The story of Irina Falciano-Borodina: How Jewellery Came Into Her Life Along With Ballet

September 11, 2015

By Katerina Perez

4 min read

We have probably all heard the phrase “A talented person is talented in everything”, and I often find that this turns out to actually be the case. When you meet such people, it is always no less than a surprise and a delight, guaranteed to put a smile on your face; today I want to share one such acquaintance with you: Swiss jewellery designer Irina Falciano-Borodina.

The jewellery of Dinaboro is marked by its use of imaginative cuts of stone, which lend an intriguing peculiarity to their style. All of Irina’s pieces are unique; she specialises in haute-couture necklaces, rings and earrings, releasing her work under Dinaboro brand name. What makes her career particularly interesting, however, is that it began on a completely different course altogether.

Dinaboro

Dinaboro

Irina’s professional life began very early when she was enrolled in ballet school. I asked Irina about the first steps in her creative journey and she told me: “Ballet was my life. It is a very taxing profession requiring discipline, responsibility, constant self-improvement, the ability to take criticism, a competitive streak and a huge amount of drive. I developed all of these qualities over the course of my studies and they have served me extremely well in later life.”

Filled with a desire to experience something new, exciting and unknown, she was drawn to countries, people and cultures she had never seen before. Irina chose a relatively unusual approach to developing her career as a ballerina: once she had completed her choreography training, she started performing with a private contemporary dance troupe which gave her the opportunity to travel abroad with her work. Thus she was able to satisfy her desire for travel, discovering new cities and communities and widening her circle of friends to include people from all sorts of religious and socio-economic backgrounds.

Dinaboro

Dinaboro

After several years travelling, during which time she met her husband, Irina finally ceased her endless touring and settled down in Switzerland. “This country has always appealed to me. Geneva is a city where people from all over the world feel comfortable,” she says.

“I have always been interested in jewellery; it came into my life at the same time as ballet,” she explains. This is hardly surprising; after all, costumes, decorations, theatricality and jewellery are all key features of classical dance. When her career on the stage came to a natural end she sought out new avenues of self-expression and landed upon the world of fashion and style. In order to achieve the necessary grounding she spend five years training at jewellery school in Geneva, before working for several years as a designer in a number of well-known Jewellery Houses. “It was while working there that I decided I wanted to establish my own brand. I liked the idea of being able to be part of the creation of a piece of jewellery from its inception to the finished article. It is such an absorbing process.”

Dinaboro

Dinaboro

Today the Dinaboro brand creates jewellery on a limited edition basis or through private commissions, and Irina’s work can be seen on display in the Dinaboro showroom and at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva. The designer says of her work: “I genuinely hope that any woman wearing my jewellery will feel unique and beautiful.”

Clients of Dinaboro can order bespoke jewellery for special occasions designed to fit their own personal tastes. In order to ensure the best possible relationship with the client right from the initial concept stage, Irina produces a photo-quality illustration of the design, be it something based around the client’s stone of choice or a masterpiece of imagination straight from the mind of Irina herself.

Dinaboro

Dinaboro

 Dinaboro

Dinaboro

 Dinaboro

Dinaboro

 Dinaboro

Dinaboro

 Dinaboro

Dinaboro

I like to give a gemstone a second life.  The engaging work I do allows me to have direct contact with the people for whom I am designing, collaborating with them to bring their individual visions to life. – Irina Falciano-Borodina

Jacob&Co.: Most Daring Watches Unveiled In Monaco

continue reading

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Legacy of Love: The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

Jewellery is a transmitter of memories and emotions through time, which is something that Dubai-based designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani knows all too well. During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Celebrating Colour: 20 Uplifting Jewellery Creations by Lisa Nik

Whether you're craving a juicy mandarin garnet or an eye-catching bi-colour tourmaline, here are 20 joyful pieces that exemplify the Lisa Nik approach, as well as the inspiration behind them…

by Sarah Jordan

Watches and Wonders 2025: The Coolest Watch Novelties

With pastel pops, Pop Art influences, and playful twists on time itself, Watches and Wonders 2025 delivered a vibrant feast of creativity. Discover the fun new watches setting trends in Geneva this spring

by Rachael Taylor

White Hot: Achromatic Jewellery is Having a Moment

Let’s explore the revival of all white jewellery and discover why this look is universally complementary – and a great investment.  

by Rachael Taylor

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.