offering something that can be worn, used, and passed down. These are objects with meaning, not just adornment,” Colaco says.

The King Ranch X Clint Orms Collection is available online and at all five of the Texas King Ranch Saddle Shops in Austin, College Station, Fort Worth, Kingsville, and San Antonio.

AN EPIC ACHIEVEMENT. Under the leadership of Robert Kleberg Jr. and Dick Kleberg Sr., King Ranch developed the Santa Gertrudis breed.