DANIELLE ZINO
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY?
I was previously engaged to a diamond dealer and it was through him that I got introduced to the jewelry industry. We traveled to Hong Kong, Belgium and Africa to buy rough diamonds and to have them polished.
DID YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF DESIGN BACKGROUND?
No. I was always the artistic type, traveling with my sketch book but I didn’t know how to draw fine jewelry. When I moved to New York City, I decided to study jewelry design and CAD design to hone in on my skills.
HOW LONG HAS YOUR COMPANY BEEN IN BUSINESS?
I’ve been designing and making jewelry since 2012 but I launched my company and my signature collection – The Molecule Collection – in November 2015.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START YOUR COMPANY?
I wanted to go with my imagination and do something completely new, that hadn’t been done before and that had my name on it.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
New York City.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Israel.
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR JEWELRY
Timeless.
WHAT’S THE FIRST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH?
My grandmother had a beautiful yellow gold peacock broche with these long and striking feathers made of sapphires, rubies and yellow diamonds. To this day, it still takes my breath away.
WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
A lion.
IF A THEME SONG PLAYED EVERY TIME YOU WALKED INTO A ROOM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Acoustic version of ‘Waves’ by Dean Lewis.
DO YOU HAVE A PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY YOU WEAR EVERY DAY AND IF SO, WHY?
Starting from the top:
On my ears I have diamond studs that I never take off, but I sometimes mix it up with some mini diamond hoops or my signature molecule hoops.
On my neck I have three necklaces with three different lengths. The first necklace is a 0.25 carat round diamond, bezel set in rose gold from my signature Molecule collection - the first collection I drew. The second necklace is a 1.5 carats round diamond, bezel set in white gold. The third necklace is a pear-shaped diamond, bezel set in rose gold.
On my pinky, I wear my Open Atom Diamond Ring in rose gold, which I never take off as it is so simple yet elegant and it’s become part of my hand.
On my wrist I have a red evil eye bracelet that I made with a tiny diamond, together with the first bracelet that I ever bought which is a bar that is set with mini white diamonds and rubies.
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE
Classic.
LAST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU BOUGHT AND LOVED
Cartier ‘Juste Un Clou’ rose gold bracelet. I particularly love the stories around Cartier’s pieces.
THE THING YOU ARE COVETING NEXT
Shoes – any pair that is unique and artistic.
THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE GIVEN RECENTLY
I made a baby broche for my best friend who is expecting her first child. Since we don’t know the sex of the baby, it is made of blue and red stones with a diamond in the middle.
THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE RECEIVED RECENTLY
A bright red wallet from my boyfriend. I don’t often wear colors so he wanted to add a splash of red to my daily wardrobe!
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH...
...jewelry!
FAVORITE FOOD?
Babka chocolate cake (I have a major sweet tooth).
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD?
Onions.
WINE OR CHEESE?
Wine.
COFFEE OR TEA?
Tea.
YOGA OR BOXING?
Yoga.
FAVORITE SEASON?
Winter.
FAVORITE CITY?
Hong Kong.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT?
Cape Town.
THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?
‘I Ain’t The One’ by Spoon.
THE LAST CONCERT YOU WENT TO?
Coldplay, here in New York City.
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Forrest Gump.
SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE?
Emit fire from my eyes like Cyclops from the X-Men.
SECRET SKILL?
I’m an amazing cook.
INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK?
Instagram.
FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY?
Night.
LEAST FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY?
Morning.
YOU WON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT...
...a little bottle of perfume.
WHEN DO YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
When I have my loved ones around me.
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP FROM A LOW DAY?
I go for ice cream. Chocolate, obviously. And if I can get a cake on the side and a Nutella crepe, even better!
WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
Diamond studs from my grandmother.
WHAT DOES CONFIDENCE MEAN TO YOU?
Loving who you are, loving what you do, being happy within you. Being able to appreciate the small things in life.
WHAT DOES EMPOWERED MEAN TO YOU?
The ability to shine more than others, be more confident than others and be stronger than others.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Be patient.