DiCuore Diamonds Founder Seeks to Uplift Other Cancer Survivors

By Karen Dybis | December 06, 2024

DiCuore Diamonds’ new capsule collection Survivor tells a story of hope, as designer Daniela Sokolowski is in remission from breast cancer and says she’s feeling healthier than ever.

Sokolowski debuted the collection on Nov. 15, six years to the day that she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. She wants to appeal to other people who have survived or are going through cancer (and their loved ones) with her jewelry and her personal experience.

As a small business, DiCuore Diamonds is able to work with clients individually to come up with the ideal design that expresses their survivor story. Each piece can be customized, with the client choosing the gemstones and metal.

Survivor Charm bracelet — *This charm bracelet is an example of the customizable jewelry DiCuore Diamonds offers in its Survivor mini collection.*

“All of my work is from the heart, and that’s where my name comes from. Di cuore means from within the heart,” Sokolowski says.

Her woman-owned business is donating 10% of the profits from the Survivor collection to organizations that aid women who are facing or have experienced breast cancer.

“People with a new diagnosis may think their life is over. They need to see survivors telling their story and showing others how they are thriving,” says Sokolowski. “I want to give people who have cancer hope. They don’t need to give up their dreams because of it—they too can become a survivor.”

After moving to the United States from Romania 15 years ago, Sokolowski discovered her talent for jewelry while working for a diamond dealer in New York City’s Diamond District. She founded DiCuore Diamonds in 2024, specializing in bespoke diamond and fine jewelry.

Sokolowski has a small studio in midtown Manhattan, at 1460 Broadway. Opening it was a significant milestone for her, and she says she now feels like an established jeweler.

Daniela wedding — *Daniela Sokolowski married her husband, Steven, in her favorite color—emerald green—in October 2019, shortly after she completed breast cancer treatment.*

But, she says, she is a different kind of jeweler because of her background. She graduated from a Bucharest university with a major in foreign languages and has received a degree in forensic psychology from New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

As a cancer survivor and lifelong learner, she listens closely to what clients want so she can help them find their style in jewelry.

“My public persona is me—who I am on a daily basis,” Sokolowski says. “I’m a regular girl from Romania who works hard, speaks six languages, earned a few degrees because I value education, and I am happily married to my best friend, Steven, who is a health care provider.

“I am no diva and no fancy jewelry designer who claims they reinvented the wheel,” she adds. “I make pieces from the heart, I am good at it, and I deliver really good customer service, and a personalized experience.”

Top: Daniela Sokolowski recovered from breast cancer, started her own jewelry brand, and recently debuted her first mini collection, Survivor. (Photos courtesy of DiCuore Diamonds)