The Mythological Epic of Lalaounis

Helen of Troy, Hercules Knot, Aurelia, Nubia, Theodora. The names of collections by Lalaounis bear centuries of history, rooted in the oldest Greek mythological and iconographic tradition and recall details taken from Byzantine art and mosaics. According to Aikaterini, Demetra, Maria, and Ioanna Lalaounis, it is a simple expression of their DNA, derived from Athens, their place of birth, and especially from their father, Ilias, who, in the 1950s, rekindled the long family tradition of goldsmiths and watchmakers originating from Delphi.

The first among goldsmiths to be awarded by the Institut de France and the Académie des Beaux-Arts et des Lettres for the value of his work, Ilias bequeathed his four daughters a legacy composed of great passion and creativity but, above all, refined techniques and small details that allow them always to make jewelry of the finest quality.

Known for large, statement gold jewels, despite market conditions and swings in gold prices, even with the insane cost of gold today, Lalaounis can continue producing its signature style jewels. «One of our father’s dogmas was “never speculate on gold prices,» Demetra says. «There have been fluctuations in gold prices ever since we joined our family business, but the increases we saw from 2020 to today have made us adopt a different buying strategy. Those working with gold for generations know to take things in their stride and remember that gold represents only a part of the piece’s value. We are hopeful the political climate will improve, and prices will stabilize. In the meantime, it is important to us to continue to deliver unique designs that are beautifully hand-crafted in our signature style and faithful to our brand’s DNA.»

Demetra is hopeful that by 2025 the gold situation will calm down and be under control again. However, she is clear that there is a need to keep creating designs that offer more affordable options without worrying excessively about the market value of the raw material. Demetra confirms: «What is important in the short and the long term, is preserving brand identity, which is vital to assure that clients of any target bracket will keep coming back.»

Lalaounis jewels, often made in 22-karat gold, offer large-scale pieces that give a feeling of solidity. Hand hammering creates an interplay of solids and voids that emphasise the shape. Stones are used to complement both the gold and the design. In an eternal game between discreet elegance and attention-grabbing desire to exhibit, the collections that Maria, the brand’s creative director, designs place bold pieces alongside fine jewelry that invites layering, an overlap that feels ultra-contemporary yet draws on a distant past that never went out of fashion.

Photo by: Marzia Gamba