lalaounis

Founded in 1969 in Athens by Ilias Lalaounis, a fourth-generation goldsmith, the eponymous jewelry house is celebrated for reviving ancient Greek metalwork techniques. Lalaounis transformed museum artifacts into wearable art, utilizing age-old methods like granulation, filigree, hand-weaving, and hand-hammering. The brand's signature style is defined by its extensive use of 18k and 22k yellow gold, crafting sculptural and intricate pieces that draw inspiration from prehistoric, Minoan, Hellenistic, and Byzantine art. Unlike his peers who favored large diamonds, Lalaounis found his calling in gold, which he called "the most human material." His creations gained international prominence in the 1960s when Aristotle Onassis purchased pieces for Maria Callas and Jacqueline Kennedy, cementing the house's status as a symbol of Mediterranean glamour and cultural prestige.

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