Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Constantinato Cross with Ruby – Double Sided

The Constantinato cross is one of the oldest continuous forms in Greek devotional jewelry — worn since Byzantine times as a protective talisman for infants, and carried forward as a marker of cultural identity. This double-sided pendant presents both functions in a single object: the ICXC NIKA inscription on one face, a 1.80mm ruby at its center; the Virgin Mary holding Christ on the reverse.

The piece is cast in 18K gold and finished by hand in the Damaskos atelier in Athens. The surface is sandblasted to produce a consistent matte texture — a deliberate contrast to the precision of the stone setting. The ruby measures 1.80mm and is set flush to sit cleanly within the inscription face. Total weight is approximately 2.2 grams. The pendant is designed to wear close to the body, on a fine chain.

Damaskos has worked from a single atelier in Athens for decades, producing pieces rooted in Byzantine and Archaic Greek forms. The Constantinato is a foundational piece in that tradition — given at birth, worn through a life, and passed forward. It is also available in a full gold version without stones for those who prefer an unadorned surface.