Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Cross Pendant with Diamond

The Constantinato is one of the oldest protective cross forms in Greek Orthodox tradition — historically given to infants, now worn as a daily emblem of faith and cultural continuity. This pendant presents both faces of that tradition: the ICXC NIKA inscription on one side, the Virgin Mary with Christ on the other.

The cross is hand-formed in 18K gold and finished with granulation — a technique tracing back to ancient Greece in which tiny spheres of gold are fused to the surface without solder, creating texture that catches light differently than any polished or engraved finish. The surface is sandblasted to a matte finish, which brings the granulation into relief and gives the piece a quiet, architectural quality. A single 0.02ct diamond, measuring 1.80mm, is set on the inscribed face. The piece weighs approximately 2.4g; dimensions may vary slightly, as each cross is made entirely by hand.

Damaskos is an Athenian atelier whose work draws directly from Byzantine and Archaic Greek goldsmithing traditions. Techniques used here — granulation, hand-finishing, matte surface work — are the same ones documented in museum collections across Greece and Europe. The Constantinato carries meaning beyond ornament: it connects the wearer to a practice of protection and belief that spans centuries, and wears equally well as a daily piece or a gift marking a significant moment in someone’s life.