Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Cross with Diamond (4.7 g)

This Byzantine cross pendant is defined by its martillé surface — a hand-hammered finish that gives the gold a soft, velvety texture, scattering light rather than reflecting it in a single plane. Gold rope-wire borders trace the arms of the cross, adding architectural structure to the organic surface beneath. The result is a piece that reads as both ancient and immediate.

The cross is crafted in 18K gold and worked entirely by hand. The martillé technique involves striking the gold repeatedly with a rounded tool to create a uniform texture across the surface — a process that cannot be replicated by machine. Gold rope-wire, drawn and twisted by hand, is applied along the edges as a finishing detail. A single round diamond of 0.05 ct is set at the center. As with all Damaskos pieces made entirely by hand, weight may vary by approximately 0.2 grams.

Damaskos has worked in Athens for decades, drawing directly from Byzantine and ancient Greek goldsmithing traditions. This cross functions equally as a devotional object and a considered piece of personal jewelry — suited to daily wear or passed forward as a family piece.