Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Constantinato Cross Pendant – ICXC NIKA – Double Sided

The Constantinato is one of the oldest forms of the Byzantine cross — traditionally given to infants as a protective charm, but worn across a lifetime as a marker of faith, culture, and continuity. This pendant carries the “ICXC NIKA” inscription, a Greek Christogram meaning “Jesus Christ conquers,” worked directly into the face of the cross alongside hand-applied granulation.

The surface is finished using the martillé technique — a hand-hammering method that creates a subtle, faceted texture across the gold, allowing the piece to catch light differently from every angle. Granulation, an ancient goldsmithing process in which tiny spheres of gold are fused to the surface without solder, adds dimensional detail to the design. The pendant is cast and finished in 18K gold, weighing 3.8 grams. No stones are set in this version.

Damaskos has operated as a family atelier in Athens for decades, working exclusively in 18K gold using techniques rooted in Byzantine and ancient Greek goldsmithing. The Constantinato cross moves easily from everyday wear to occasions of personal significance — as suited to a first communion as to a daily piece passed from one generation to the next.