Available 7 days, hours will vary (EST): +1 (862) 222-0442
7 days, hours vary (EST): +1 (862) 222-0442
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”― Aristotle
To represent and cultivate a small but important part of the world’s artistic heritage and culture
while honoring the reason it exists in the first place (you).
Through hostile occupations by the Persians, Romans, Ottomans and Germans, internal strife, good economies and bad, the Greeks have been making jewelry.
Now the greatest threat comes from large fashion brands importing mass produced products. But we know something they might not; that the underlying “brick and mortar” of a tradition like ours comes from love, hard work, and the desire to please the customer.
So we've partnered with independent workshops who are dedicated to the tradition of hand-crafted jewelry making, and whose manufacturing happens entirely in Greece.
Perhaps most importantly, we only deal with family businesses —Those established enough to be great at what they do, modern enough to understand the demands of the digital age, but small enough to care about each customer. Because when you deal with a family business in Greece - that's exactly how you get treated, like family.
Only once we know your preferences will we create "your" piece, but we will always think of it as "our" piece too, as it will mark the time where it was our turn to carry this tradition.
18k gold loops are fired in the beginning of the Granulation technique.
"Socially Sustainable" refers to an environment where every party to a transaction is proactively respected. The heavy footprint of traditional retail costs are replaced with savings to the customer and better representation for the craftsmen. The goal is to create and maintain a business model that is durable, and that reflects the promise, efficiencies and transparency of a connected world.
Our founder Peter Bradley explains how "socially sustainable" benefits our customers on pricing.
Pete and Joanne at the annual Gala for American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA)
Peter Bradley
After surviving 9/11 Peter moved to Greece to discover one of the world’s hidden treasures; the artisans of the Greek jewelry industry. Over the past 18 years he has worked to bring worldwide recognition to their work with his inception of Athena's Gaia. He loves to personally interact with customers and collaborates with the craftsmen to ensure that each piece of jewelry is exactly what it should be; valued forever!
Joanne Borek
An established online development professional, photographer, and professor at NYU, Joanne has used her talents to help expand Athena Gaia's presence. Her data-driven creative spirit enlightens the personality for the store, and she energizes the business by providing customers with a seamless experience through all forms of communication.
Photography
Jan Greco
Orestis Rovakis
Makeup & Styling
Andrea Saavedra
Models
Elizabeth Reinertsen
Micaela ("Model M")
Ageliki Vracha
Interns & helpers along the way:
Håvard Wattum
Kristin Sands
Melissa Silverstein
Thomas Athenasios
Julia Gagliardi
Thomas Ferguson
Our "local jeweler":
R. Weiss Jewelers - Bernards NJ.
Joanne and Pete at Απέραντο Γαλάζιο - ΝΑΟΒΒ in Várkiza
Peter and Håvard are preparing a video for the Gerochristo Page
Learn about the process of custom Greek Jewelry with Athena Gaia in this video featuring Founding Partner Pete Bradley. For this piece we modified our 18k Gold Diamond Block Chain Bracelet by Damaskos to accommodate 3 panels of hand painted Cloisonne Enamel on one side.
Athena
The goddess of wisdom and war. She is well known as the protector of Athens but was also the goddess of craftsmanship (how appropriate for us!).
Gaia
The ancestral mother of all life—the original Mother Earth. She was the deity behind the Oracle and oaths sworn in her name were considered the most binding of all. Gaia was also worshiped as the “sender of gifts” (again, how appropriate for us!).
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