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Interview: Jewellery designer Diane Kordas on the personal inspiration behind her red carpet favourites
By Judy Cogan | 9 June 2025 | Design, Style
Fine jewellery designer Diane Kordas is a red carpet favourite thanks to her blend of glamorous, textured design and fun collections packed with personality and attitude. But, for this thoughtful designer, inspiration starts at home
World-renowned fine jewellery designer Diane Kordas is a red carpet staple. Her host of celebrity fans include the likes of Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jada Pinkett-Smith, while her range of collections – from statement Armour and ID Tag to Pop Art and Animal Kingdom – can be found in Harrods, London and online via Net-a-Porter.
Diane was born in New York, where she trained as a fashion and textile designer before discovering her affinity for fine textured jewellery. Her ambition to make women of all ages and stages of life “feel beautiful” is epitomised by her ability to infuse both fun and meaning into her collections.
One of her primary influences is her relationship with the Greek island of Mykonos – which she first visited at 18 with her now-husband Steve, who was born in Greece. “We fell madly in love on the island,” she says. “It had such raw beauty and it was something so different to me.”
Together, the couple has two adult daughters, and split their time between their elegant Knightsbridge townhouse and a soulful 1960s-inspired home in Mykonos, Greece. A self-described “dreamer”, Diane says she has lived a life of “wow moments”, each cherished like one of her signature pieces and strung together with delicate gold links.
Here, Diane shares the tales of love, family and creativity that form the backbone of her success.
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Diane, who do you have in mind when you design jewellery?
I’m very democratic. I design for women who are self-starters and women who are interested – and that’s a bit different from ‘interesting’ – be that in politics, education, fashion, health or wellness, whatever. And definitely glamorous women. I want women to feel beautiful wearing my diamond and pearl chokers, my chandelier earrings [crafted in 18k rose gold and covered with 4.45ct white diamonds] and ID tags. But I also want them to have fun wearing my Pop Art or my Hippie collection, layering different colours, beads and charms.
Is it true you first started designing jewellery for friends and family?
I’m a fashion and textile designer. I went to Parsons [School of Design in New York] and so design is in my DNA. My mum was a commercial artist and would take me to museums and art galleries as a child. I was dragged into them and then, when I started to grow up, I was running towards them. I started designing pieces for myself and then friends and family asked me to make pieces for them – but life got in the way and I stopped.
How did you rekindle that creative side and transform it into a career path?
After [my) two daughters were born I spent quite a lot of time in Greece. I’d often take two or three hours out to discover different parts of the city of Athens. One day I came upon the city’s jewellery district. It made me think – why don’t I start this up again? I started making pieces without any real plan and it organically morphed into a collection. My first stockist was Dover Street Market – a really big deal – so I took it seriously.
Your collections are inspired by personal stories. Could you tell us more?
A few years ago, I was in Mykonos with my husband for our wedding anniversary. We had a house full of kids and friends staying with us, but at night we stayed home to swim and drink champagne, just the two of us. Around two o’clock in the morning we were sitting in an alcove that overlooks the Aegean sea and I asked my husband: ‘What was the moment you knew I was the one for you?’ He said: ‘Oh, Diane, you ask me this every anniversary, on Mother’s Day, on Valentine’s Day…’ But then he said: It was your scent.’
This floored me because we’d been together a long time. I sat there thinking: Wow, this is something new. How can I design jewellery to encapsulate this?’ It became my Amulette collection. I designed nine different pieces with diamond toppers to hang towards the heart. My idea was you carry a scent [such as cologne or perfume] inside the diamond vial. It felt so personal. Scent is a powerful memory connector and is linked to our emotional system.
How do you approach innovation in your design process?
I think craftsmanship is so important in jewellery. I’m always experimenting with things like 3D printing and new materials outside gold. That’s how my sustainable hand-crafted ostrich leather cuff came about. I discovered a company called The Sustainable Angle, a not-for-profit organisation that provides sustainable materials. I used off cuts of ostrich from the meat industry in South Africa to make these beautiful leather cuffs.
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Where does your deep connection with Mykonos stem from?
I met my husband, Steve, when we were teenagers and he invited me to Greece, where he was born. In 1981 he said: ‘Okay, let’s go to Mykonos. Let’s discover this island together.’ We rented a motorcycle and we’d drive along dirt roads, party all night and spend all day on hidden beaches. We fell madly in love on the island. I remember thinking the light in this place is so strong and so incredible. It had such raw beauty and it was something so different to me.
Do you take time out to reflect on how far you’ve come?
Around 14 years ago I [was diagnosed with] breast cancer, which I beat and am fine now. But a moment like that changes how you think. When you’re in the cycle of life and you’re working really hard, building a business and raising your kids, there’s a lot of noise. But after I had my operation, I came back to Mykonos from London and walked into the house to find my daughters Alexandra, then 16 and Christine, then 11, by the pool. I just stopped and thought, I need to take in this moment. I made a pact with myself there and then to wake up and feel grateful, and I do. I beat cancer. My kids are healthy. My husband loves me. I have this beautiful home. Everything is going to be fine. I’ve started to look at life in a different way. I try now to always see a silver lining.