Damaskos Byzantine 18K Gold Cross with Diamonds – Stoa

This cross pendant is defined by its martillé finish — a surface achieved through repeated hand-hammering that produces a soft, velvety texture unlike polished or brushed gold. It is part of the Damaskos Byzantine collection, where early Christian and ancient Greek visual language inform every compositional decision.

The piece is handcrafted in 18K gold and weighs 20 grams, giving it a presence that reads on the body. The martillé technique is applied across the surface by hand, and granulation — the application of tiny gold spheres using heat and ancient alloy bonding methods — adds dimensional detail at the perimeter. A single 0.05 ct diamond is set at the cross’s center, providing a point of contrast against the textured gold without competing with the craftsmanship around it.

Damaskos is an Athenian atelier that has worked within Byzantine and Archaic goldsmithing traditions for decades, producing pieces entirely by hand using techniques that have remained largely unchanged since antiquity. This cross is sized for daily wear and carries enough visual weight to function as a statement pendant — worn on a heavy chain or a fine one depending on the occasion. It is the kind of piece that moves between contexts without adjustment.