Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Cross with Emeralds and Diamonds

This Byzantine cross pendant is defined by its martillé surface — a hand-hammered finish that gives the gold a soft, velvety texture distinct from polished or brushed alternatives. The cross draws on the decorative vocabulary of Byzantine sacred objects, reinterpreted for daily wear without reducing its visual weight or authority.

The pendant is crafted in 18K gold and finished entirely by hand in the Damaskos workshop in Athens. The martillé technique involves striking the gold surface with a specialized hammer to create an even, matte-textured field that diffuses light rather than reflecting it directly. Set at the center is one oval emerald measuring 4x3mm, encircled by 154 round diamonds of 1.00mm each — totaling 0.20 ct in emerald weight and 0.88 ct in diamonds. The combination of the textured gold ground and the concentrated brilliance of the stones is a deliberate contrast, not a decorative flourish.

Damaskos is one of the few remaining Greek ateliers where Byzantine goldsmithing techniques are practiced with full continuity — no shortcuts, no cast approximations. This cross is suited to both formal dress and everyday wear, as noted in the original atelier description. It is the kind of piece acquired once and worn across decades.