Daniella Kronfle: “Jewels Are Part of My Life”

No matter what culture or time, women have always sought to adorn themselves; from the Thai Padaung women with their giraffe necks to the Hollywood celebrities with their necks covered in very expensive collars. Nature gave us precious stones to wear them as jewelry.

Celebrities impose fashion styles, which makes them look for the best stuff and the best designers when it is time to attend a ceremony. Ecuadorian jewelry designer Daniella Kronfle is one of the most well known designers in Ecuador and Miami, where she currently lives.

Daniella discovered her passion for jewelry when she was a 10-year-old girl, her mother opened one of the first jewelry stores in Guayaquil (Marge), and she accompanied her to buy diamonds, pearls and other precious and semiprecious stones, since then, she knew she would become a jewelry designer. At the age of 18,  she went to Florence, Italy for her studies in Gold Jewellery Design at Istituto Lorenzo dei Medici. At the same time, she took courses in Art History and Antiques at Istituto per l’Arte e il Restauro Palazzo Spinelli. In Paris, France she obtained a specialization in French Civilization and Language at the Sorbonne University.

Gems caused an impression in Daniella due to their variety of colors and textures “they don’t  lose their nature and don’t need to be painted” which is very important when designing a piece of jewelry, that is why she decided to specialize in gems and pearls at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the most prestigious worldwide in this industry.

“Jewels are part of my life, nowadays women can use them with more versatility, they can use them on a daily basis; the use of jewelry was limited to special occasions before,” Daniella says.

In Ecuador, Daniella Kronfle’s name became known in 2004, when the country hosted the Miss Universe pageant. Ecuadorian organizers suggested Donald Trump and his team of executives that the crown that the winner would carry should be made by an Ecuadorian designer, they contacted Daniella and were delighted to see her design. After seeing the winner Jennifer Hawkins using a Crown by Daniella Kronfle, subsequent contracts for Miss Ecuador, Miss World, and Miss Continent came to boot.

But Daniella not only contributes to international and national beauty pageants; Thalia, Ana de la Reguera, Susana González, Gabriela Spanic, Julieta Venegas, Fanny Lu, and other celebrities have also wore her designs on the red carpet.

Notimujer CNN Spanish anchor, Glenda Umaña, who was recently in London for the royal wedding of the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, also asked Kronfle to design her jewelry. Fashion designer Maira Cisneros worked with Daniella designing five looks for Glenda, who publicly thanked Daniella  on her TV show for her work and  highlighted her Ecuadorian nationality. 

Today’s trends
Large rings with exotic designs and everything related to nature, such as floral themes, insects, butterflies, dragonflies, frogs, are fashionable because their size is impressive. Gems are also being used, as well as black diamonds, sapphires (blue, pink, green), semi precious stones such as mint crystals, and  indigo quartz. Trends vary by season. Now is spring-summer so the color tones being used are coral, turquoise, pink gold, and large attachments. The winter-autumn season is dominated by earth-colored stones.

Tips from the jeweler
“It’s not advisable to recharge jewelry. So if you wear big earrings, don’t wear a necklace, if the collar is large and full of stones, small rings are better.”

“If you use a watch on your left hand, the bracelets should be on the other hand. Less is more. When there is a lot, there’s not much to see.”

International Jewelry Book
“Appearing next to brands that have been imposing fashion for over 100 years, is a recognition that leaves me speechless and I’m committed to improve, it’s very important and I’m proud to share it with my country,” the young jeweler, 35, said.  With a career of only 15 years, Daniella has been mentioned next to brands like Cartier and Bvlgary in the International Jewelry Book, “This is the most important thing that ever happened in my career,” she said.

What comes next
Daniella is working on the project of opening a bridal salon, attached to Marge Jewelry, located in Policentro mall of Guayaquil. There will be collections for brides: engagement rings, three diamond rings that symbolize present, past and future, and jewelry for anyone who wants to wear it.

Her new collection launches in October, it will be full of fall colors, quartz, sapphire, rock crystal, tiger eye, jade and black diamonds.