Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Constantinato Cross Pendant – Double-Side Saint Eleni

The Constantinato is one of the most culturally specific pieces in the Damaskos collection. This double-sided cross pendant presents the Byzantine inscription ICXC NIKA — ‘Jesus Christ conquers’ — alongside a raised cross on the front face, while the reverse depicts Constantine the Great and Saint Helen, the figures credited with bringing Christianity to the Roman Empire. It is not a generic cross pendant. It carries a precise historical narrative on both sides.

Handcrafted in 18K gold at the Damaskos atelier in Athens, the pendant weighs approximately 3 grams and measures 2.60 × 1.90 cm. The figural and inscriptive detail on both faces is achieved through hand-worked relief, a technique that requires the goldsmith to build depth and legibility at small scale without mechanical reproduction. Each pendant is individually finished by hand.

Damaskos has been producing Byzantine and Archaic gold jewelry in Athens for decades, working within an unbroken craft tradition that treats historical accuracy as a design standard, not an aesthetic choice. The Constantinato has long been given to newborns in Greece as a protective talisman — a role that makes this piece as relevant as a christening gift or family heirloom as it is as personal jewelry. Also available in other gold carats — contact Brilliant Athens for details.