Damaskos Archaic 18K Gold Necklace with Black Platinum

The Damaskos Archaic Necklace is built around a hand-woven gold chain finished with granulation and black platinum accents. Where most gold necklaces rely on machine fabrication, this piece preserves a construction method that has remained largely unchanged for millennia — every link formed, every granule placed, by a single craftsman.

The chain is woven by hand, then treated with a martillé finish — a technique of controlled hammer-striking that creates a velvety, light-scattering texture across the surface. Granulation, one of the most labor-intensive processes in ancient goldsmithing, involves fusing tiny spheres of gold to the base metal without solder, using heat and a copper-based bonding agent. Black platinum provides contrast against the warm 18K gold. The necklace weighs 38.90 grams, reflecting the density of solid 18K gold construction throughout.

Damaskos has practiced these techniques in Athens for decades, drawing directly from Archaic and Byzantine source material rather than interpreting it at a distance. The necklace is designed to be worn alone or paired with coordinating Damaskos rings, earrings, or a bracelet from the Archaic series. It is also available in all gold, without the black platinum treatment — contact Brilliant Athens for details.