Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Cross with Oval Ruby & Diamonds

This Byzantine cross pendant is built around a single oval ruby — 5×4 mm, 0.45 ct — framed by four round diamonds of 1.80 mm each, totaling 0.08 ct. The design draws directly from Byzantine ecclesiastical goldsmithing, where the cross form carried both devotional and decorative weight. It is not an approximation of that tradition; it is made within it.

The surface is worked in martillé, a hand-hammering technique that creates a matte, velvety texture across the gold. Unlike a polished finish, martillé catches light without reflecting it — the surface reads as warm and tactile rather than bright. The cross weighs 20 grams and is made in 18K gold throughout. Every element — the stone settings, the surface texture, the proportions — is completed by hand in the Damaskos workshop in Athens.

Damaskos has worked in Byzantine and Archaic goldsmithing techniques for decades, treating these methods as a living practice rather than a historical reference. This cross is suited to both formal dress and everyday wear. It arrives as a pendant and carries enough presence to stand alone on a chain. Pieces made to this standard are typically passed between generations rather than replaced.