Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Cross with Sapphires, Rubies & Diamond

A cross pendant shaped in the Byzantine tradition, distinguished by the interplay of matte and reflective surfaces. The martillé finish — achieved by hand-hammering the gold to create a fine, velvety texture — covers the body of the cross, while the smooth surrounding surfaces catch and return light in contrast. Twisted wire and granulation, two of the oldest goldsmithing techniques in the Greek canon, frame the form with structural precision.

The cross is set with four sapphires of 2.30 mm each, eleven rubies of 1.80 mm each arranged around the perimeter, and a single diamond of 0.05 ct at the center. All metalwork is executed in 18K gold. Because each piece is formed entirely by hand in the Damaskos atelier, weight may vary by ±0.2 grams — a natural characteristic of handcrafted work, not a variance to be corrected.

Damaskos has practiced these techniques in Athens for decades, drawing directly from Byzantine and Archaic Greek goldsmithing traditions. This cross functions equally as a daily piece and as a work passed between generations — the kind of object that accrues meaning with wear rather than losing it.