A group of about 30 Greek jewelry designers are poised to take the United States by storm in 2019. Organized by Enterprise Greece, the contingent—dubbed Greek Jewels—is planning to exhibit at JCK Las Vegas and Luxury 2019 and in November at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City.

Greece boasts a long and intricate history of jewelry-making, with techniques that date back to the dawn of the Western civilization. Greek jewelers, understandably, are influenced by their thousands of years worth of heritage coupled with today’s advances and modern aesthetics.

As one of the countries that made the West what it is today, Greece is being touted as the birthplace of emerging talent that the United States has not yet experienced. As a result, Enterprise Greece has taken on the project.

“Artistic creation never ceased to converge with entrepreneurship here in Greece, so we, as Enterprise Greece, have the obligation to stand next to the creators, to educate and guide them in offering the world market what they are truly capable of,” said Teti Perissaki, manager of the International Trade Fairs, consumer products department.

The Greek jewelers all have highly developed artisanal skills and handcraft techniques. They specialize in everything from contemporary to classic design and dabble in precious and semiprecious stones set in the finest materials. Participating designers will include Samoli, Maureen Maris, Honor Omano, Orofasma, Maramenos & Pateras, Kouzoupis, KK Jewelry Lab, Dimitrios Exclusive, FaCad’oro, Evans Collections, Frangos Jewelry, and Anomy, among others.

“Greek jewelry is like Greece itself,” said Dolly Boucoyannis, a veteran Greek jewelry designer. “It has a long and inspiring history. It can carry you from one technique to another and from one style to the exact opposite, like it carries you from an island to the mountains and from the Acropolis to Santorini. Greece has been a source of inspiration for 6,000 years of jewelry.”

Top: Gold South Sea pearl in 18k yellow gold, with 0.8 ct. t.w. brown diamonds on a wild boar ivory tusk, price on request; Anomy

Note: Kristin Young is writing the Off the Chain blog while Victoria Gomelsky is on maternity leave.

Kristin Young

JCK Magazine Contributor